Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Israel and America: Home, Identity and Connection - RINA NE'EMAN/FOR ISRAEL FOREVER CHARISMA NEWS

Being an Israeli American can bring on ambivalent feelings of identity.

Israel and America: Home, Identity and Connection





Being an Israeli American can bring on ambivalent feelings of identity. (Flickr )

Standing With Israel
Being in Israel always causes me to ponder my identity and my sense of home.
I used to believe that when you belong to two places, you can't be a true part of either of them. Or maybe you are a part of both of them. Both of them leave their mark on you—but which place is really home?
Is home the house you call your own, with the people you love above all and who matter most to you? Or is home the country, the language and the society to which you feel most connected? Or perhaps an intangible, unquantifiable distillation of both?
My daughter, Talia, and I landed in Israel early on a Friday morning a couple of weeks ago, and headed straight up to our rented apartment in Jerusalem.
A stone's throw from the Machaneh Yehudah market, the typical hustle and bustle of the entire city preparing for Shabbat instantly produces a sense of familiarity and connection that is absent for me every place else in the world.
As a translator and interpreter, I travel quite extensively, but no place draws me in so instantly, so immediately, so thoroughly and completely, the way that Jerusalem does. I am at ease. I am home. Finally, I am connected.
I am Israeli—and American. In the United States, I am different. I belong, yet I don't belong. The news I watch morning and night, the music that I sing along to on the road, much of the food that I love and the books that I read—are all different. The websites that I go to with my first cup of morning coffee and regularly throughout my day aren't shared by any of my neighbors, and precious few of my local friends—even my Jewish friends.
Landing in Israel always carries for me a sense of relief, of a common denominator with my surroundings, of connection.
I am an Israeli in the United States and an American in Israel. Two parts of my identity, both always so integral, which are sometimes so difficult to reconcile. I have to feed and water the Israeli in me with frequent trips here, lest I become parched. 
The American part of me is very comfortable in and accustomed to the United States. I am successful, a leader in my field, and part of a special and meaningful Jewish community. But the profound connection to my greater surroundings is absent.
Home in America is inside my eclectic, colorful and much beloved house. Home is full of comfort and familiarity, of precious memories, of photographs, of mementos of my travels. Home is where my soup simmers. Home is and will always be—first and foremost—where my children are.
Home in Israel is outside, and all around me.
The enormous stacks of a dozen different types of challah. The ubiquitous Shabbat Shalom on the lips of every vendor and shopper whom we encounter. The colors and the intensity of the market that never fail to enthrall me. The earnestness of the fruit hawker in the market, beseeching passersby to purchase "strawberries for the Holy Sabbath."
Hot, steaming sahlab on a cold December night. Buttery, sublime kanafehMarak kubeh at divine, simple Azura, in the heart of the Iraqi market. Bread with za'atar, in all shapes and sizes.
Home in Israel, apparently, has a lot to do with food. As would befit a Jewish homeland. What else?
Golden, glowing stones. Rosemary growing wild, rampant on every street corner. Girls in short skirts passing men in long, black coats, carefully averting their eyes. Or not.
Jerusalem. I am an insider who has become an outsider too. I treasure the instant connection, and the way in which the smells, the flavors and the tastes of the city take me back in time. The winter dampness, the alleys, the courtyards, the street names, infinite reminiscences of my youth.
Like switching lenses on my DSLR, my focus and connection sharpens my sense of disconnection.
So much of what I am passionate about lies here. My news. My music. Bookstores filled with Hebrew literature. Judaism that is central, present and not marginalized. Language and song.
People who truly care about one another. A sense of shared fate and peoplehood. Connection. 
Being in Israel is like gasping for air. I can't get enough. And then, inevitably, it is time to leave.
Like a cherished lover who is sometimes too much to handle, it is difficult to say goodbye, though you know that the time has come. But before you know it, you just keep craving his familiar smell and touch, until the next time you are back in his arms again. You know that it won't be long, because you just can't stay away.
Through my insider-outsider eyes, one truth rings loud and clear. Israel, in its almost 65 years, is nothing short of a modern miracle. And while our critics—of which I am often one—certainly have their place, I simply have no use for cynics. It is so clear to me, with the clarity and sharp perspective of distance, how connected I am and always will be, and how much we all have to take pride in.
I'll be back. Soon. Because there is no doubt about it—Israel is home too. 
Rina Ne'eman is a translator and interpreter, and the managing director of Rina Ne'eman Hebrew Language Services. She is a proud Israeli, shoe addict and Photographer-Wannabe-Extraordinaire. Follow her on Twitter @rinaneeman or email her at rina@hebrewtrans.com
For the original article, visit israelforever.org.
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What's Next For America and the Economy? (Day 1) - Michael Snyder on The Jim Bakker Show


Watch here: What's Next For America and the Economy? (Day 1) - Michael Snyder on The Jim Bakker Show


Jim & Lori Bakker with Michael Snyder

Michael Snyder
Jim Bakker Show 2016 | Show# 3001 | Aired on May 25, 2016


Jim Bakker Show © 2016 • Morningside Studios

Why Are Americans Getting Married An Average Of 7 Years Later Than They Did In The 1950s? - Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

Wedding - Public Domain

Posted: 24 May 2016   Michael Snyder  THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

Americans are getting married later and later in life these days.  So precisely why is this happening?  As you will see below, the average age when men and women first get married in the United States is getting perilously close to 30, but in the middle of the last century is was close to 20.  There has been a dramatic cultural shift, and this has resulted in a whole host of unintended consequences.  

Because even though people are getting married later, they are still engaging in behaviors that in previous generations were considered reserved for those that had made a permanent commitment.  The family has always been one of the foundational institutions in society, but now it is breaking down at a very alarming pace.  Our young people have been trained to think that getting married, having children and raising a family are not important priorities, and this is showing up in a myriad of various ways.

In America today, the average woman is getting married 7.0 years later than she did in 1956, and the average man is getting married 6.7 years later than he did back then.  The following comes from CNBC
The typical U.S. woman now marries at 27.1 years old, the typical man at 29.2, according to census data. That’s up from record lows of 20.1 for women and 22.5 for men in 1956.
“They’re concentrating more on school, careers and work and less focused on forming new families, spouses or partners and children,” said Richard Fry, lead author of the report and a senior economist at the Pew Research Center. Fry said of the millennials.
At one time, a woman was considered to be an “Old Maid” if she had not married by the age of 25, but in this day and age that is about the time that many women are just getting started seriously looking for a mate.

One of the big reasons why men and women are both delaying marriage so much these days is because our young people are constantly being inundated with messages that tell them that it is much more fun to be single.  If you aren’t doing so already, start paying attention to how marriage and parenthood are being portrayed to our young adults on television and in the movies.  In most cases, getting married at a young age is portrayed as being a “mistake”, and having children is often depicted as a good way to ruin your future.

And of course a lifestyle that involves sexual promiscuity is almost always portrayed as more desirable than a lifetime commitment to a single person.  Just watch any television show or movie that is targeted to young males in particular.  Being able to “score” often and with as many women as possible is what they are told they should do, and very rarely are they encouraged to value marriage and fatherhood.

This dramatic cultural shift that we have seen over the past several decades is having some very serious unintended consequences.

For one thing, an increasing number of our young people are choosing to never leave the nest.  In fact, the percentage of our young adults that are living at home now exceeds the percentage of our young adults that are married or are living with a partner
Nearly a third of millennials live with their parents, slightly more than the share of their age group who live with a spouse or partner. For this age group, the researchers say, this is the first time that living at home has overtaken living with a spouse since the U.S. Census began keeping track in 1880.
As recently as 2000, nearly 43 percent of young adults, ages 18 to 34, were married or living with a partner. By 2014, that proportion was just 31.6 percent.
In 2000, only 23 percent of young adults were living with parents. In 2014, the figure reached 32.1 percent.
Another unintended consequence has been a huge rise in the number of unmarried women giving birth to children.

When the average age of first marriage was at a record low in 1956, about 5 percent of all babies in America were born to unmarried parents.  Today, more than 40 percent of all babies in America are born to unmarried parents.

In addition, just because young adults are not getting married does not mean that they are not looking for outlets for their sexual desires.

Of course lots and lots of people are sleeping around, but others are seeking alternative ways to fill what is missing in their lives.  Right now, there are more than four million adult websites on the Internet, and they get more traffic than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined.  This plague has become so widespread that it has been estimated that even 68 percent of all Christian men watch pornography on a regular basis.

Clearly we have a major problem.

And I haven’t even mentioned the millions of abortions and millions of STD cases that have resulted from the “sexual revolution” that we have witnessed.

As the institution of the family has broken down, we have become lonelier, more isolated, less healthy and more prone to addictive behaviors as a society.

Could it be possible that previous generations of Americans actually knew what they were doing?

Could it be possible that it would be a good thing to teach our young people to value marriage and family?

Could it be possible that we are actually designed to get married and have children at a relatively younger age?

What we are doing right now is definitely not working.  We have one of the highest divorce rates on the entire planet, the CDC says that there are about 20 million new STD cases each calendar year, we have tens of millions of men that are addicted to pornography, and somewhere around a third of all children in the United States are currently being raised in a home without a father.

So is there a solution to this mess?

If so, what would that look like?


*About the author: Michael Snyder is the founder and publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog. Michael’s controversial new book about Bible prophecy entitled “The Rapture Verdict” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.*

A Picture of Peace and Pardon - Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY

A Picture of Peace and Pardon

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 |  Charles Gardner  ISRAEL TODAY
The desecration of a Jewish cemetery in Manchester comes amid rising anti-Semitism in the UK, particularly over controversial remarks from leading Labour politicians.
Fourteen headstones have been destroyed by vandals at the Blackley Jewish Cemetery in the city’s north-east district.
Police described it as “a deliberate and targeted attack”, although no anti-Semitic graffiti was found, and have vowed to do everything in their power to track down those responsible.
In a cemetery in Leeds, just across the Pennines from Manchester, is the tomb of Dr M L Rossvally, who died in 1892. He was a remarkable Jewish man who ended his days in the northern city as an evangelist to his fellow Jews. While a surgeon in the US Army during the American Civil War, he tended to the shocking wounds of a drummer boy called Charlie Coulson.
Charlie was ultimately beyond saving, but used his remaining breath to plead with the doctor that he needed no pain-killing brandy, for he was at peace with his Saviour and longed to be with Him! The surgeon never forgot the young man’s faith and courage, eventually putting his own trust in Jesus (Yeshua) as his Messiah – and spent the rest of his days sharing his great discovery with his own people.
On my recent holiday in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales – not far from Leeds – the Lord spoke to me through the wonder of nature and of his creation. While out on a run, the only sound that broke the silence was the bleating of sheep and their young lambs enjoying the rich pasture of these grassy slopes. It was all so perfectly peaceful and reminded me of the spotless Lamb of God, who also brought peace to the world. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was led like a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53.7) as he brought us both peace and pardon. He is, after all, the prophesied ‘Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9.6) who bore our sins through his death on the cross (1 Peter 2.24 & Isaiah 53. 4, 5 & 12).
We are told that when Jesus came into Jerusalem for the Passover, which was to be his last, the lambs were being gathered in at the same time in preparation for the feast. But they first had to pass the test as to whether they were flawless.
And so when Jesus too had passed the test and was found to be sinless – “he committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2.22, quoting Isaiah 53.9) – he became our Passover Lamb!
True freedom from the world’s hatred and spite can be found only in the loving arms of the Jewish Messiah, who clears a path through a sea of trouble for all who follow him.

Charles Gardner is author of Israel the Chosen, available from Amazon, and Peace in Jerusalem, available from olivepresspublisher.com
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Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Jennifer Eivaz Shares Dramatic 'Tornado' Dream: What Does This Mean for the Church? - CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Prophetic Insight newsletter
One year ago, the Lord gave me a clear word for California while traveling to the Carmel coast. He said, "The drought is over, and the rains are coming back to California" (read it here). Thank God the rains have come, giving needed relief to this dry and thirsty land! 
A Dream of 30 Tornadoes
After the massive prayer effort in Azusa last month, my heart is stirred for what is to come, and I'm passionately seeking the Lord on these matters. When I received the word in Carmel last year, I was also given a dream. Here it is again:
"I was in a two-story educational facility in the middle of a well-watered lush valley and hillside. The facility didn't belong to me, but in the dream, I held authority to provide counsel within this building. I only saw one room on the top floor, but it needed some attention! It was dusty and the furniture was all out of place. I looked out the window and watched a white tornado hit a home about 1/3 of a mile away. It flattened the garage and then went through the interior and gutted the inside. I also knew there were 30 tornadoes coming toward this educational facility very soon. The facility leader was a pretty red-haired woman who had a small company of followers with her. I warned her in the dream about the coming white tornadoes."
I initially understood this dream as saying to expect white "storms," more like movements of glory to launch out of California. These moves of God would emphasize holiness, evangelism and glory. And then being true to natural weather patterns, these movements would pick up force as they headed east across the United States. I realize now that the dream was set in a well-watered lush valley and hillside, which could be the time frame of these moves.
These moves seem to be clocked to emerge as the physical rains saturate and heal the dry land. California land isn't there yet, but it's on its way. Like Elijah did on Mt. Carmel, we too are to pray boldly for the things God has said will come (1 Kings 18:41-43; Is. 45:11). 
Declare with me now: "Thank You, Jesus! We bless the rain in California, and we ask You for more!"
In the dream, there were 30 tornadoes. Why did I see the number 30? Again, I didn't account for it until now—the significance of this number. First of all, it means the beginning of rule and ministry. For example:
  • The priests did not begin their priesthood until age 30 (Num. 4:23).
  • Joseph began his leadership in Egypt at age 30 (Gen. 41:46).
  • David began his kingship at age 30 (2 Sam. 5:4).
  • Jesus began His ministry at age 30 (Luke 3:23).
Prophetic interpretation: Get ready for powerful new beginnings. Get ready to lead out in this glory movement. You've been prepared in secret, but you won't stay a secret. God will shine His light on you and reveal you to the others.
Promotion and Betrayal: Identify With Christ and Be a Glory Carrier
With promotion there always comes betrayal. Joseph and David, both being a type of Christ, experienced significant betrayal from friends and family. Even Jesus was betrayed by His teammate Judas for 30 pieces of silver, which was the price of a slave and not a king. 
The number 30 is about significant promotion from God, but also a number for betrayal. Betrayal will come, but it carries a dual purpose and comes as the "sifter." It sifts wrong people out of your life, but it also sifts out your true heart identity. Who do you identify with more? Do you identify more with Jesus or do you identify with your friends, family, denomination or movement?
If your identity is firmly in Christ, your heart will remain in Christ even when wounded. If your identity is in someone else, you will lose your identity and not overcome your season of sifting. You have to know who you are and whose you are or you will stumble at this point and fail to carry the glory.
As a prophet who carries an intercessory burden from the Lord for this state (California), I often live out such prophetic words and become the message as much as I proclaim the message. Last October, I had a series of dreams that told me the things to come in my life. The dreams had similar themes with slight differences throughout. I only realize now that what followed these dreams in my life was actually mirroring, more like forerunning, this prophetic word for California.
First of all, I dreamed about changing rivers. I went from one river to another, and in my dream that new river was called the Stanislaus River. This river does physically exist in my area, but the dreams were really about an upcoming transition. I also found out what the word Stanislaus means. It means "becoming glorious." I also dreamed about a specific betrayal that did play out within days of this dream occurring. Again, this just follows the pattern connected to the number 30 as I mentioned earlier.
More Sifts and More Shifts
Going back to last year's original dream, there was a need to clean up and put things in order in the top places. This is about pruning, transition and significant change. I felt strongly then and even more strongly now that this is also about the reordering of relationships.
Prophetic word: More sifts and shifts coming ahead! Some were removed from you, but now people will be added to you. It's all part of a realignment to strengthen the body of Christ, which includes you. You need to run with those who are running in the same direction.
The glory of God is weighty, and He is doing what is needed to prepare individuals and groups of people to carry His glory. This glory is something we carry in our flesh. Since the Bible describes our flesh as being at war with the things of the Spirit and the Spirit being at war with flesh (Gal. 5:17), we have to put down our flesh and pay the price to carry what is costly.
We are to cultivate, expect and prophesy an "uncommon devotion" to Christ and His church. Raise your expectations and see it happening in the masses and not the few!
I've had the privilege of ministering throughout California in different organizations and churches consistently, and I've noticed one thing everywhere I go: hunger. People are hungry for the Spirit and to experience the move of God. I've witnessed the level of hunger to be much different this year than in previous years. There has been a shift. Let's go for more!
To the prophetic intercessor: You might feel like you are "spinning." The other morning, I woke up feeling like I was spinning. I knew it was spiritual and not physical. and the entire day seemed to be a whirlwind of issues. There were things spinning together and there were some things spinning apart. I felt this to be a sign in connection to these movements of glory and the shaking that comes with it.  
Spinning does a few things: 1) It shakes out what is not anchored to you or God, and 2) it creates momentum and force. If you want the momentum and force, then you need to accept the shaking. 
If you are spiritually sensitive and begin to experience bouts of "spinning," ask the Lord for discernment, but consider that it's a prophetic word from the Lord and something to prophesy and pray into.
California Starts Things
California has historically started things in the nation. Each state has its own glory, and California is no different. She is going to start something for good and push into the nation what is pure and powerful.
With that said, prepare yourself in prayer and:
  • Put things in order
  • Accept realignments
  • Reposition yourself for glory
  • And get moving! 
Jennifer Eivaz is a vibrant minister and international conference speaker who carries the wisdom and fire of the Holy Spirit. She presently serves as an executive pastor with Harvest Christian Center in Turlock, California, and is focused on raising up a passionate and effective prayer community that is tempered with love and hears the voice of God accurately. Jennifer loves the presence of God and is a prophetic voice to her church and to others. She is married to HCC Senior Pastor Ron Eivaz, and she's a featured writer for several online publications, including the Elijah List.
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Benham Brothers Predict an End to This Murderous Atrocity in North Carolina - JASON AND DAVID BENHAM CHARISMA NEWS

Even in the darkest night, you can be a flashlight.

Benham Brothers Predict an End to This Murderous Atrocity in North Carolina



Even in the darkest night, you can be a light. (somewebpixels/flickr/Creative Commons)

No matter how spiritually dark it may get in today's culture, just remember—you can be a voice. You can make a difference. All you have to do is just shine the light.
When you go to bed at night, do you turn the darkness on, or turn the lights off?
When you open a closet door, does the darkness from the closet fill the room, or the light from the room fill the closet?
You get the point: Light is greater than darkness. And the only way darkness prevails is when the light is turned off. As our good friend, Dr. Michael Brown, says, "The problem today is not the presence of darkness. It's the absence of light."
So when you step up to be a voice for truth and start shining God's light, you will make a difference, because light always overcomes the darkness.
We're watching this happen in our home state of North Carolina—and we're not talking about the controversy surrounding HB2 and the pushback against radical bathroom bills. We're talking about the light of God's love shining at three local abortion clinics in our hometown of Charlotte.
Hundreds of Christians from various denominations have joined hands under the banner of Cities4Life to help bring healing to abortion-bound mothers who feel they have no other choice—and the results are unprecedented.
Since Cities4Life began in 2010, we've seen more than 3,300 mothers choose life for their unborn babies! And the follow-up ministry from organizations like Truth & Mercy Ministries (baby showers), Monroe HELP Center (pregnancy care), Option Adoption (adoption facilitation) and others has been incredible.
The outpouring of Christian love for these mothers and sweet unity among believers has shined God's light so brightly in our state that even the Washington Times has taken note. Check out the Times' headline after the North Carolina Department of Health released our state's abortion statistics: "NC's drop in abortions is among nation's sharpest since 2010."
When Christians in our city decided to shine the light of God's love into the darkest places—our three abortion clinics—the light of God overcame the darkness of death by over 26 percent! There's no denying it—we're winning.
Because light is stronger than darkness, all we have to do is flip it on.
Our good friend and young entrepreneur Justin Reeder, is a great example of this. He started a campaign called Love Life Charlotte this year, through which he mobilizes churches across denominational lines to adopt a week for life in our city. It begins with the pastor preaching about life on Sunday. Then he asks the congregation to pray and fast on Wednesday, and finally, he gathers the church for a prayer walk at the clinic on Saturday. And the churches are pouring out support.
We feel it's just a matter of time before abortion will end in our city because mamas who feel they have no other choice will have so many churches from which to choose, and those churches are ready to help those mamas and their families, whatever the cost. When Christians shine the light, darkness has to flee.
No matter how dark it seems today, it's time we stand up and shine God's light. We can be a voice, we can make a difference, we can save lives, and we can be involved.
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From Genesis to Revelation: Artist Unveils Mural of the Bible in Jerusalem - CBN News Chris Mitchell


From Genesis to Revelation: Artist Unveils Mural of the Bible in Jerusalem

05-20-2016
CBN News Chris Mitchell

GERMAN COLONY, Israel -- In Jerusalem, artist Patricia Solveson recently completed a daunting task: Over the course of several years, she painted the entire Bible.
Called the Jerusalem Wall of Life, the biblical mural is longer than a football field and portrays scenes from Genesis to Revelation, including Moses parting the Red Sea.

It took six years for Solveson to finish what she calls her life's work.
"I'm probably more changed by painting this mural than anything else," Solveson told CBN News.
"I was very relieved, very relieved. But I felt His heart. I felt the Lord's heart of joy because He knows this is His place and His message can come forth," she shared.
"In a place where the Good News has been quenched, very seriously quenched, here are the walls shouting out His name," she said.

Creating the mural wasn't easy.  
"Such a vast job. It was just overwhelming -- many, many times," she said. "But then someone would come in. They'd be so touched and then I'd be revived again to keep going."
Solveson completed the mural under the auspices of the Alliance Church in the Holy Land, which held a dedication service for the work.    
"I think the mural is just a beautiful representation of our faith, of our hope, of the story," said Marshall Mullinax, field director of the Christian Alliance Center.
The mural wraps around the walls of the Alliance Church cemetery in Jerusalem's German Colony. Some may think it strange for this art to surround a cemetery.  

"Perhaps one of the least expected evangelistic platforms in the world, a cemetery," Mullinax noted. "But we're one of the few groups of people that actually don't find cemeteries disturbing because our hope, our lives, our story doesn't end with the grave."
"We're a people who can walk without fear because we know that death's been conquered. We know that this is a stop in the story but it's not the end of the story," he said.    
The cemetery, now an official Ministry of Tourism site, enjoys a rich heritage and history.  
Rev. Jack Sara is vice president of Bethlehem Bible College and pastor with the Alliance Church.
"It's great to have this place dedicated and especially putting this mural on the wall where they talk about the story of God through all the history and especially the story of salvation for all humanity," he said.
Justina Steiner was in awe of the painting.
"The mural itself is just gorgeous and the colors and vibrant... and just the story depictions are really, really thought provoking," Steiner observed. "Especially the end with the coming back of Jesus and the Lion and the Lamb… Yea, it's really awesome."
Solveson calls the artistic style 'impressionistic realism.' Her favorite scene? The Resurrection. 


"Because Miriam, she thought this was the gardener and she said, 'Where did you put His body? And He spoke her name and she had this love relationship with him. That's the kind of relationship I have with him," she told CBN News.

"But I also love the scene with the Lamb because it's not a traditional Calvary scene, -- it's a scene, it's a scene with the Passover Lamb, like when John the Baptist said, 'Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,'" she said.
Solveson found inspiration from her own transformed life.  
"Inspiration is a four letter word, L-O-V-E," she explained. "Really because of the Lord who did for me what I could not do for myself--He took me out of this pit. He put a song in my mouth, a paintbrush in my hand and he said, 'You're going to live.'"
"It's really a love story for all people, from all over the world," she concluded.


Watch interview: Jerusalem Wall of Life

Canada Hopes to Jail People Who Stand Against Transgenderism - JENNIFER LECLAIRE CHARISMA NEWS

 At least in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a troubling statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

Canada Hopes to Jail People Who Stand Against Transgenderism





At least in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a troubling statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. (Reuters)

Watchman on the Wall, with Jennifer LeClaire
Jennifer LeClaire is now sharing her reflections and revelations through Walking in the Spirit. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

The slippery slope is slicker than we thought—and it could land Bible-believing Christians into a cold, dark jail cell. At least in Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a troubling statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. 
I agree, as he says, that everyone deserves to live free of stigma, persecution and discrimination. I agree, as he says, that all people—regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity—have the right to feel safe and secure, and empowered to freely express themselves. God gave us all a free will. 
But that's about where my agreement ends. 
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"As a society, we have taken many important steps toward recognizing and protecting the legal rights for the LGBTQ2 community—from enshrining equality rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the passage of the Civil Marriage Act. There remains much to be done, though. Far too many people still face harassment, discrimination and violence for being who they are. This is unacceptable," Trudeau says.
"To do its part, the government of Canada today will introduce legislation that will help ensure transgender and other gender-diverse people can live according to their gender identity, free from discrimination and protected from hate propaganda and hate crimes."
I am all for legal rights—but not special rights. 
I am all for ending hate speech—but the Bible is not hate speech.
I am all for ending violence—but this bill of which Trudeau speaks may ultimately encourage violence against those who don't embrace the LGBT lifestyle, and it will most certainly lead to persecution, discrimination and perhaps even jail time. Here's a summary of the bill: 
"This enactment amends the Canadian Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. The enactment also amends the Criminal Code to extend the protection against hate propaganda set out in that Act to any section of the public that is distinguished by gender identity or expression and to clearly set out that evidence that an offence was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on gender identity or expression constitutes an aggravating circumstance that a court must take into consideration when it imposes a sentence."
It doesn't take a prophet to see where this is headed. Christians need to speak up now before it's too late.  
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening;Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of GodThe Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer onFacebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.
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