Showing posts with label CBN News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CBN News. Show all posts

Friday, May 24, 2019

Bible Study Battle Goes Federal After Christian Couple Threatened with Eviction - CBN News Steve Warren

(Image credit: CBN News)
(Image credit: CBN News)
Bible Study Battle Goes Federal After Christian Couple Threatened with Eviction
05-22-2019
CBN News Steve Warren
A Virginia senior living community is facing a federal lawsuit after threatening to evict residents for leading a Bible study in their own apartment. 
Attorneys with the First Liberty Institute and Hunton Andrews Kurth, LLP filed the lawsuit against The Evergreens at Smith Run in Fredericksburg, VA, and its parent company, Community Realty Company (CRC), alleging religious discrimination in housing by the apartment's management.
As CBN News reported, Ken and Liv Hauge were threatened with eviction by the company last year for hosting a small Bible study.  A retired pastor, Ken led the Bible study in his personal capacity at the request of other senior residents.  
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The study grew so much that at one point they asked to use a community room. Their request was granted. But later they were told they couldn't hold the Bible study there. 
The Hauges have lived at the senior community since 2017. They are both in their mid-80s. 
The lawsuit claims that CRC and the Evergreens management discriminated against the Hauges and others on the basis of religion, by first banning all residents from publicly saying grace before their meals. They also prohibited the Hauges from hosting the Bible study anywhere at The Evergreens, including their own apartment under the threat of eviction. 
"The management company's hostility to religious residents violates federal law and taints Virginia's long history of religious freedom," said Lea Patterson, associate counsel for First Liberty, in a press release. "We're asking the court to hold the management company accountable for violating the Hauges' right to exercise their faith in their home and to ensure no other residents have to suffer through what the Hauges have endured."
In October of 2017, First Liberty asked the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate CRC for religious discrimination. The investigation is continuing. 
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Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Will Supreme Court Agree that Christian Student Should Be Forced to Cite Islamic Conversion Prayer in School? - CBN News Steve Warren

Will Supreme Court Agree that Christian Student Should Be Forced to Cite 
Islamic Conversion Prayer in School?
05-20-2019
CBN News Steve Warren
Four years ago, a Christian high school junior was compelled by her teacher at La Plata High School in La Plata, Md., to recall the Islamic conversion creed – the Shahada – as part of a written assignment. She was required to write the Islamic creed, "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."
The World History course also taught that "Most Muslims' faith is stronger than the average Christian's."
Caleigh Wood refused to complete the assignment, believing that is it is a sin to profess by word or in writing, that there is any other god except the Christian God. 
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School officials refused to let her opt out of the course, and as a result she received a lower percentage grade for the course, but that did not affect her letter grade.
The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) on behalf of the Wood family filed a lawsuit, claiming the school had violated the First Amendment Establishment Clause and the girl's right not to be forced to profess faith in another religion. Both the Federal District Court and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the high school's Islamic curriculum. 
Now, the TMLC has appealed the case to the Supreme Court asking the high court to decide whether any legal basis exists to allow public schools to discriminate against Christianity while at the same time promoting Islam. 
READ: Teachers Speaking Islamic Blessings? Washington School Districts Accused of Pro-Ramadan Policies
"Under the guise of teaching history or social studies, public schools across America are promoting the religion of Islam in ways that would never be tolerated for Christianity or any other religion," TMLC President and Chief Counsel Richard Thompson said in a statement. "I'm not aware of any school which has forced a Muslim student to write the Lord's Prayer or John 3:16: 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'"
Using a Powerpoint presentation in the class, the students at the school were also taught:
  • Islam is a peaceful religion
  • Jihad is a "personal struggle in devotion to Islam, especially involving spiritual discipline."
  • "To Muslims, Allah is the same God that is worshiped in Christianity and Judaism."
  • "Men are the managers of the affairs of women" and "Righteous women are therefore obedient."
"Many public schools have become a hotbed of Islamic propaganda," Thompson continued. "Teaching Islam in schools has gone far beyond a basic history lesson. Prompted by zealous Islamic activism and emboldened by confusing court decisions, schools are now bending over backward to promote Islam while at the same time denigrate Christianity." 
"We are asking the Supreme Court to provide the necessary legal guidance to resolve the insidious discrimination against Christians in our public schools," he concluded. 
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Monday, May 20, 2019

Firebomb Destroys Daystar's Jerusalem Studio - CHRIS MITCHELL/CBN NEWS




Firebomb Destroys Daystar's Jerusalem Studio


Some of the damage
Some of the damage (Daystar/CBN News)
The Jerusalem studio of Daystar, one of the largest Christian networks in the world, was firebombed over the weekend. The attack destroyed Daystar's new studio but the network plans to rebuild.
The fire began early Saturday morning when an arsonist threw a firebomb into the facility.
Daystar was in the midst of a major renovation and upgrade of its studio here in Jerusalem overlooking Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives. The fire destroyed the new work and much of the existing facility.
"The control room, I would say, is probably totally devastated," Dave Sharett, the contractor overseeing the renovations told CBN News. "The controls actually start here with the electric panel, the main electric panel and anything plastic is totally melted."
"It was a beautiful like living-room setup, real casual setup, nice chairs, stools, tables. Nothing survived. If it didn't burn, it melted," he added.
Sharett showed CBN News the destruction. "This is where we filmed from," he said while motioning towards the studio. "There were four cameras be back in this area here. And Marcus and Joni and their interviewee would be sitting here and then you would have this fabulous view behind them."
Marcus and Joni Lamb dedicated the Daystar Jerusalem studio in October of 2009.
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DAVID JEREMIAH: Do We Trust This More Than We Trust God? CBN News


(Image: Adobe Stock)
(Image: Adobe Stock)
DAVID JEREMIAH: Do We Trust This More Than We Trust God? CBN News 
COMMENTARY  May 19, 2019
When our family moved from Indiana to San Diego, California, several decades ago, navigating on that road trip was a two-person affair: one driver and one navigator in the passenger seat. The navigator had a large paper roadmap unfolded, resting on the dashboard, from which directions were called out to the driver. Remember those days? 
How things have changed! Today, one person can drive coast to coast or border to border with nothing but a smartphone or a car's built-in navigation system. It's all due to the government-run technology known as GPS—a few dozen satellites circling the earth sending out radio signals. GPS can tell us where we are within a few feet of our actual location and our phone's computer can create a path to our destination. Brilliant!
Here's the thing about GPS: We don't have to know how to get to where we're going. We set out in our car and just follow the directions we're given. In spite of the rare misdirection, we have come to trust GPS implicitly to direct us. Our job is to begin; the GPS' job is to get us where we'd like to go. We are free to enjoy the trip and not worry about the directions.
Can you guess where I'm headed with this analogy? Why are we so willing to trust an imperfect, man-made technology to guide our steps when we don't always put that same kind of faith in God? I know what you'll say: GPS gives us specific, moment-by-moment steps to take us to our destination. You're right—God doesn't audibly speak to us that way. But we still have biblical reasons to believe that He knows exactly where we are and the directions we need to get where He wants us to go. 
Be honest: Which makes you more nervous? Leaving on a five-hundred-mile road trip with only your phone to guide you, or trusting God with a major life event (or crisis) you are facing? Most of us are pretty good at trusting God, but we need to move from good to great when it comes to living by faith.
I have a friend who, when his five children were small, would always lead a time of family prayer in the car before backing out of the driveway—prayers for safety, for "happy hearts," for good driving weather. Your family has probably done the same thing. When his children were teens, one of his sons was leaving on a trip with a friend, and the son prayed for their trip before leaving. The friend was amazed: "You pray about trips?" My friend's son answered, "Sure—we always did when I was growing up."
And why not? Isn't God interested in every aspect of our life—our daily bread, the hairs on our head, the steps we take? Of course, He is! When we stop to pray, it's an act of faith, an act of trust. We are to live every moment of our life by faith, which is why Paul writes, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That's simply another way of saying, "Trust God with everything. Keep God involved in every dimension of your life."
The apostle James gives us an illustration of how not to do that—by living a life of faith in human reasoning instead of faith in God. In his example, some men made plans to go to another city and start a business and make a profit—without involving God. James said, "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that'" (see James 4:13-17). In other words, involve God in your business (and vacations and neighborhood and children's activities and hobbies and healthcare and finances—in everything!) as well as in your spiritual life because all of life with God is spiritual.
What does Proverbs 3:5-6 say? Trust in God; don't depend on your own understanding; involve Him in all your ways and He will direct your path. That's what it means to live a life of faith. Even when the way looks fuzzy and unclear? Yes. Because, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). 
How would your life be different if you lived a life of great faith instead of average faith? There's one way to find out. 
Dr. David Jeremiah is among the best known Christian leaders in the world. He serves as senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California and is the founder and host of Turning Point. Turning Point's 30-minute radio program is heard on more than 2,200 radio stations daily. A New York Times bestselling author and Gold Medallion winner, he has written more than fifty books.
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Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Global Persecution Report: 'Christians Are the Most Persecuted ...and It's Accelerating' - CBN News Jennifer Wishon


Global Persecution Report: 'Christians Are the Most Persecuted ...and It's Accelerating'
04-30-2019
CBN News Jennifer Wishon

WASHINGTON – Religious persecution plagues countries around the world and the problem is only getting worse. Now, an annual report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) gives us a clear picture of the world's top offenders. 
Burma, Central African Republic, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are where people of faith face the most aggressive and violent forms of persecution.
Gary Bauer, one of the nine commissioners on USCIRF, is particularly concerned about China's inclusion on the list because of the influence it wields.

"So here's a rising power. It's economy is growing bigger and bigger each year, its military is expanding. It's got worldwide ambitions and every place it reaches it's bringing these values of persecution along with them," he tells CBN News.
So called "tier two" countries of concern include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, and America's NATO ally Turkey.

Turkey, of course, made international headlines for holding American Pastor Andrew Brunson hostage for nearly two years before releasing him last fall.
"One of the things the commission is really focused on is not only when there are governments perpetrating violence but when governments are tolerating the perpetration of violence," USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava told CBN News after release of the report.
This report is unique in that the nine commissioners on USCIRF aren't burdened by diplomacy. Unlike many State Department accounts, these observers are free to tell it like they see it.
"We believe as a commission that no person of whatever faith they are should have to fear within their house of worship," says Commissioner Tony Perkins.
For the world's Christians, the situation is especially dire.
"Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world and it's accelerating," says Bauer.
In its report, the commission calls on President Trump to appoint a special adviser on international religious freedom, target top offenders with sanctions, and put money toward the State Department's effort to help houses of worship protect themselves.

"Churches, which are soft targets, have become targets for terrorists and so we believe this would be a very effective role for our government to come alongside these governments to provide the training that would be a combination of police officers, the law enforcement agencies, the domestic security, along with the houses of worship to provide the security," says Perkins, who has also served on the security team at his own church.
For so many people around the world, finding religious tolerance is increasingly a matter of life and death. 
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Sunday, April 28, 2019

Synagogue Shooting Suspect in Custody, Congregants Prevented Shooting ‘From Being a Much Worse Tragedy’ - CBN News Gary Lane

Synagogue Shooting Suspect in Custody, Congregants Prevented Shooting ‘From Being a Much Worse Tragedy’
04-27-2019
CBN News Gary Lane
A 19-year old man is in police custody following a shooting this morning at a synagogue in Poway, California just north of San Diego.
One person was killed and three others injured at the Congregation Chabad Synagogue in San Diego County.
San Diego police say the suspect called 911 and later surrendered to police. The unidentified man said he was responsible for the synagogue shooting.
Witnesses said they were attending services marking the end of Passover when a gunman shouting obscenities entered the synagogue and started shooting a semi-automatic weapon.
Poway Mayor Steve Vaus told CNN that the “shooter was engaged by people in the congregation and those brave people certainly prevented this from being a much worse tragedy."
Four shooting victims were taken to Palomar Medical Center Poway and one of them, an older woman reportedly died there. Hospital officials said three victims were in stable condition.  
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was among the injured. Shot in the hand but undeterred, Goldstein proceeded to deliver his sermon, telling the Jewish Orthodox congregants to “remain strong. “
Mayor Vaus told CNN he considered the attack a hate crime "because of statements that were made when the shooter entered."
Police are examining a letter and the suspect’s social media posts to determine a motive for the attack.
President Trump expressed sympathy for the victims and tweeted,  “Thoughts and prayers to all of those affected by the shooting at the Synagogue in Poway, California. God bless you all. Suspect apprehended. Law enforcement did outstanding job. Thank you. “
Vice President Mike Pence also sent out his own tweet saying, “We condemn in the strongest terms the evil & cowardly shooting at Chabad of Poway today as Jewish families celebrated Passover. No one should be in fear in a house of worship. Antisemitism isn’t just wrong - it’s evil. “
It was the second mass shooting at a U.S. synagogue in the past six months. Eleven people were killed and seven injured October 27, 2018 at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Robert Bowers was charged with using a firearm–an AR-15 to commit a hate crime. He received a total of 29 charges, including 11 counts of criminal homicide.  
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Friday, April 26, 2019

'Unplanned' Earns $17M, Supporters Launch Plan to Take Film Straight to Planned Parenthood Clinics - CBN News Christian Ellis,Benjamin Gill

Unplanned movie
Unplanned movie
'Unplanned' Earns $17M, Supporters Launch Plan to Take Film Straight to Planned Parenthood Clinics
04-22-2019
CBN News Christian Ellis,
Box office success for "Unplanned" continues to grow after total sales hit $17.2 million this weekend. With only a $6 million budget, Pureflix's pro-life movie started making a profit on its opening weekend, after debuting with $6.1 million.
But box office success isn't the only goal for the film's supporters. It's about changing hearts and lives. So one group is even planning to air the film on the public sidewalk right in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Washington, DC at 1225 4th St. NE.
Their original plan to show it on Good Friday was delayed by weather, but they're still planning to show it at that location. More here. 
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"Our hope is to launch a nationwide campaign to eventually show 'Unplanned' in front of Planned Parenthood abortion clinics across America," explained Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition which is sponsoring this special viewing.
The film's success comes despite roadblocks from the entertainment industry.
"'Unplanned' has been censored and discriminated against by social media giants, television networks and other outlets," Mahoney says. He says it has faced an unprecedented blockade from Google and Twitter, with ads also being blocked by TV networks like Hallmark, Bravo, The Food Network, and Lifetime.
The movie is based on the pro-life transformation of a former Planned Parenthood abortion clinic director named Abby Johnson.
CBN News recently reported close to 100 abortion clinic workers have left their jobs since seeing the film.
During his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Chuck Konzelman, director of "Unplanned", said 94 clinic workers have approached Abby Johnson's nonprofit, And Then There Were None, about leaving the abortion industry, according to Pure Flix Insider.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Ashley Bratcher, the actress who portrays Abby Johnson, shared her response to the impact the movie has made on many lives.
"The response had been incredibly positive. I mean, through it all – this has been the most rewarding and fulfilling role I've ever had in my entire career," Bratcher told 'Fox & Friends'. "To be able to hear someone come up to you and say, 'I was so affected by your work that I decided instead of having an abortion, that I'm now going to have my child' – I don't know how to really explain the way that feels to know that you could have potentially just saved a life."
"There's not a lot of actors who get to say that, and I am so honored to be able to have a part of this," she added.
Abby Johnson recently joined senior pastor of megachurch Free Chapel Church, Jentezen Franklin, for his 'Life Is Beautiful' Conference. More than 4,000 people were encouraged to speak out against abortion at the event.
Franklin encouraged grace for those who had an abortion or worked in abortion industry.
"With just as much passion and just as much fervency, we are going to extend grace and compassion to anyone who has experienced an abortion, been anyway involved in it, we're not mad at you. Jesus loves you and we love you. And we're here to walk through life. We're all flawed people. We need God's grace," he said. "We can make our world a place that values life because life is beautiful."

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