Daily Archives: May 7, 2019

May 7 Pursuing God

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Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:7–11

Key Verse: Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

As youngsters, many of us learned to recite one or more “children’s prayers.” Believers and nonbelievers alike can easily recall the familiar verses of “Now I lay me down to sleep” and “God is great, God is good.” In our formative years, it is vitally important to grasp the concept of communication with God. However, as we mature in our spiritual lives, these elementary, repetitive prayers seem to lose their value.

What, then, is the best way for a growing Christian to speak with God? Examine the text of Matthew 7:7–11. These encouraging words are meant to inspire prayer. Verses 7 and 8 advise us to ask, seek, and knock in order that we may receive, find, and have doors opened to us. Verses 9–11 reassure us that God’s intent is never to harm us, but rather to give us things that are good for us.

What can we learn from this passage? Clearly, God wants us to pursue Him in our prayers and our actions, with confidence in His ability to meet our needs. Yet pursuing God (asking, seeking, and knocking) requires active participation. Our heavenly Father wants to be known. To truly know Him, we must seek His countenance, wisdom, character, and will for our lives. As you seek God, pray with originality and zeal. Pray actively from your heart, instead of passively from your memory.

Lord, help me to seek all that You are, in my prayers. In asking, seeking, and knocking, may I pursue You and Your will.[1]

[1] Stanley, C. F. (2006). Pathways to his presence (p. 134). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

May 7 God’s Protective Clothing

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Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10–18

Key Verse: Ephesians 6:12

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

At some point, you will be tempted to compromise your walk with the Lord. It may come in a way that is obvious, and immediately you will say no.

More than likely, the enemy’s deception will wear a subtle face. Once you accept Christ as your Savior, Satan’s goal shifts. Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and God owns the deed. However, the enemy remains committed to your spiritual and emotional destruction.

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood,” wrote Paul, “but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12 nasb).

Therefore, clad yourself each day with God’s protective covering—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the readiness of the gospel of peace on your feet, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit.

Prayer is the cement that seals the armor to our lives. In teaching His disciples this principle, Jesus prayed, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Luke 11:4).

Jesus understood how deadly the enemy’s darts could be. But He didn’t leave us hopeless. He lives within our hearts. Therefore, He wants us to take our stand against the enemy by faith through constant prayer.

Father, do not lead me into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. Protect me from his deadly darts. Help me take my stand against the enemy by faith through constant prayer.[1]

[1] Stanley, C. F. (1999). On holy ground (p. 134). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

May 7 Hope for Every Situation

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Scripture reading: Numbers 13:25–33

Key verse: Psalm 7:17

I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,

And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

God instructed Israel to send twelve spies to survey the promised land, a land that was already theirs. He had given it to them as a result of His covenant with Abraham (Num. 13:2).

The spies confirmed what God had told them. The land flowed with milk and honey. A single cluster of grapes was so large, two men were required to carry it. However, the report of the spies filled the people’s hearts with discouragement. They told how the land was populated by strong and mighty people. The cities, they said, were “fortified and very large” (Num. 13:28).

God’s people became frightened and begged Moses to take them back into the desert. The victory that was theirs was lost, and they chose to believe Satan’s lie and doubted God’s ability to grant them victory.

God allows obstacles so you can learn to trust Him and praise Him in every circumstance. His goal is not to harm you but to bless you. Don’t allow life’s obstacles to keep you from enjoying God’s plan for your life. God has allowed them for a purpose. Trust Him, and realize that when you feel out of control, He is never shaken. He is your sovereign Deliverer, and in Him there is eternal hope for every situation—so praise Him!

I praise You, Lord, that You are my sovereign Deliverer, and in You there is hope for every situation.[1]

[1] Stanley, C. F. (2000). Into His presence (p. 134). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Why You Should Fear God — Christian Blogs – Delivered By Grace

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According to statistics, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older. That equates to 18.1% of the total population. When we consider the vast number of people who are plagued with fear, it’s amazing to consider that there are many different types of causes or sources to the anxiety. There is a phobia based anxiety and then a more general anxiety disorder as well. At the end of the day, millions of people in America are afraid of many different things, but we would be shocked to know how small the percentage of people is in America who actually fear God.

Why You Should Fear the Wrath of God

There are many people today who are living life in complete rejection of God’s presence and complete denial of his authority. Some claim to be agnostic while others embrace atheism. Still others live such lives as Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Catholics while rejecting the authority of God. Religion is not what shields people from God’s wrath. Countless numbers of people have gone to hell while being very much committed to religion.

Years ago, a wicked Pharaoh ruled Egypt and placed the Jews under brutal slave practices. God raised up a prophet named Moses to lead the people out of the land of Egypt. However, when Moses went before the wicked king to announce the plan and demands of God, the arrogant king responded by saying, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). It would not be long before the God of all creation made himself known to the arrogant and confused ruler. It would be a lesson he would never forget. We must not forget that Pharaoh was very much a religious man—but he refused to bow to the one true and living God.

In this life, we have many things that can cause us to fear. Such examples may include the fear of spiders, snakes, or violent storms. Still others fear disease and death itself. While there are things in this life that instill fear into the hearts of people, we must be reminded that we must fear God. Storms and snakes may damage your physical body, but it’s God who can damn your soul in hell for eternity. Listen to the words of Jesus:

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28).

If you have never turned to God by faith in Jesus Christ and repented of your rebellion and the violation of God’s law—you have a reason to fear God. Consider the fact that the very Creator of the entire universe—the sovereign ruler of the entire world has given us specific demands, yet as a rebel of his law you will be judged by him. Holy justice will be executed on your soul and there will be no plea bargain. In short, you should fear God. Jesus said, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

Consider the terms used in Scripture to describe the place of damnation:

  • Matthew 5:22 – “hell fire”
  • Matthew 8:12 – “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
  • Matthew 22:13 – “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
  • Luke 13:28 – “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
  • Mark 9:44-48 – Three times the Bible mentions “worm dies not” and “fire is not quenched.”
  • Mark 9:47 – “hell fire”
  • Revelation 20:14 – “lake of fire”

Beyond specific references to hell, the Bible likewise uses other references in a more indirect manner to describe the judgment of God upon sinners.  Such references include:

Why Christians Should Fear God Too

As a child of God, we have the wonderful joy of knowing that all of our sins have been atoned for in the death of Jesus on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24; John 3:16). As a result, we are no longer the enemies of God (Rom. 5:10). We are now adopted into the family of God and enjoy the privileges of sons and daughters of God (Rom. 8:15-17). However, even so, we too must fear God!

When we as God’s children fear God, it’s a different type of fear than an unbeliever who must fear the wrath of God. As the children of God, we learn that we fear God by reverencing his sovereign power, his benevolent love, his transcendent holiness, and his providential rule of the entire universe. Consider what God’s Word teaches about such fear:

  • Psalm 103:17 – But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children
  • Psalm 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
  • Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  • Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
  • Proverbs 10:27 – The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
  • Proverbs 14:26 – In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
  • Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Although this is not an exhaustive list, it’s a good reminder of how we as God’s children should approach God with humble hearts and a proper fear that is genuine respect of who God is and what he has accomplished in the salvation of our soul. A proper fear of God leads to a proper worship of God. A proper fear and worship of God leads to a proper lifestyle that brings glory to God. Without a proper fear of God—we will be led down the path of pride and self-serving that doesn’t bring God glory.

Do you have a proper fear of God?

via Why You Should Fear God — Christian Blogs – Delivered By Grace

Remembering the Heretic, Rachel Held Evans — Reformation Charlotte

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Rachel Held Evans, the progressive author and speaker, passed away at 37 on May 4, 2019 due to complications from an infection. She tragically left behind two very young children and her husband. Rachel Held Evans impacted the Christian community in many ways that will leave its mark for generations to come.

Held Evans stood in stark contrast to orthodox Biblical Christianity and challenged biblical beliefs at their core. She was a hero of the “progressive Christian” movement. Evans was a pro-LGBT, pro-abortion feminist who shook her fist at Jesus Christ Himself, practically daring Him to reign supreme over His own creation.

While Southern Baptist leaders are throwing money and campaigning fundraisers for Rachel Held Evans — an enemy of the cross — one can only imagine how many godly Christian mothers passed away over the same weekend that do not receive the same treatment. Held Evans gets this treatment because the progressive Christian movement feels the need to signal their virtue to a Pagan, God-hating world. Rachel Held Evans was anything but a godly, Christian mother and wife.

Held Evans denied one of the primary attributes of God — His masculinity. Whether or not Held Evans “liked” it, God chose to reveal Himself to humanity as male and we don’t have the freedom or authority to reassign gender to our creator. Evans would regularly blaspheme God in such ways as “God is not a man or a woman. God is spirit.” Of course God is spirit, but God is also a man as the Scripture repeatedly refers to Him as a man.

In one article Held Evans wrote, she actually referred to God as a female, writing, “And, because of today, because of the cross, it is a pain that God Herself understands.”

via Remembering the Heretic, Rachel Held Evans — Reformation Charlotte

Begging: The Place to Start | The Master’s Seminary

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We are guilty of arrogance, not merely neglect, when we fail to beg for the Spirit’s help in the study of Scripture. God will likely give understanding through the tools we use, but when we use tools while neglecting Him, the tools have become idols.

Dale Ralph Davis | May 7, 2019

I was reading Richard Pratt’s fine book, He Gave Us Stories. He was discussing what precious little attention we give to the work of the Holy Spirit in the task of interpreting Scripture. Of course, some articles and brief pieces discuss this, but Dr. Pratt stated that, to his knowledge, the most recent work of any size on this matter was written by John Owen over three hundred years ago. I looked up the end note for the documentation; there Pratt cites Owen and John Owen’s words smacked me between the eyes:

For a man solemnly to undertake the interpretation of any portion of Scripture without invocation of God, to be taught and instructed by his Spirit, is a high provocation of him; nor shall I expect the discovery of truth from any one who thus proudly engages in work so much above his ability.

We are guilty of arrogance, not merely neglect, when we fail to beg for the Spirit’s help in the study of Scripture. We may have such arrogance even when we seem to be seeking the Spirit’s aid – I think of those times when in a light-headed tokenism we utter our slap-happy prayer ‘that the Lord would guide and direct us as we study this passage.’

One shudders to think how flippant we are.

But how many more times we neglect any overt seeking of the Spirit’s help! The pressure is on. The passage must be studied for the sermon or lesson. We pull out our exegetical notes; we grab several of the better commentaries off the shelf; make sure one Bible dictionary of choice is close at hand. Deep into our study time, the thought occurs to us that we have not looked – nor did we think of looking – to the God who breathed out this Scripture to give us an understanding of the Scripture. He will likely give that understanding through the tools we use, but when we use tools while neglecting Him, the tools have become idols.

We may have a high view of the Bible; we may be distraught because large sectors of the church seem to ignore its authority. Yet in our own Scripture work, we easily ignore its chief Interpreter. Professionalism rather than piety drives us. We needn’t be surprised at our sterility and poverty if we refuse to be beggars for the Spirit’s help.

There is a well-worn story of George Gillespie at the meeting of Parliament and the Westminster Assembly. Someone made a long and studious argument in favor of Erastianism. His associates urged young Gillespie to answer it. Gillespie repeated the substance of the previous discourse and refuted it. It was common in the Assembly for those listening to take notes while someone was speaking – as an aid to their memory. George Gillespie had seemed to be doing just that while listening to the speaker he later refuted. But when his friends could sneak a look at Gillespie’s notebook, all they could find were scribblings like, ‘Lord, send light,’ ‘Lord, give assistance,’ ‘Lord, defend thine own cause.’

That must ever be our attitude toward interpreting Scripture. We must begin with the Spirit (cf. Gal. 3:3), and we must not only begin with Him, but we must keep returning to Him again and again.

We always must begin with begging.

This summer, Dr. Dale Ralph Davis will teach on how to preach the Old Testament in the Doctor of Ministry Summer 2019 session. To learn more about the D.Min. program and to apply, visit tms.edu/dmin.

This extract is taken from The Word Became Fresh: How to Preach from Old Testament Narrative Texts by Dale Ralph Davis, (Mentor/Christian Focus Publications, Fearn, Ross-shire 2012)

Dale Ralph Davis avatarDale Ralph Davis is a Guest Lecturer in The Master’s Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program. He is also Minister in Residence of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

Source: Begging: The Place to Start

The God Delusion — More Delusion than Deity

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The Establishment (and its wholly owned media and educational system) is now redefining history, much as the communists in Russia and China and the Nazis in Germany did. The political left has redefined our American Founding Fathers as rich, selfish, slave owning, racist pigs, and over two generations of students have been taught this rewrite (redefinition) of American history – just as the masses had their history redefined for them by “the Ministry of Truth“ in Orwell’s 1984. But today, in our high-tech world, tampering with information (and hiding it) is far easier (more difficult to detect). So-called “image management” agencies deliberately change the entries presented in Wikipedia. The European Data Protection Act is actually a license to obliterate incriminating facts from Google.

In 2010, Wolfgang Schäuble exaggerated the size of the Greek debt. In the second quarter of 2014, Italy straight-out lied about its GDP growth. The following year in a bribery case, it became clear that the Italian meteorological office in one region had lied about the weather outlook for the Adriatic Coast. All three sources claimed, however, that in their definition of debt, GDP, and weather, they had not meant to mislead. The term Brexit in the UK has been redefined by the pro-EU politicians in that country, so that, in all likelihood, England will never leave the EU. Even the European Union is being redefined to be much more of a regional dictatorship than was originally conceived.

Sadly, a broad spectrum of the Earth’s citizens (probably over 95%) are largely unaware of the redefinition of terms by the elite global socialists. This lack of awareness is based on several factors – laziness, ideological rigidity, IQ, lack of education, social media manipulation, broadcast media distraction, robotically accepting education, job pressures, family pressures, financial problems, and so forth. However, with the advent of the Internet (and social media) over the past 15 years, and the alternate (anti-Establishment) news media – a growing number of formerly unaware individuals began to wake up.

This is a major reason why Clinton lost and Trump won the election in 2016. The Establishment and its political left allies understand what has been happening, and are panicking about this trend. And that is why they are going all-out to purge all conservative reporting, news, and opinion from the Internet and social media. That is why the Establishment is clamping down on the online conservative news sites and promoting the idea that “fake news” emanates only from the dangerous “lunatic fringe.“

They have begun to describe any criticism of the left, globalists, or the government as “online abuse” and “fake news” from deranged lunatics. But, they are not just trying to redefine criticism, but ALL of the news. Just watch CNN or CNBC or Yahoo News (just to name a few) to see this ugly reality. If Donald Trump wants to have any chance of winning in 2020, he needs to launch a major counteroffensive against this attempted leftist takedown of the alternate (true) news.

(Excerpt from McAlvany Intelligence Advisor, September 2018)

Secular Writer Highlights the Error of the Prosperity Gospel — ChurchLeaders

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A secular writer has taken on a question many in the church world have been trying to answer for a while now. Writing for the Financial Times, Edward Luce tackles the continued appeal of the prosperity gospel, what its teachers (like Joel Osteen) believe, and how it’s so far off from orthodox Christianity. Dr. Albert Mohler feels Luce’s article,  “A preacher for Trump’s America: Joel Osteen and the prosperity gospel,” hits the nail on the head.

“The secular reporter for the Financial Times seems to have a stronger grasp on the teachings of orthodox Christianity than Osteen,” said Dr. Mohler, who is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

What Does Joel Osteen Believe?

Osteen’s critics often accuse him of preaching the prosperity gospel, which could be described as “a pragmatic spirituality that correlates circumstantial blessings or curses with human strength, achievement or even faith.” Put another way, “God wants believers to be physically healthy, materially wealthy, and personally happy.” By focusing on comfort and happiness, prosperity gospel preachers minimize the Christian concepts of sin, eternal judgment, and suffering.

Luce says that about 20 percent of Americans attend a church that teaches the prosperity gospel, and this way of thinking was something he definitely encountered while attending a night class called “Quest for Authentic Manhood” at Lakewood, Osteen’s church in Houston, Texas. The leader of the men’s group told Luce, “If you want to feel bad, Lakewood is not the place for you. Most people want to leave church feeling better than when they went in.” More than one of the group’s attendees had a story about how once they started tithing money to Lakewood, God blessed them financially. One of the men said, “God works fast when you work for him.”

Luce also interviewed Osteen at one of his “Nights of Hope,” a “two-and-a-half-hour, all-singing-and-dancing show that he takes on the road every few weeks.” When Luce asked him why he didn’t talk about sin and redemption, Osteen responded, “Look, I am a preacher’s son so I’m an optimist. Life already makes us feel guilty every day. If you keep laying shame on people, they get turned off.” Luce’s assessment? Osteen is closer to Oprah than to Billy Graham.

Why Do People Buy Into the Prosperity Gospel?

One reason why Osteen’s message is appealing is that he and his church are extremely wealthy. As one of the men in the men’s group said, “We don’t want to follow a loser.” Another is that people are looking for hope in their lives, and the prosperity gospel offers the promise that life can be better. Lakewood has actually helped some people better their lives, such as one of the men in the group who turned his life around, stopping his self-destructive habits and saving his relationship.

Perhaps one of the most powerful reasons why the prosperity gospel appeals to people is that elements of it are true. Jesus does offer us a new identity that is defined neither by our pasts, our brokenness, nor our shame. God loves us more than we could ever comprehend. He is good and wants good for us (even though He doesn’t promise that life will be easy). He offers us mercy instead of condemnation. But that is only part of the story.

Serious Problems

One of the problems with prosperity gospel teaching is that grace and mercy don’t mean anything if we haven’t done anything wrong. It is one thing to say our guilt and shame no longer define us. It’s another to ignore the fact that God is holy and we are legitimately guilty before Him apart from Jesus’ sacrifice. As Dr. Mohler observes, “Osteen has reversed the entire theological order of biblical Christianity—an order that begins with the supreme priority, glory, and holiness of God.”

Says Dr. Mohler, “Perhaps the most horrifying statement in the Financial Times article pertains to Osteen’s exegesis of Jesus’ last words on the cross.” According to Osteen, when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He wasn’t referring to the fact that His death was an atoning sacrifice, paying the penalty for our sins. Rather, Jesus was saying that He was putting an end to our guilt, low self-esteem, mediocrity, and depression.

But what Jesus has done is far greater: “Christ declared that salvation had been secured; that death and the devil were defeated. The temple veil was torn in two, declaring the end of the sacrificial system because the perfect sacrifice had been made. Through Jesus Christ, we now have direct access to the Father.”

The cross points to another significant error of prosperity teaching: the idea that a faithful Christian life will not entail suffering. Jesus, Dr. Mohler points out, told his followers to take up their own crosses (an instrument of torture) and follow Him. He told us we would have to lose our lives to find them. He never promised that our lives will be comfortable.

Dr. Mohler concludes that Joel Osteen is offering a “wishy-washy, self-centered, self-exalting message of psychotherapy.” His message stands in stark contrast to that of Jesus, who “brings salvation, the forgiveness of sin, and life everlasting.”

via Secular Writer Highlights the Error of the Prosperity Gospel — ChurchLeaders

May 7, 2019 Afternoon Verse Of The Day

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25. And Joshua said, &c. The invective seems excessively harsh; as if it had been his intention to drive the wretched man to frantic madness, when he ought rather to have exhorted him to patience. I have no doubt that he spake thus for the sake of the people, in order to furnish a useful example to all, and my conclusion, therefore, is, that he did not wish to overwhelm Achan with despair, but only to shew in his person how grievous a crime it is to disturb the Church of God. It may be, however, that the haughty Achan complained that his satisfaction, by which he thought that he had sufficiently discharged himself, was not accepted, and that Joshua inveighed thus bitterly against him with the view of correcting or breaking his contumacy. The question seems to imply that he was expostulating, and when he appeals to God as judge, he seems to be silencing an obstinate man. The throwing of stones by the whole people was a general sign of detestation, by which they declared that they had no share in the crime which they thus avenged, and that they held it in abhorrence. The heap of stones was intended partly as a memorial to posterity, and partly to prevent any one from imprudently gathering particles of gold or silver on the spot, if it had remained unoccupied. For although the Lord had previously ordered that the gold of Jericho should be offered to him, he would not allow his sanctuary to be polluted by the proceeds of theft.[1]

Ver. 25.—Stoned him with stones. The word here is not the same as in the last part of the verse. It has been suggested that the former word signifies to stone a living person, the second to heap up stones upon a dead one; and this derives confirmation from the fact that the former word has the signification of piling up, while the latter rather gives the idea of the weight of the pile. Some have gathered from the use of the singular here, that Achan only was stoned; but the use of the plural immediately afterwards implies the contrary, unless, with Knobel, we have recourse to the suggestion that “them” is a “mistake of the Deuteronomist” for “him.” It is of course possible that his family were only taken there to witness the solemn judgment upon their father. But the use of the singular and plural in Hebrew is frequently very indefinite (see Judg. 11:17, 19; Psa. 66:6. See note above, on ch. 6:25).[2]

7:25 The references to trouble involve a wordplay on the name of the Valley of Achor. The same root word is used for this verb and for the name of the valley. The description suggests that first all Israel stoned Achan and his family, and then they burned the corpses, thereby fulfilling the law.[3]

[1] Calvin, J., & Beveridge, H. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Joshua (pp. 118–119). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

[2] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Joshua (p. 126). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

[3] Hess, R. S. (2017). Joshua. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 331). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

May 7, 2019 Truth2Freedom Briefing Report (US•World•Christian)

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REUTERS

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller should not testify in Congress about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, after saying on Friday it was up to the Justice Department’s top official.

Vice President Mike Pence is set on Tuesday to offer new incentives to Venezuela’s military to turn against President Nicolas Maduro, responding to an attempted uprising that fizzled out last week, a senior administration official told Reuters.

President Trump will welcome Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House on May 13, where they will discuss trade, energy, and national security, the White House said.

Air strikes in western Afghanistan this week destroyed a number of Taliban drug labs and also killed dozens of civilians, according to reports from local officials that were rejected by the Afghan government.

Construction of China’s first full-sized aircraft carrier is well under way, according to satellite images obtained and analyzed by a U.S. think tank.

A British soldier has been killed while taking part in counter poaching operations in Malawi, Britain’s defense ministry said on Tuesday. British media reported that the soldier was believed to have been trampled by an elephant.

Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar after they were convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act walked free from a prison on the outskirts of Yangon after spending more than 500 days behind bars.

Three out of four Americans believe children should be vaccinated against measles even if their parents object, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, showing little sympathy for the anti-vaccination movement that U.S. officials blame for the ongoing outbreak.

Georgia’s Republican governor on Tuesday is expected to sign a bill outlawing abortion if a doctor can detect a fetal heartbeat, part of a concerted effort to restrict abortion rights in states across the country.

AP Top Stories

President Donald Trump has pardoned Michael Behenna, a former Army Ranger in the 101st Airborne Division convicted of murdering an Iraqi prisoner in 2009.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressed Sunday for Russia to get out of Venezuela, while his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, called on Washington to “abandon its irresponsible plans” in the crisis-wracked country.

Israel and Gaza Strip militants reached a truce after the most intense round of fighting since their 2014 war, and life on both sides of the border returned to normal Monday. The violence, which claimed the lives of 27 Palestinians and four Israelis, had threatened to undo months of Egyptian-brokered efforts to reach a long-term truce.

Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi called for the global ban on the trade of elephant ivory to be lifted for certain countries to benefit communities that live alongside the biggest concentration of the pachyderms.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) called on Tuesday for the release of more than 3,000 migrants, mainly Ethiopians, who it said remain held in inhumane conditions in two detention centers in southern Yemen.

Parents of an Indiana teen are warning families of a dangerous social media “choking challenge” after their teen was fatally injured.

Top diplomats from the United States, Russia and other nations which border the Arctic met in Finland on Monday to discuss policies governing the polar region, as tensions grow over how to deal with global warming and access to mineral wealth.

Prominent United Arab Emirates (UAE) pro-democracy campaigner Ahmed Mansoor may be suffering treatment amounting to torture, including prolonged solitary confinement.

BBC

The US city of Denver is set to vote in a referendum that could in effect approve the use of magic mushrooms. If passed, the measure would bar officials from “spending resources to impose criminal penalties” for personal use and possession of the drug. Magic mushrooms contain a psychedelic chemical, psilocybin, which under US federal law belongs in the same group of banned drugs as heroin or LSD.

Namibia is facing a “natural disaster” because of poor rains, President Hage Geingob said. He has declared a state of emergency – the second in three years – over the situation, mobilizing all government agencies to respond to the drought. The lack of rain has already left 500,000 people – one in five Namibians – without access to enough food, the government says.

A fuel tanker lorry has overturned and exploded near the airport in Niger’s capital, Niamey, killing at least 58 people, authorities said. Many of the victims had gathered to collect fuel after the vehicle overturned close to railway tracks as it tried to park. Another 37 people were injured in the explosion.

A quarantine imposed in Mongolia after two people died from the bubonic plague has been lifted, allowing a number of tourists to leave the area.

WND

A public school instructing teachers to greet Muslims during Ramadan with “Ramadan Mubarak” and adjust test schedules is raising the specter of official district endorsement of Islam, contends a non-profit legal group.

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., followed fellow freshman Muslim Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., in criticizing Israel for defending itself against a barrage of more than 700 rockets fired by jihadists in Gaza over the weekend.

The United Nations slammed Israel for possibly committing war crimes in its fight against Hamas – and then backed that accusation by suggesting the Jewish nation ought to be sharing its Iron Dome defensive technology with the very terror group it’s fighting.

Mid-Day Snapshot · May 7, 2019

The Foundation
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.” —Patrick Henry (1788)

Booker’s Dangerous Shot at Gun Rights

It’s the usual gun-grabber list with some added “features” like a federal gun registry.

Dems Continue Beating a Dead Horse

They aim to discredit Barr as he delves into the deep-state conspiracy to oust Trump.

NYT: Trump Is Right About Border Crisis

But the Times editors argue only for more funding to deal with the influx of illegals.

New York and Los Angeles Target NRA’s Free Speech

Democrats are going after the First Amendment in a bid to silence the NRA.

Trump Has Redefined ‘Electability’

Looking ahead to 2020, what can Democrats do with a president who’s doing pretty well?

President Trump Honors Tiger Woods With Medal of Freedom

“Tiger, we are inspired by everything you’ve become and attained. There are no winners like you.”

Video: Why God Is a He

Is God a man, a woman, or a genderless force that cannot be identified by masculine or feminine traits?

Video: Mastercard to Vote on Banning the Far Right

Activist group “SumOfUs” wants “human rights committee” to oversee who uses Mastercard.

Today’s Opinion
Stephen Moore
Let the Sunshine in at the Federal Reserve
Gary Bauer
Teaching Hate
James Shott
Activities in ‘The Swamp’ Reach Disgusting and Treasonous Levels
Jeff Jacoby
‘Unplanned’ Tells an Essential Truth About Abortion: It Is Violent
Tony Perkins
Reynolds Wraps Up Session With Conservative Wins
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion.

Tuesday Top News Executive Summary

China trade talks, Trump tax returns, Barr contempt effort, Booker’s unconstitutional proposal, and more.

Tuesday Short Cuts

Read more notable quoteables from Al Green, Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Biden, Cory Booker, and more.

Today’s Meme
For more of today’s memes, visit the Memesters Union.

Today’s Cartoon
For more of today’s cartoons, visit the Cartoons archive.

News – 5/7/2019

7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea
CANBERRA, Australia – The quake hit around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday about 33 kilometers (21 miles) southeast of Bulolo, on the country’s eastern side. It struck at a depth of 127 kilometers (79 miles), U.S. Geological Survey said. It wasn’t immediately clear if there was any major damage.

Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung spews massive smoke-and-ash column
Mount Sinabung on Sumatra island – which has been rumbling since 2010 and saw a deadly eruption in 2016 – spewed the thick plume after activity picked up recent days. Disaster agency officials said the eruption has the “potential” to affect flights, but it had not issued a formal notice for planes to avoid the area. Local residents living along rivers near the crater were advised to be on alert for possible lava flows.

8 Zoonotic Diseases Shared Between Animals and People of Most Concern in the U.S.
“Every year, tens of thousands of Americans get sick from diseases spread between animals and people. CDC’s One Health Office is collaborating with DOI, USDA, and other partners across the government to bring together disease detectives, laboratorians, physicians, and veterinarians to prevent those illnesses and protect the health of people, animals, and our environment,” Plague, Emerging coronaviruses (e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome)……

European Elections: “The Battle for Europe has Begun”
“My friends, we are gathered here today to stand up for our freedom and our sovereignty. “Immigration must be stopped, and the Islamist ideology must be eradicated…. Islamization and globalism are new totalitarianisms that threaten European countries.” — Marine Le Pen, Prague Press Conference.

Report: Israel Provided Tip About Possible Iranian Attack on US Interests in GU.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said: “The United States is … send[ing] a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force.”ulf
Israel tipped the United States about a possible Iranian plan to “attack U.S. interests in the Gulf” prior to U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton warning Iran on Sunday night with “unrelenting force,” reported Israel’s Channel 13, citing senior Israeli officials. “The officials said intelligence gathered by Israel, primarily by the Mossad intelligence agency, is understood to be part of the reason for Bolton’s announcement,” according to the outlet, adding that the tip was passed along a few weeks ago during discussions at the White House between delegations led by Bolton and his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat.

Organisms that breathe arsenic discovered in the Pacific Ocean
Arsenic is toxic to almost all life forms, but now researchers at the University of Washington have discovered that some microbes in the Pacific Ocean not only tolerate the stuff, but actively breathe it. Arsenic-breathing microbes have previously been found in hot springs or lakes with high arsenic levels, but finding them in the ocean, where there isn’t all that much arsenic to begin with, is quite strange.

Rocket Lab fires a set of satellites into orbit for US military
2019 is shaping up as quite a success story for US space startup Rocket Lab. The company has backed up a successful satellite launch for DARPA in March with another for the US Air Force, seemingly putting a string of technical troubles behind it as it looks to ramp up the frequency of its missions from here on out.

Artificial embryos possible after embryonic stem cells breakthrough
An incredible new study from researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has for the first time found a way to transform skin cells into all three of the stem cell types that make up an early-stage embryo. This extraordinary discovery points a way toward creating an embryo without the need for an egg or sperm.

Magnitude-5.8 earthquake rattles Ilocos Norte in northern Philippines
An earthquake of 5.8-magnitude struck Ilocos Norte province in the northern Philippines on Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The institute said the quake, which struck at 10:48 a.m. local time, hit at a depth of 8 km, about 11 km northwest of Pagudpud town in Ilocos Norte. Phivolcs said the quake was also felt in nearby Pasuquin town in Ilocos Norte, Tuguegarao City, Claveria town in Cagayan province, Sinait town and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province.

‘Fearfully, wonderfully made’ proven in Times Square
Over the weekend, thousands of tourists and native New Yorkers saw a live 4-D ultrasound of a third-trimester baby on huge video screens in Times Square, despite efforts to censor the images. Focus on the Family reports the turnout for “Alive from New York” far exceeded expectations. “That close to 20,000 people would jam into New York City’s Times Square on a Saturday to celebrate life should encourage everyone who continues to champion and protect the most vulnerable and innocent among us,” the ministry says. “It was a triumph and the largest pro-life gathering in the history of New York City.”

HHS stirs up left-wing anger for defending religious rights
More praise is pouring in for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which under the Trump administration is finally defending the federally-protected conscience rights of doctors and nurses.

Tear-filled Alveda King on NDOP: ‘Hallelujah!’ for Trump
King got emotional after listening to Trump’s sincere appeal to God given after Vice President Mike Pence and First Lady Melania Trump lifted America up to God, asking for His blessing on the U.S. – the first country in the world’s history to have governing laws and principles rooted in the Bible.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims Records Himself Rebuking Pro-Life ‘Old White Lady’ Saying Rosary
Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims videotaped himself last week as he rebuked a woman he called an “old white lady,” who was praying the rosary as she demonstrated in front of a Planned Parenthood facility.

Dalai Lama Warns America and Europe About Muslim Refugees
“A human being who is a bit more fortunate has the duty to help them. On the other hand, there are too many now,” he said. “Europe and America, cannot become an Arab country,” he added with a laugh, the daily reported.”

Bilderberg Elites Planned Free Speech Crackdown Prior to Trump Win, Internet ID Next Step
In June of 2016, Prior to the current social media purge, Bilderberg elites discussed implementing an Internet ID in Dresden, Germany. Under the Obama administration, a National Internet ID was proposed. CBS News reported in 2011, Those involved said that the ID needed to be created by the private sector because if the government did it, “it wouldn’t be trusted”. When discussions were taking place on how to implement this ID system, Facebook emerged.

As Ramadan nears, Islamic terror groups tell the world that jihad is the best form of worship
Terrorist groups such as the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) and the Taliban in recent days made their annual call to arms as Ramadan approaches, claiming Allah exceptionally rewards martyrdom during the holy month. This year, the holiest month for Muslims is expected to run from the evening of May 5 to June 5, depending on the phases of the moon.

Lost Fertility Clinic Embryos Weren’t Living Persons, Ohio Appellate Court Rules
Frozen embryos are not living persons, an appellate court in Ohio affirmed Thursday. The ruling is the latest development in a case brought by a couple who lost three embryos in a fertility clinic storage tank malfunction last year.

Qatar will allocate $480 million to the West Bank, Gaza
The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani has ordered the transfer of $480 million to the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Qatari Foreign Ministry. Some $300 million will go toward the Palestinian Authority’s budget for health and education, with the remaining $180 million earmarked for UN programs for the Palestinians as well as electricity services.

US accuses China of backtracking on trade deal
US trade representative Robert Lighthizer has accused China of backtracking on commitments in trade talks, but insisted a deal on tariffs is still possible. He said President Trump’s threat to impose new taxes on Chinese exports came after China reneged on promises. But he said a Chinese delegation was still expected in Washington on Thursday for a further round of talks.

Microsoft offers software tools to secure elections
Microsoft has announced an ambitious effort to make voting secure, verifiable and subject to reliable audits by registering ballots in encrypted form so they can be accurately and independently tracked long after they are cast. Two of the three top U.S elections vendors have expressed interest in potentially incorporating the open-source software into their voting systems.

Cartels thrive in New Mexico county after feds shut down checkpoints
…Otero County last month became the first border community to declare a state of emergency after the federal government shut down two local checkpoints in the area, which had traditionally provided a second line of defense against shipments of drugs and illegal immigrants who managed to sneak through the border at El Paso, about 90 miles to the south.

Catholic Clergy Accuse Pope Francis of Heresy, Call to Reprimand Him
A group of Catholic Church clergy members and theologians has called on bishops to admonish Pope Francis, accusing the head of the Vatican of heresy, according to reports.

Resistant ’superbug’ hitting hospitals in N.Y., N.J. should be declared public health emergency, lawmaker says
A U.S. senator is calling for federal officials to declare a public health emergency over the a potentially deadly fungus that has been spreading at health care facilities in New York and New Jersey, among other states.

Tropical Cyclone “Fani” forced one of the biggest human evacuations in history, death toll rises to 30
At least 16 people have been killed in India and another 14 in Bangladesh due to strong winds and heavy rain produced by Tropical Cyclone “Fani” since it made landfall May 3, 2019. More than 200 were injured.

Pope slanders those who are calling for strengthening nation sovereignty and protecting borders
Pope Francis addressed participants at a Vatican conference on Thursday and denounced a trend toward nationalism that entails “excessive demands for sovereignty.” “The common good has become global and nations must associate,” the pope told members of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences who gathered for their annual meeting, entitled “Nation, State, Nation-State.”

Facebook Has An Orwellian Future Just For You
Alex delves into what you can expect in the very near future as the totalitarian tech rollout accelerates. There are already plans to surveil any dissent via text messages and organized digital gulags.

Crimes, deaths, and attacks during Ramadan 2019 – updated daily
Crimes, deaths, and attacks during Ramadan 2019 – updated daily: Ramadan killathon – takbir!

No, Christianity Doesn’t Need To Endorse Homosexuality To Grow
Stop accepting the Bible as true and admit Christianity has gotten it terribly wrong on homosexuality. This is the advice Rev. Oliver Thomas gives in a recent opinion article in USA Today for how the church can stop “hemorrhaging members” and see brighter days.

United States Deploys USS Abraham Lincoln With Bomber Strike Force To Middle East After Hearing Iran Planned Attack On US Forces In Region
Well this was quite the surprise tonight. As a very shaky ceasefire is called between Israel and Hamas, the United States makes the stunning announcement that we are sending over the USS Abraham Lincoln and a bomber attack squad to the Middle East after threats from Iran.

NOT OVER: As Ceasefire Goes Into Effect, Netanyahu Says Gaza Campaign Not Over And Israel Is Preparing To Continue Fight Against Hamas
As we told you yesterday, it is no coincidence of any kind that the United States is sending over the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East to deal with some vague, non-specific “Iranian threat’ at exactly the same time Hamas wants a ceasefire. Netanyahu has zero intentions of letting this one go after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad rockets killed 4 Israelis over the weekend.

Review: ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile’: A Tense Look At Bundy’s Charm
“Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” is a Netflix original crime biopic about serial killer Ted Bundy…Rather than focusing on the grotesque nature of Bundy’s crimes, as one might expect from the title, the film centers around Bundy’s relationships and the impact his various trials had on them.

Rejected: Transgender Weightlifter’s Claim to Women’s Records Revoked By League
A born-male transgender weightlifter, who recently smashed several women’s powerlifting records in a single day by “identifying” as a woman, has had the claims rejected by the official weightlifting league.

Headlines – 5/7/2019

690 Rockets, 320 Strikes: Gaza-Israel Flare-up in Numbers

In rocket-scarred south, quiet returns but anger simmers

Same old media bias dredged up following Israeli reprisals after Gaza rocket barrage

Netanyahu under fire as rivals brand Gaza truce deal a capitulation

PM pushes back on Gaza ceasefire criticism, says ‘rules of game’ have changed

As ceasefire goes into effect, Netanyahu says Gaza campaign not over

Netanyahu to military: get ready for another escalation

After flareup, military warns current Gaza policies leading region back to war

IDF chief: Israel destroyed hundreds of ‘terror targets’ in Gaza

Hamas boasts it ‘overcame’ Iron Dome with concentrated rocket salvos. It didn’t

Under Trump, US a mere bystander in Israel-Hamas ceasefire efforts

Residents of Rocket-Battered Southern Israel Express Dismay Over Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas Sends Chilling Text Message to Southern Israeli Citizens

Ilhan Omar’s tweet on Israel-Gaza violence sparks condemnation from Republicans

Qatar pledges to send $480 million in aid to West Bank and Gaza

IDF to close off West Bank, Gaza for Memorial and Independence Days

Israel is the first to respond to a cyberattack with immediate force

US Muslim group backtracks after posting clip of kids vowing Jerusalem martyrdom

Pew: US Christians Like the Israeli and Palestinian People More Than Their Governments

Caroline Glick being touted for UN ambassador post

Ukraine asks to join international task force on Holocaust education

Report: Mossad intel of looming Iranian attack led US to send in carrier force

Aircraft carrier, bombers shifted to Middle East to send ‘very loud’ message to Iran

Pompeo: US sees activity indicating possible ‘escalation’ from Iran

The oil route that could be at the center of a U.S. warning of ‘unrelenting force’ against Iran

Sudden US threat against Iran adds to Middle East volatility

Shanahan Says Iran Must Cease ‘All Provocation’

Cyprus: Turkey’s drilling bid off island ‘second invasion’

Turkey Cancels Istanbul Election Won by Opposition

Turkey election body orders Istanbul re-vote

African Union and UN support civilian-led Sudan transition

Fighting kills 26 in Syria’s northwest: monitor

Escalating Syrian and Russian airstrikes in rebel-held Idlib stoke fears of a final showdown

UN warns of increased tensions over North Korea weapons test

North Korea’s Short-Range Missile Test Spotted from Space

Russia’s Lavrov, after Pompeo talks, warns against US military action in Venezuela

Dow makes stunning comeback as China confirms trade team will head to U.S.

Treasury rejects demand for Trump tax returns, setting up court battle with congressional Democrats

House Democrats move closer to holding Barr in contempt, raising questions about fate of former Trump counsel Donald McGahn

House Republicans want Mueller to testify despite Trump opposition

Trump would have faced obstruction charge if not president: ex-prosecutors

Julian Castro renews call for president’s impeachment after ex-prosecutors claim Trump obstructed justice

Inside Facebook’s war room: the battle to protect EU elections

Microsoft offers software tools to secure elections

Alexa has been eavesdropping on you this whole time

Man, the humans in this AI-created video look jaw-droppingly real

C9.9 solar flare erupts from AR 2740, the strongest since October 2017

7.2 magnitude earthquake hits near Bulolo, Papua New Guinea

5.5 magnitude earthquake hits near Panguna, Papua New Guinea

5.4 magnitude earthquake hits north of Ascension Island

5.0 magnitude earthquake hits north of Ascension Island

5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Luganville, Vanuatu

Sabancaya volcano in Peru erupts to 24,000ft

Agung volcano in Indonesia erupts to 17,000ft

Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts to 16,000ft

Sinabung volcano in Indonesia erupts to 15,000ft

Sheveluch volcano on Kamchatka, Russia erupts to 13,000ft

Sakurajima volcano on Japan erupts to 10,000ft

Great Lakes water levels expected to set record highs

Evacuations ordered following levee breaches along Mississippi River north of St. Louis

Historic Arctic outbreak affecting Europe and northern Africa

Weather, equipment failure may be to blame in deadly Russian plane fire

Save Nature to save ourselves, UN report pleads

Campbell’s soup changed tomatoes’ DNA and opened up a can of mystery

UK Health Minister Says They Have Not Ruled Out Making Vaccinations Compulsary

Amid Measles Outbreaks, States Consider Revoking Religious Vaccine Exemptions

Cruise ship passengers won’t be able to disembark on Caribbean island without proof of a measles vaccination

Tourists Indefinitely Quarantined in Mongolia Over Bubonic Plague Fears

GA Governor Signing ‘Heartbeat Bill’ : I’m Not Worried About What Hollywood Thinks Of Me

At NYC’s largest ever pro-life rally, women, abortion survivors take a stand

Babies dying, women at risk – Reports of complications from drug-induced abortion are just the tip of the iceberg

Conservative Anglican group may boycott global bishops conference over gay marriage

Caitlin Fink, High School Student In Porn Industry, Finally Shares Story: ‘It’s Not A Taboo Topic’

Mastermind who vowed to help hundreds find love using ‘witchcraft’ sentenced to 2 years

Chinese House Churches Shut Down for Disobeying the Party

80 percent of persecuted religious believers are Christians: British gov’t interim report

Pope Pushes Idea of Global Authority at Vatican Nation-State Conference

Apostasy Watch Daily News

Daniel Mann – How Can I Be  a New Creation in Christ if I Still Sin?

Thrice Married Paula White, Pronounces Herself an Apostle and Appoints Son as Replacement

James MacDonald to get no severance, money from tithes, church says; Naples church hires new pastor

Charismatic Prophet Says Satan Uses Chemtrails to Block “God’s Frequency” and “Worship”

Pastor Larry Trotter withdraws from speaking at church led by pastor in same-sex marriage

The rebel priest: ‘Gay people in the church are not going to go away’

Exorcism goes mainstream: Combined Churches assemble in Rome to learn ‘best practice’ eviction of demons

Evangelical-supported charity looking to secure every vulnerable synagogue in the world

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“A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a council without it…” – Martin Luther

 

RenewAmerica Newsletter for May 7, 2019

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May 6, 2019
American foreign policy experts launch new group to counter Chinese threat through education and advocacy
WES VERNON — Yet another chapter is being written in Communist China’s 70-year threat to impose a worldwide dictatorship. And again the Chinese ponder night and day how to deal with the United States – – which they see as the main factor standing in the way of their envisioned hegemony… (more)
May 6, 2019
Alan Keyes writes about free choice, limits of man’s power
ALAN KEYES — In countries more interested in maintaining the façade of self-government than its substance, eligible citizens are penalized for not voting. If the vote is the symbol of freedom, they are, in Rousseau’s words, forced to be free. This self-contradictory freedom may make sense to people surrendered to the bondage of their passions, or, as Saint Paul calls it, “the law in our members” (Romans 7:23)…. (more)
May 6, 2019
REV. MARK H. CREECH — A few days ago, I preached for a community Revival service held in a convention center in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Several churches participated. The people who provided the Christian music for that event were stupendous. I’ve never heard better singing at any church, gospel concert, or church event…. (more)
May 6, 2019
Sends tank reinforcements to Gaza border

TIMES OF ISRAEL — The Israeli military sent an additional tank brigade to the Gaza border on Sunday and prepared for fighting in the coming days after over 450 rockets and mortar shells were fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip over the course of 24 hours this weekend, killing an Israeli man and injuring several others…. (more)

May 6, 2019
NEWSMAX — Lost in Democratic hysteria over Russian election meddling and their failed narrative of Trump campaign conspiracy to assist is the fact special counsel Robert Mueller let the president work under a “cloud” for at least a year, despite having found no evidence of collusion, according to Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y…. (more)
May 6, 2019
SARA CARTER — Department of Justice Attorney General William Barr is the perfect man for the job. He is methodical, attentive, calm and rides the storm of chaos with the demeanor of a man who knows he is standing on the side of truth…. (more)
May 6, 2019
WASHINGTON TIMES — Special counsel Robert Mueller relied on the media to feed his Russian election interference report, citing scores of stories mostly from news outlets that promoted the debunked Trump-Kremlin election conspiracy…. (more)
May 6, 2019
ROBERT KNIGHT — Adults in the Democratic Party, who seem like flustered parents at an out-of-control toddler birthday bash, have been warning about the public’s perception of them. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has reason to worry. The 22 declared candidates for the presidential nomination lean far to the left. Which means they represent the center of their now-far-left party…. (more)
May 6, 2019
PHILIP KLEIN — The U.S. unemployment rate has gotten so low, that most Americans were not alive the last time it was at this level. On Friday, the Department of Labor reported that the unemployment rate dipped to 3.6% in April, which was the lowest level since December 1969. That means anybody younger than 49 years and four months hasn’t been alive long enough to see the unemployment rate this low…. (more)
May 6, 2019
NEWSMAX — Preaching for a convincing Democrat victory over President Donald Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is advising against impeachment, while warning a narrow victory might lead the president to refuse to leave the White House, The New York Times reported…. (more)
May 3, 2019
NEWSMAX — Former “Saturday Night Live” performer Rob Schneider said in an interview Friday he thinks the current left-leaning politics of the cast and guest stars are ruining the show. Schneider told the New York Daily News he doesn’t find Alec Baldwin’s impersonation of Donald Trump funny because of Baldwin’s obvious bias against the president…. (more)
May 3, 2019
NY Times WH correspondent lays bare former president’s ‘fury’ over 2016 result

WORLDNETDAILY — Barack Obama saw the 2016 presidential victory by Republican Donald Trump as a “personal insult” and expressed disbelief that the American people had “turned on him,” according to a new book. The Daily Mail of London reported the new edition of “Obama: The Call of History” by New York Times correspondent Peter Baker “lays bare Obama’s fury over the election results.”… (more)

May 3, 2019
Says Obama’s legacy did her in
MATT MARGOLIS — According to a revised edition of the book Obama: The Call of History by New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker, Obama was absolutely furious about Trump’s victory. Barack Obama admitted ‘this stings’ after the 2016 election result and spent the night watching the movie Dr Strange to try and distract himself, a new book claims…. (more)
May 3, 2019
At the time, Keyes and Obama were vying for the U.S. Senate from Illinois.

YOUTUBE — In 2004, Alan Keyes and Barack Obama went head to head in a classic debate over Americans’ constitutional liberties vs. progressive control of their lives by government – a debate that offered a preview of what later defined Obama’s legacy as president. The occasion was the Keyes-Obama contest for the open U.S. Senate seat from Illinois. Dr. Keyes was recruited by the state GOP after the Republican nominee dropped out with three months to go…. (more)

May 3, 2019
DAILY CALLER — The Poynter Institute, a journalism nonprofit organization, has completely disabled a list of what they labeled as an extensive list of “unreliable” news websites on Thursday night after facing scrutiny in the days since its publication…. (more)
May 3, 2019

YOUTUBE — Rich Little impersonates Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Stewart & many more!… (more)

May 2, 2019
NEWSMAX — Attorney General William Barr’s appearance in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee showed he was right on not charging President Donald Trump with obstruction of justice, attorney Alan Dershowitz told Newsmax TV…. (more)
May 2, 2019
The alleged Russia collusion scandal has become the alleged Bill Barr scandal
NATIONAL REVIEW — The alleged Russia collusion scandal has become the alleged Bill Barr scandal. There are now calls for him to resign or be impeached because he supposedly mislead Congress about Robert Mueller’s discontent, expressed in a letter first reported by the Washington Post last night, over his letter making his summary of conclusions from the probe. But this is nonsense…. (more)
May 2, 2019
‘That’s the definition of collusion’
ART MOORE — If Robert Mueller was tasked with investigating possible campaign collusion with Russia in the 2016 election, why didn’t he probe the so-called Steele dossier financed by Democrats that appears to have been part of a Russia disinformation campaign?… (more)
May 2, 2019
‘How do we know the Steele dossier is not itself evidence of disinformation?’

WORLDNETDAILY — The Russia investigation begun by the Barack Obama administration focused on claims now debunked by the Mueller report that the 2016 Trump campaign colluded with Russia…. (more)

May 2, 2019
NATIONAL REVIEW — Attorney General William Barr will not appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday to answer questions about special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation as previously planned, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday evening…. (more)
May 2, 2019
‘That’s what’s really gone on here. That’s the story’

WORLDNETDAILY — A Republican U.S. senator charged Wednesday that a few unelected bureaucrats in Barack Obama’s administration decided to take it upon themselves to try to change the results of the 2016 presidential election won by Donald Trump…. (more)

May 2, 2019
Poynter Institute aims to put ‘UnNews’ out of business by ending advertising

WORLDNETDAILY — The non-profit journalism group the Poynter Institute published a list of 515 media sites – – including WND, Breitbart News and Drudge – – that it wants blacklisted and shut down. Poynter claims on its “About” page that “it champions freedom of expression,” noted Breitbart News Editor-at-Large John Nolte. But it describes its list as an “index of unreliable news sites” and calls for advertisers to put the sites out of business…. (more)

May 2, 2019
‘Without God, there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life’—President Eisenhower
BILL FEDERER — President Reagan stated Jan. 27, 1983: “In 1775, the Continental Congress proclaimed the first National Day of Prayer. … In 1783, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the long, weary Revolutionary War during which a National Day of Prayer had been proclaimed every spring for eight years.”… (more)

 

UNEQUIVOCALLY AND ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT – OBAMA KNEW ABOUT SPYING AND WAS IN ON IT — The Gateway Pundit

1 Reply

We now know without a doubt the former President Barack Obama was in on the Deep State’s actions to spy on President Trump and entrap his team members.  We don’t know how much spying and attempts of entrapment went on, but we do know Obama was aware of it all.

Democrats and Deep State dirty cops have claimed for months that there was no spying on the Trump campaign.  Now we know without a doubt that there was not only spying, but the dirty cops in the Deep State attempted to entrap Trump team members through this spying.  We also know without a doubt that Obama was in on it.

We know Obama was in on it based on numerous pieces of information. 

For starters we know that Obama spied on numerous people for years while he was President.  Obama took the US Intelligence community and corrupted it.  He used the US intelligence apparatus to spy on anyone and everyone and especially his enemies.  We put a list of the many individuals and entities Obama spied on that we know of here.

We also know that Hillary’s long lost emails were found in the White House.  This was reported by Judicial Watch in April 2019 –

Conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch announced that Bill Priestap, former Assistant Director of the FBI Counterintelligence Division admitted, in writing and under oath, that the FBI found Hillary Clinton’s emails in the Obama White House — specifically the Executive Office of the President!

The FBI also admitted that almost 49,000 Hillary Clinton emails were reviewed as a result of a search warrant for emails found on Anthony Weiner’s laptop.

We know that Susan Rice, Obama’s former National Security Advisor, left a email on the last day that she and Obama were in office that confirms Obama was in on it.  Senators Grassley and Graham sent a letter to Rice asking about this email –

Ambassador Rice appears to have used this email to document a January 5, 2017 Oval Office meeting between President Obama, former FBI Director James Comey and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates regarding Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election.  In particular, Ambassador Rice wrote:

“President Obama began the conversation by stressing his continued commitment to ensuring that every aspect of this issue is handled by the Intelligence and law enforcement communities ‘by the book’.  The President stressed that he is not asking about, initiating or instructing anything from a law enforcement perspective.  He reiterated that our law enforcement team needs to proceed as it normally would by the book.” 

Rice and Obama must have felt guilty about their crimes because they sent this email in an attempt to cover up their illegal actions.  Unfortunately, nobody is buying it.
We also know that Obama, in essence, told incoming President-elect Trump in the Oval office that he was involved in the Deep State coup.  Obama did this inadvertently by advising Trump not to hire General Michael Flynn.

President Obama warned Donald Trump against hiring Michael Flynn as national security adviser in the days after the 2016 election, according to three former Obama administration officials.

The warning came during an Oval Office meeting between Obama and Trump after the Republican’s victory. Flynn had been fired by the Obama administration as the head of the military’s intelligence branch.

This was plastered all over the media in May 2017 a few days before the Mueller Special Investigation was put into place by Rod Rosenstein.  Obama had to know about the coup in order to make this recommendation to Trump months earlier but the media only thought about using this to discredit both Trump and Flynn.  Now its coming back to haunt Obama.

In March 2019 Deep State coup participant James Clapper said to CNN’s Anderson Cooper –

One point I’d like to make, Anderson, that I don’t think has come up very much before, and I’m alluding now to the President’s [Trump’s] criticism of President Obama for all that he did or didn’t do before he left office with respect to the Russian meddling. If it weren’t for President Obama, we might not have done the intelligence community assessment that we did that set off a whole sequence of events which are still unfolding today, notably, special counsel Mueller’s investigation.

President Obama is responsible for that, and it was he who tasked us to do that intelligence community assessment in the first place. I think it’s an important point when it comes to critiquing President Obama.

 

Finally, if Clapper hasn’t said enough, former US Attorney Joe DiGenova was on the radio yesterday and he said point blank says that Obama knew about it all –

Obama was in on it.  It was a sham.  The Mueller investigation was a sham.  Obama spied on the opposition party.

via UNEQUIVOCALLY AND ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT – OBAMA KNEW ABOUT SPYING AND WAS IN ON IT — The Gateway Pundit

The Fright of James Comey — Christian Research Network

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“Comey has never adequately explained his role in inserting FBI informants into a presidential campaign, and the degree to which his decision might have been taken in conjunction with other intelligence agencies or with the knowledge of the then-attorney general or President Obama. The New York Times of all publications is apparently investigating the use of FBI informants to sandbag the Trump campaign—during Comey’s directorship. To my knowledge, no previous FBI director—perhaps not even J. Edgar Hoover—had unilaterally placed FBI informants into a presidential campaign during the general election.”

(Victor Davis Hanson – American Greatness)  In a recent op-ed, fired FBI Director James Comey was back again preaching to the nation about the dangers of Donald Trump and his capacity to corrupt any top-ranking federal official of lower character than Comey’s own.

Comey seems to have become utterly unhinged by Donald Trump, especially when the president, in his thick Queens accent, scoffs in the vernacular—quite accurately, given the transgressions of the FBI hierarchy—about “crooked cops.” What an affront to Comey’s complexity, his subtlety, his sophistication, his feigned Hamlet-like self-doubt—at least as now expressed in his latest incarnation as Twitter’s Kahlil Gibran.

One can say a number of things about the timing of Comey’s latest sermon and his characteristic projection of his own sins on to others.

First, Comey’s unprofessionalism was home-grown and certainly did not need any help from President Trump. His schizophrenic behavior both as a prosecutor and investigator in the Hillary Clinton email matter was marked by exempting Clinton aides Cheryl Mills and Huma Abedin from indictment, despite their lying to his own federal officials about their knowledge of a private Clinton email server. Comey wrote his summation of the Clinton email investigation before he had even interviewed the former secretary of state. He was hardly independent from a recused Attorney General Loretta Lynch in the Clinton email investigation. As her rubbery courier he bent to her directives on all key decisions that led to de facto exoneration of likely next president Hillary Clinton.  View article →

via The Fright of James Comey — Christian Research Network

Christian Persecution Being Called GENOCIDE: World Turns A Blind Eye

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Absolute Truth from the Word of God

Brethren, should we be surprised that our brothers and sisters are being killed all day long in various parts of the world?  Not if we read the words of our Lord Jesus. He warned his disciples and His Word warns us:

Jesus said:

 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake”  (Matthew 24:9).

 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds ofevil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth;but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

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May 7 Spiritual Alertness

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scripture reading: James 4:1–8
key verse: 1 Corinthians 16:13

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

During the Persian Gulf War, surprise was an effective tool of the Allied Forces. Both the air and the ground offensives used the element of surprise in their tactical maneuvers, catching the Iraqi military off guard on numerous occasions.

Some of our success, however, can be attributed to a lack of alertness on behalf of the Iraqi soldiers. Those soldiers, buried deep in bunkers, were mentally lulled into tactical lethargy.

Alertness to the strategy and presence of the enemy is always a fundamental part of winning a war, including the spiritual war Christians fight against the forces of the devil, the world, and sin. Alertness is dulled by pride or self–reliance.

The more confident you are in your abilities, the more complacent you are about sin and the less attentive you are to the enemy’s efforts. Do you know that you wake up to a spiritual war each morning? Are you aware that the power of the evil one is set against you?

Simply stepping out into the day with a smile and a hearty breakfast may make you feel good but does not prepare you for spiritual combat. Alertness begins with awareness of the conflict and the identity of the enemy. Steeled against his schemes, you will not be caught by surprise.

Heavenly Father, remove my complacency. Let me be spiritually alert. Make me aware of the power of the evil one. Don’t let his schemes catch me by surprise.[1]

[1] Stanley, C. F. (1998). Enter His gates: a daily devotional. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

7 may (preached 9 may 1860) 365 Days with Spurgeon

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Peace at home, and prosperity abroad

“He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” Psalm 147:14–15

suggested further reading: 1 Thessalonians 1

Suppose the pulpit in our land gives an uncertain sound. As a result God’s people begin to forsake the assembling of themselves together; no crowds gather to hear the Word; places begin to get empty; prayer-meetings become more and more deserted; the efforts of the Church may be still carried on, but they are merely a matter of routine; there is no life, no heart in it. I am supposing a case you see, a case which I trust we never may see. Things get worse and worse; the doctrines of the gospel become expunged and unknown; they that fear the Lord no more speak one to another. Still for a little time the money continues to be brought into the Society, and foreign missions are sustained. Can you not imagine in the next report, “We have had no converts this year; our income is still maintained; but notwithstanding that, our brethren feel that they are labouring under the greatest possible disadvantages; in fact, some of them wish to return home and renounce the work.” Another year—the missionary spirit has grown cold in the churches, its funds decrease. Another year, and yet another; it becomes a moot point among us as to whether missions are absolutely necessary or not. We have come at last to the more advanced point which some divines have already reached, and begin to question whether Mohammed and Confucius had not a revelation from God as well as Jesus Christ. And now we begin to say, “Is it needful that we should extend the gospel abroad at all? We have lost faith in it; we see it does nothing at home, shall we send that across the sea which is a drug on the market here, and distribute as a healing for the wounds of the daughters of Zidon and of Tyre that which has not healed the daughter of Jerusalem?”

for meditation: A healthy church is the light of the world; an unhealthy church will be as much use to the world as the seven churches of Revelation are today (Matthew 5:13–16).

sermon no. 314[1]

[1] Spurgeon, C. H., & Crosby, T. P. (1998). 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 1) (p. 134). Leominster, UK: Day One Publications.

7 MAY 365 Days with Calvin

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The Beginning of Conversion

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Ezekiel 18:21–22

suggested further reading: Ephesians 2

If this humane invitation of God does not stir us, we have no excuse. For he bears witness that he is gracious to us when we heartily desire to be reconciled to him. Still, he requires serious repentance.

A kind of half-conversion can be discerned in many who think they are safe before God if they can only bring forward something worthy of praise. But that is like a servant offering his master muddy wine, which is mixed not only with dregs but also with filth. So are the works of those who do not put away all depraved desires and strive to free themselves from corruptions of the flesh.

Note what is taught here, that the beginning of conversion is to renounce oneself and one’s lusts. To that must be added another part of duty, for when anyone bids farewell to his vices, he must also devote himself in obedience to God. The prophet here joins the two together, since one cannot be separated from the other. Hence the Spirit here shortly defines what true and legitimate conversion is. He says that when someone is converted, his life is prepared for God, since God will forget all his sins. This confirms the doctrine, for God cannot be entreated as long as he imputes our sins to us. Hence, we may deem him gracious to us, for he promises that as soon as we truly repent, all our sins will be buried and no longer remembered.

The incomparable goodness of God is that he deigns to forget all our sins as soon as he sees us earnestly desirous of returning to him.

for meditation: This text is excellent material for self-examination. If true conversion involves fleeing from our evil desires and corruptions and devoting ourselves obediently to God, it should be our regular practice to examine ourselves to make sure that, by God’s grace, we have indeed done these very things. Have you?[1]

[1] Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 146). Leominster; Grand Rapids, MI: Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

The Reason Why God Made Us Salt and Light — The Cripplegate

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Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Image result for to god be the gloryAs we’ve seen over the past few weeks, it isn’t easy to be salt and light. We live in a culture that celebrates the murder of children in the womb. We live in a world where sex trafficking is not only alive and well, but at its highest rate in human history. People still worship pretty much everything but the God who made it all, and yet, despite the fact that our task may seem daunting, we have been given very specific roles by God to be salt and light.

With salt, we saw that we are called to influence the world God sovereignty placed around us. We can delay the decaying of the world around us simply by living out the beatitudes. We considered the risk as well; the risk was that we might be the ones who end up being influenced. Despite our role of being the influencers, we could end up being influenced.

We also saw that our role as light eliminates the idea that we would run and hide. We are called to reflect the light of Christ into the world. This means that people need to know who Christ is and that we represent Him to the world around us. The risk is that we shy away from our task of preaching the Gospel to the world, or that perhaps in an effort of not wanting to be influenced by other, we end up shying away and hiding. But Jesus calls us to live in the world as ambassadors of Heaven, pleading with people to turn from their sin and embrace Jesus Christ.

But what is the reason?

It is such a hard task to be in the world actively influencing, while at the same time actively battling sin!  And not just battling external sin, but in our own hearts, as well! Temptation lurks around every corner! The world is so hostile to the Gospel and hates God. Trials come like waves in the sea. There seems to be very little rest in this life. So why in the world would a Christian be willing to struggle through this whole ordeal?

The answer is simple:  the glory of God!

God is worthy of our worship. Living holy lives unstained by the world is an act of worship. Telling people about Christ is an act of worship. Saying no to sin, keeping your eyes on Christ, and desiring to be with Him in heaven are acts of worship. And God is worthy of it all.

Perhaps the greatest motivation for living as salt and light in a dying world is God Himself.

There are many worthy motivations. The lost souls who are dying and going to Hell, the desire for rewards in Heaven, the desire to be godly examples to our brothers and sisters in Christ. But none of those motivations compare to the greatest motivation for obedience, which is love for God.

God deserves our worship and He deserves the worship of your neighbor across the street.

Perhaps you’ve never considered it, but it should bother you that your neighbor doesn’t worship God. Sometimes it bothers us when our neighbor is a Muslim, homosexual, or God forbid, a Democrat! But we fail to consider that our greatest displeasure should be with the fact that he or she doesn’t worship the Lord. their religion, sexual orientation or political persuasion matters not, if they don’t worship God, they are at enmity towards Him. And the fact of the matter is that they should worship their Creator, not just for their own good, but more importantly for His glory.

Do you live for His glory? Do you care about the Glory of God?

Our job in this life is to be salt and light, always considering the risks of becoming worldly and hiding the truth, understanding that we do all of this for the glory of God, who sent His son to die on the cross in our place. And one day, when our life is complete, we will be able to rest in Heaven where we will spend eternity, learning and growing in the knowledge of our glorious God, whom we will worship forever.

Let our name be forgotten and may we preach the name of Christ to anyone who will listen!

via The Reason Why God Made Us Salt and Light — The Cripplegate