Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
Israeli soldiers last week clashed with ISIS terrorists along the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heights. Those same soldiers later reported, and provided evidence of, divine intervention.
Last Sunday, ISIS gunmen opened fire on a group of Israeli soldiers operating in the buffer zone between Israel and Syria. Israel Air Force aircraft quickly eliminated the threat. A day later, Israel bombed the local terrorist base of operations – a facility that had been surrendered by the UN.
Israel feared the incidents marked the beginning of a severe escalation in ISIS attacks against the Jewish state.
But then, God apparently stepped in.
As seen in the following video, shortly after the attacks described above, a literal pillar of cloud appeared, blinding the terrorists, but stopping just at the border and not entering Israel.
Just like the pillar of cloud that protected Israel during her Exodus from Egypt.
Republican Senator Joni Ernst speaks to supporters after the results of the U.S. Senate race in U.S. midterm elections in Iowa in West Des Moines, Iowa, November 4, 2014.
With the results of the midterm election giving control of both the House and Senate to the Republican Party, leaders of two prominent social conservative political action groups said in interviews with The Christian Post that those candidates who fully embraced their conservative stances on social issues were fully rewarded by the voters.
Tony Perkins, president of the social conservative advocacy group Family Research Council, and Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, agreed that Republican candidates who either supported abortion or hid their views on abortion and other social issues did not fare as well as those who fully supported the social conservative principles that many think hinders the GOP in the modern political climate.
"I think what you saw here are candidates who embrace the values, the values voters embrace them," Perkins said. "I think this was a clear referendum on Barack Obama and his liberal policies, and I think that is going to come with a mandate to the Republicans that they address these issues and address them quickly."
Perkins noted Republican Kansas Senator Pat Roberts as a prime example of what touting conservative social principles did in the grand scheme of one Senate election.
(PHOTO: REUTERS/MARK KAUZLARICH)
Republican Pat Roberts speaks to supporters after the results of the midterm elections in Topeka, Kansas, November 4, 2014.
Although polling leading up to the elections showed Roberts was in serious danger of losing his seat to independent candidate Greg Orman, Perkins said Roberts' late push in the election cycle, where he advocated heavily for pro-life and other conservative social stances, helped him to win reelection even though many thought his career might be coming to an end.
"The reason why I say Roberts, in particular, was because he was down significantly and almost left for political dead and he did not run from those values issues, rather he embraced them," Perkins said.
Tom Cotton, who won election as Arkansas Senator, and Joni Ernst, who won the vacant Iowa Senate seat, both campaigned heavily on pro-life and traditional marriage platform and both won their elections by decisive margin. Ernst replaces retiring Democratic Senator Tom Harkin, while Cotton displaces Democratic incumbent Mark Pryor.
(PHOTO: REUTERS/JACOB SLATON)
Republican Tom Cotton speaks after the results of the midterm elections in North Little Rock, Arkansas, November 4, 2014.
Dannenfelser claims that Ernst's election represents the perfect symbolism of a new GOP-controlled Senate that will attempt to pass pro-life legislation.
"Ernst is the most significant among the Susan B. Anthony list's efforts, because this is an unapologetic pro-life woman who will be on the floor for the U.S. Senate advocating for pro-life legislation," Dannenfelser said. "And that is an enormous victory for women and the Susan B. Anthony List. Everything that we have done for this election is for gaining the Senate and having a woman be a great spokeswoman in the Senate."
Both Dannenfelser and Perkins agree that Scott Brown, a Republican who lost to Democratic New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, only hurt himself in this election by not staying true to the Republican social principles. Brown never made clear his stances on abortion or gay marriage during his campaign, although it's alleged that he is pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage.
"I think the main problem with Scott Brown is that he never clarified what he believed at all. He could have carved out a consensus play, which would say, 'I'm not for all pro-life measures but I am definitely for a late-term restriction,'" Dannenfelser said. "He could have done something like that. It would have been smart to do something like that, and he didn't do that. He did not gain the advantage that all of our other candidates did and that was a huge mistake on his part."
In one of the most expensive Senate campaigns in history, North Carolina's incumbent Senator Kay Hagan was ousted by Republican challenger Thom Tillis. Dannenfelser sees Tillis' victory, along with Mark Udall's loss in Colorado, as a clear indication that the Democratic Party's "War on Women" campaign attack against the Republican Party is now officially dead.
"I believe that the abortion-centered 'War on Women' message has just died. It is dead in the water," Dannenfelser said. "Kay Hagan was an Emily's List candidate. Emily's list advice was 'do not talk about abortion.' She did not. She only reluctantly admitted that she was against the pain-capable bill. I think it is one more piece of evidence that the war on women manipulation is dead now."
With a conservative majority in the Senate, Dannenfelser said that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had promised that he would advance a vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would prohibit abortions after five months of pregnancy. The bill passed the House in 2013 but has been stalled in the Senate.
"When that occurs we will have a majority pro-life Senate that will vote for that bill and that means that we will see a potential veto by this president, and the Senate will be very important in defining the next presidential race," Dannenfelser said.
Perkins added that the Republican majority needs to "fulfill some of these promises" and work quickly to repeal some of the liberal policies established by the Obama administration.
"What we have been hearing up to this point is that Harry Reid is blocking this reform. That won't be a legitimate excuse anymore, as the Republicans control both the House and the Senate," Perkins said. "They will have to fulfill some of these promises that have been made to turn this country around and undo what this president has done."
(l-r) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas); Dr. Mark Harris, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in North Carolina; Penny Nance, CEO and president of Concerned Women for America; Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor; and Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council at the Star Spangled Sunday event celebrating the 200th anniversary of America's National Anthem at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014.
On the 200th anniversary of America's National Anthem, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and other Christian conservative leaders spoke at an event in North Carolina, reflecting on God's hand of providence and expressing hope that He would continue to help protect religious freedom.
Dr. Mark Harris, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, the venue for the "Star Spangled Sunday," called it "a celebration of worship and praise."
Perkins, whose group was co-host of the event, was the emcee for the evening. "Increasingly, there is an effort to sanitize American history of its Judeo-Christian heritage," he told the crowd of about 500 people. "Our children are being robbed of our past, and as a result, our future is being stolen."
The event was simulcast to 351 evangelical churches across the country.Perkins also encouraged Christians to register to vote, explaining that the responsibility to protect freedoms does not lie with the president or the courts, but with the people, who are supposed to participate in the democratic process.
(PHOTO: FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL)
Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor at the Star Spangled Sunday event celebrating the 200th anniversary of America's National Anthem at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014.
"There's no explanation for America other than God's hand of providence," said Huckabee. There's no reason for Christians to be dispirited, he stressed. They have seen God's hand of providence in their own lives and families and also how He saved them from their sins and healed some of their family members, he said.
"Is it time for us to stop complaining about what is, and start believing what will be if God's people on their faces in humility and brokenness will once again ask for His hand of providence to envelope this great land of ours," he added.
Christians know the final outcome, Huckabee went on to say, as they have read the end of the book, the Bible. "My friends, we win. Our flag still stands."
Cruz said, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there's liberty."
The senator also quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
"Our land needs healing," Cruz said. "When this country was founded, it was founded on the radical concept that our rights don't come from kings, queens or governments, but our rights come from Almighty God."
Referring to the Declaration of Independence, Cruz said all men are created equal, and they are endowed not by a king, not by a queen, not even by a president, but they are endowed by our Creator.
But today, religious liberty is threatened, both at home and abroad, he added, citing examples of violations of religious liberty by the Obama administration, but also the "victory of religious freedom" in the Hobby Lobby case.
"If you're litigating against nuns," Cruz said, referring to the struggle of Little Sisters of the Poor against the contraception mandate, "you've probably done something wrong."
He also called the ISIS terrorist group in Iraq and Syria "the face of evil." They are crucifying Christians, they are beheading children, he noted.
Bishop E.W. Jackson, pastor of Exodus Faith Ministries and president of S.T.A.N.D, stressed that America is "one nation under God," where no one is Afro-American or Hispanic American, but all are Americans.
Jackson said the increasing attacks on Christians are evidence that the enemy knows they are not going to back down, for no one kills a dead enemy.
Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, also spoke at the event. She said Christian women of America need to allow their voices to be heard.
David & Jason Benham, co-founders of Benham Companies, spoke about the loss of their HGTV show due to their views against homosexuality.
During a news conference Sunday afternoon at the same church, Cruz criticized Obama's economy and the "Obama-[Hillary] Clinton foreign policy."
Perkins said conservative Christian voters need to be energized for the elections this year and in 2016. "I'm tired of the direction this nation is going in, and it's time to change," he said. "We are speaking to churches across America, challenging people to be sure they are registered and voting. We need to put feet to our prayers. ... And if we're going to change the course of this nation, we're going to have to change the people who are driving it."
The evening – which included video messages from Hobby Lobby President Steve Green, and Anthony Hahn, President and CEO of Conestoga Wood – was co-hosted by Vision America, whose president, Dr. Rick Scarborough, was also a speaker.
Charles Billingsley, worship leader of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Pastor Rafael Cruz, director of Grace for America, also spoke at the event.
"Few citizens have ever heard the story of how God used ordinary Christians to do extraordinary things during the desperate days of 1814," Perkins said earlier in a statement. "But on September 14th, during Star Spangled Sunday, this live nationwide webcast, will tell the providential story behind the song and challenge us to once again rediscover and recommit to what has made America an exceptional nation."
Elevation Church, the Charlotte, N.C. multi-site worship community led by pastor Steven Furtick, recently donated $300,000 towards a $20-million city fund to fight homelessness.
The proceeds will help fight the rise of homelessness in Charlotte through the Social Impact Housing Fund, created to provide short-term rental assistance for families and veterans, and assist residents who earn less than 50 percent of the area's median income.
"I can't thank you enough for hearing my cry on the trail as I talked about how important this subject matter is to me," said Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon to Furtick in a video interview. "$300,000, that's a big deal and you do it with humbleness and without asking for anything back. Charlotte will be set up as a place for best practices, where we can be looked upon by other places in this country, if not the world."
The $20-million housing fund endowment also includes a $10 million dollar commitment from the city of Charlotte over the next five years, in addition to $10 million being raised by the Foundation for the Carolinas, a philanthropic organization and other faith-based institutions similar to Elevation.
"From day one, our motto was partnership," said Furtick, in the video. "We never wanted as a church to create our own ministries but partner with people…Our church is a generous church and the thing I always teach when we hear of needs that are happening in our city, down the street or across the world, [is that] there seems to be three basic responses and the first one is greed then guilt…but generosity is God's answer."
According to a recent report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, homelessness among families in Charlotte rose 10 percent in 2012. The report also noted that area shelters had to turn away individuals due to overcrowding at times. Tragically, nearly 5,000 city children were reported to be homeless.
In response to the problem, Elevation Church gives to non-profits throughout the city each year. Furtick also donates 12 percent of the church's giving to support outreach efforts nationally and globally.
Since Elevation was founded in 2006, they have given over $11 million to 84 outreach partners. During LOVE week in 2013, a community initiative to help the underserved, Elevation gave away $400,000 to charitable causes and throughout the year, they gave $2.5 million to efforts across North Carolina and the world.
"Out of what God has given me and has given the church, we hope to live in such a way that if Elevation Church died, the city would cry at our funeral," said Furtick.
Cannon praised Elevation for their help and said it was "refreshing" to see churches respond to Charlotte's growing social issue.
"At the end of the day, we're all God's children and there should be somebody out there to help those in less favorable situations that we might be," said Cannon. "If others follow that same lead, what a great community we'll be overall."
In addition to making headlines for his church's generosity, Furtick drew criticism late last year when a local North Carolina news outlet revealed that he was building a 16,000-square-foot gated estate. The news promoted curiosity from the community about his salary and how he handled the church's finances.
Furtick addressed the concerns during a sermon last October and emphasized that he believes in a "ministry of integrity that has not changed, and that will not change."
(PHOTO: REUTERS/MARK KAUZLARICH)
(PHOTO: REUTERS/JACOB SLATON)
(PHOTO: FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL)
(PHOTO: FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL)
