Christian Times Magazine Issue 2

Christian Times Magazine

JANUARY 2017 ISSUE 2

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The Voice Of Truth TRUMP PLAN & POLICIES CHRISTIAN ARTICLES

UK Discrimination against Syrian Christians BRITAIN & THE EU Change and Choice

By Dr Cecil Stewart DAVID CLARKE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

TRUMP/PENCE www.ctmagazine.tk

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

BY GARY BIGHAM

CHIEF EDITOR Anil Anwar EXECUTIVES Anil Anwar CEO David Clarke President & Managing Director UK Raven Youngblood Managing Director USA Mohsin Chanan Managing Director Europe EDITORIAL TEAM David Clarke Pastor Anwar Shahid John Sunil Anwar Raven Youngblood Nodella Jordon Wayne Groover Jonathan Matos

GOSPEL MISSION PAKISTAN

We believe that Biblical missions focuses on evangelism, discipleship, and the establishment of local churches, along with ministries supportive of these goals. ​"Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." ­ 2 Timothy 4:5 ​Through our dedicated men and women, Our Gospel Mission proclaims the good news of Grace & Salvation through faith in Lord Jesus Christ.

We are fully convinced of the sufficiency of God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit to save and transform men and women, boys and girls, into devoted followers of Lord Jesus Christ. ​Our Pastors Spreading Gospel in South­Punjab and Evagelizing People and many come to Christ Jesus and accepting him as thier Lord and Saviour.

SUPPORT OUR GOSPEL MISSION TO PAKISTAN DONATE US ONLINE www.pssschristchurch.tk

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Arslan Asher joined us from Australia THANK YOU ARSLAN ASHER TO PART OF GROWING NETWORK

www.ctmagazine.tk www.facebook.com/christiantimesmagazine

Christian Times Magazine

Contents 05 12 15 19 22 24 27

E

ZIN A G A

contents

M MES I T N STIA Issue 2 I R CH

30

32

34

BRITAIN AND THE EU By mary stamp

DIANA LEGACY AND HER STORY

The Sovereignty of God By david hutching

37

38

A LIFE OF WORSHIP By jason beattie

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY WITH PURPOSE By adriana beattie

40

41

NEW YEAR LIVING FAITH

By Marko Latwakoski

UK DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SYRIAN CHRISTIANS

39 GOD’S RENEWED MERCIES, COMPASSION, AND FAITHFULNESS

By Nodella Jordon

42 HIRAKLIS T. SIFONAS

CONTENTS

45 CHURCH OF AMERICA CHRISTIANITY INTERNATIONALKENYA CHAPTER

47 NICHOLS KING FOREWORD

By Don K. Preston (D. Div.)

49 THIS GENERATION

By Terry Cropper

ANIL ANWAR CEO CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE www.ctmagazine.tk

Trump/Pence 2017-2020

TRUMP PLAN & POLICIES

PAGEÂ 07

4. End sanctuary cities.

9. Turn off the jobs and benefits magnet.

Many immigrants come to the U.S. illegally in

5. Immediately terminate President Obama’s

search of jobs, even though federal law

two illegal executive amnesties. All

prohibits the employment of illegal

immigration laws will be enforced - we will

immigrants.

triple the number of ICE agents. Anyone who enters the U.S. illegally is subject to

10. Reform legal immigration to serve the best

deportation. That is what it means to have

interests of America and its workers, keeping

laws and to have a country.

immigration levels within historic norms.

6. Suspend the issuance of visas to any place where adequate screening cannot occur, until proven and effective vetting mechanisms can be put into place.

7. Ensure that other countries take their people back when we order them deported.

8. Ensure that a biometric entry-exit visa tracking system is fully implemented at all land, air, and sea ports.

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​

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FOREIGN POLICY AND DEFEATING ISIS

CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

TRUMP PLAN & POLICIES

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INFRASTRUCTURE

HEALTH CARE

INFRASTRUTURE

Edited by Anil Anwar SOURCE: DONALDJTRUMP.COM

CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE 2 ISSUE JANUARY 2017 We maintain that there is no such thing as a Christian nation, and England was never a Christian nation (only in name only). There is no such thing as being a Christian by natural birth or because you have Christian parents as is assumed and believed by many, for a man must have a spiritual birth or be born again to enter the kingdom of God. The kingdom of Christ is a kingdom not of this world.

There are s ome who assert that Islam is a religion of peace how ever the declared objective of Islam is to rule the whole world and be ruled by Sharia Law, by what ever means possible. That is not the way of peace but the opposite. Our ministers living in Rahim Yar Khanm of the PSSSChristchuch My Christmas message to those in Pakistan and

Bierton Particular Baptist Pakistan are seeking

our readers worldwide of our newly published

to show that Christianity is the way of

Christian Times Magazine, not only in the US but the Uk ,

peace, peace between man and God and

Asia and Europe. By David Clarke President of PSSS

b etween themselves. We believe the gospel

Christchurch Bierton Particular Baptists Pakistan.

and teaching of Christ it is way to change the worst of men and so bring peace among men

In response to the various critical comments and

and not war. To do this minister Anil Anwar

views recently expressed to me by, those who object

and myself have worked together to publish

to religion and in particular Christianity for that

our Christian Times Magazine, the first ever to

matter, on the basis that Historically Christianity is

be published and circulated from Pakistan and

the greatest cause of war throughout the world and

we invite others to be involved by contributing

for that reason they have no time for religion.

article for publication.

I wish to say that historic religious persecution and

So I wish to say the fol lowing:

present persecution, whether it be by so called Christian,

Islam by the very creede and essence of its

Jew Muslim or other, in the name of their religion is not

teaching does not promote religious liberty.

freedom of religion but denial of freedom and is defiantly not

Conversion by forced conformity or by the

Christianity. And it is not true to say that Christianity is the

sword is not freedom. Christianity teaches men

cause of such evil but rather man and his perversion of

to live if possible and be a peace with all men.

Christianity. And that perversion is well known and rejected

A Christian believes the record given by God in

by all Christians.

the bible concerning his son the lord Jesus Christ.

Issue 27 | 234

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CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

CHANGE AND CHOICE

By Dr. Cecil Stewart OBE

Change and Choice

page 19

christian times magazine

photo source by google

Libs Try to Unhinge Trump's Cabinet After eight years of fundamentally transforming

Price and (Chris) Collins (of New York) falls short

America, most liberals aren't exactly thrilled to see

of evidence that any illegal insider trading or

it transformed back. Desperate to keep their legacy

violations of congressional ethics rules have

of lawlessness alive, the Left is taking the surest

occurred, the patterns, opportunities and

path to protecting their "progress:" fighting the

remarkable financial benefits gained, and to be

leaders who would unravel it and return law and

gained, warrant investigation." Not to be outdone,

order to America. With the New Year came a new

six Democrats are also digging deep into the

intensity to knock down any cabinet nominees of

pockets and bank accounts of Trump's choice for

President-elect Donald Trump's who pose a threat

Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos. This week, in

to President Obama's radical gains. To their

advance of her confirmation hearing, they're

disappointment, that seems to be almost everyone.

demanding that she release the names of donors

The cabinet Donald Trump is assembling has been

and the expenses of two organizations she led.

called a "dream team" of conservatism, which is a

"Your active political fundraising of course does

disaster-in-the-making for the Left's ambitions. So,

not disqualify you from holding public office, but

the president's party has reacted as most people

it does raise questions about whether you will be

have come to expect -- not by heeding voters'

able to discharge your duties fairly on behalf of all

message and pledging to work together, but by

Americans, including those without the

demonizing the men and women who will be at

wherewithal to contribute to causes or candidates

the levers of power in Washington. Senate

you support," they wrote. But it's Senator Jeff

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is using

Sessions (R-Ala.) who's has taken the biggest share

every tool at his disposal to discredit Trump's

of unwarranted criticism, as the media tries to

picks, including a ridiculous ethics complaint

dredge up manufactured controversies older than

against Health and Human Services Secretary

most of the reporters writing the stories. It's a

nominee Tom Price (R-Ga.). Even their own

strategy straight out of Saul Alinsky's Rules for

statements prove what a witch hunt the effort is, as

Radicals, the Left's bible of political engagement.

at least one watchdog group wrote, "While the

The quarterback may have changed, but the game

information available so far on the stock trading

plan hasn't. "The major premise for tactics is the

activities of Reps.

development of operations

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that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition." Then, "pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it."

Well, liberals have managed to pick the targets, but

By Tony Perkins' Washington

so far, they've had trouble freezing them. That's

Update is written with the aid of

because leaders like Jeff Sessions with decades of career accolades, accomplishments, and allies

FRC senior writers.

refuse to be intimidated by the Left's smear tactics.

And while the liberal media may be in the bag against the former Alabama Attorney General, plenty of people -- African Americans and Democrats included -- are combatting the lies.

Today, black pastors from Alabama and several other states spoke at a news conference on Capitol Hill in a show of support for President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Attorney General, Senator Sessions."Americans are living in a toxic climate where the serious charge of racism is carelessly leveled against anyone with whom the left disagrees. We are here today to make it perfectly clear that this attack against Senator Jeff Sessions is baseless, and that he is more than qualified to be our next Attorney General," Rev. Dean Nelson, who organized the news conference and is Director of African American Outreach for FRC's Watchmen on the Wall. Of course the Left is upset! With this attorney general, the scandals and corruption of the past will be left behind. The Constitution will be restored. And justice will return to the Department of Justice.

SOURCE: FRC www.frc.org

Rev. Raven Youngblood Founder & Chairman Church of American Christianity International http://www.churchaci.org

page 22

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Church of American Christianity International

page 23

christian times magazine

by rev. raven youngblood

Church of American Christianity International

PAGE 24

christian times magazine

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CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

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THE WORD BECAME FLESH JOHN 1:14

THE WORD BECAME FLESH JOHN 1:14

Article By Gary Bigham

We are once again into the season of Advent during which we celebrate and meditate the very essence of our Christian faith. God entering this world in human form through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ who is now our risen Saviour and Lord. It would be so easy to approach Advent in the same way each year as it would be to celebrate other important events in the Christian calendar but I think it is important to have a fresh approach to them each year. It all starts with the birth of Jesus. Two of the Gospels have different reports regarding the birth of Jesus but the message is the same. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus was born in a stable or out-building where animals were kept. Following the birth of Jesus Matthew records the visit of the Magi. It is difficult to know who they were. Magi is the plural of magus who is described in the Concise Oxford Dictionary as a member of a priestly caste of ancient Persia. Others have described them as ‘wise men’ who studied the movement of the stars and other celestial bodies.

They had been following a particular star until it stopped oved the place where Jesus was and they presented him with their gifts of gold, Incense and myrrh which symbolised the purpose of his coming. The actual visit of the magi also symbolised the need and importance of Christ’s incarnation. Shepherds were the people the religious leaders looked down on. Due to the demands of their job, they couldn’t wash from one day to the next and were regarded as filthy people not to be bothered with.

It appears that Luke wished to emphasise that the coming of Christ was for the benefit of lowly shepherds as well as everyone else. God’s message is absolutely inclusive.

The Gospel of Mark mentions absolutely nothing of the birth of Jesus. He begins with the preaching of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. One of the views expressed is that Mark was concerned with the urgency of completing a written record of the life and ministry of Jesus.

Now we turn to the Gospel of John and learn what he has to say about the birth of Jesus. To start with, John is simply not concerned with the physical and environmental circumstances of the birth of Jesus. In his commentary on the opening verses of the first chapter of John’s Gospel, the Rev. Professor Tom Wright, former Bishop of Durham, writes: “ ‘It’s on the right just beyond the end of the village,’ my friend had said. ‘You’ll see where to turn – it’s got the name on the gate.’ It sounded straightforward.

Here was the village. I drove slowly past the pretty cottages, the small shops and the old church. To begin with, I thought I must have misheard him. There didn’t seem to be any houses just outside the village. But then I came to the gateway. Tall stone pillars, overhanging trees and an old wooden sign with the right name on it.

Inside, a wide gravel drive stretching away, around a corner out of sight.

There were daffodils on the grass verge either side, in front of the thick rhododendron bushes.

I turned into the driveway. He never told me he lived somewhere like this!.

I drove round the corner; then another corner, with more daffodils and bushes. Then as I came round a final bend, I gasped!

There in front of me was the house.

Sheltered behind tall trees,

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CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

THE WORD BECAME FLESH JOHN 1:14

, surrounded by lawns and shrubbery, with the morning sunlight picking out the colour in the old stone. And there was my friend, emerging from between the pillars around the front porch, coming to greet me.

The rev. professor Tom Wright introduces the John’s Gospel in such a beautiful and lovely way. The Christian Gospel is so grand, beautiful and wonderful, it is like approaching a grand house and the person coming out to greet us is Jesus himself offering God’s love and forgiveness to all.

The Gospel of John goes straight to the heart of the matter. Jesus is the very word of God who was in the very beginning with God. In other words, Jesus is the very ‘mind’ of God and embodies everything there is about God. He has come into the world, the ‘word’ having been made flesh, identifying with mankind in every way. Why? He came to bring the light and love of God into a world of darkness so that all who received him and accepted his offer of God’s love, received the right to become children of God. Little wonder that in every carol service the final reading is John 1: 1-18 because it expounds the very essence of the Advent Season, God making his entrance into the human world through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not as a warrior messiah but as the prince of peace, bringing God’s love, peace and forgiveness to everyone.

Article by Gary Bigham

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CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

Joy That Lasts

BY LISA WENNINGER

J

oy That Lasts!

By the time you’ve read this the Christmas services will have concluded around the world, and we will have rung in a New Year. I’ve come to realize that while “Christmas” for me in my own home means a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, it can be something very different, even at the next home over, for others.

This, my friends, is not a new thing. As far as I can tell, Christmas has been a holiday filled with traditions that don’t always pertain to Christ.

But for the believer, the anticipation leading up to the day we choose to celebrate and honor the birth of Christ our King is truly beautiful. We remember him in prayer, in song, through scripture and devotion. We witness a coming together, peace, and giving that surpasses the entire year. Our hearts grow with anticipation and our mind is opened, just a little wider. We are reminded, throughout the season, of the giving heart of Jesus Christ. We remember that he once healed a man who suffered with leprosy (Mark 1: 40-42). Jesus had deep compassion for the people, and his actions confirmed this. There was the story of the bleeding lady, or the epileptic boy, or the ear of Malchus. He calmed the seas for his worried disciples, and provided for the masses. He showed each one of us throughout his life what love and caring looks like. Upon His death, we witnessed the ultimate act of love, as he became the sacrifice that would offer all of humanity the gift of salvation, through grace, and eternity with him. So I ask.

Why do we feel compelled to surrender our hearts in greater ways during this time of year?

Why don’t we provide this intentional and life altering love for others every day, in every moment of our life-long journey? Jesus is love.

And if we are not cultivating our own hearts to reflect His example, then we are missing a great part of his personal message and ministry. We live in a world that often leaves us feeling exhausted and broken. We often feel hopeless due to the news that comes at us. We have witnessed evil through hate and persecution.

Our hearts yearn to beg our fellow man to stop!

Stop the hate, stop the power hungry cycle of death, stop the greed! Just stop.

As the Reverend Billy Graham once said, “Racism and injustice and violence sweep our world, bringing a tragic harvest of heartache and death.”

The passion we feel during the holiday season shouldn’t end a couple weeks later. It should be carried on. Being a Christian isn’t a title of distinction, it is an entire life commitment to living for Jesus Christ. Your heart is a reflection of the love Christ has for you, so allow that light to shine out to others year round.

The New Year, as celebrated in my country, is often a time of reflection and determination to make some life change for the next 365 days. When December 31st comes around again, a new resolution is spoken, and so on. I don’t make resolutions, but I do take time to remind myself of what matters. Everything in my life must point to Jesus Christ. Every word I speak, should be in love.

Every word I write, should be to share His love, every thought that swirls around my mind should involve the beautiful image of Jesus. It’s not a resolution, it’s a choice. I choose to honor Christ every day, not for 365 days, but my entire lifetime.

Not because it’s Christmas, a New Year, or Easter, but because being a Christian is an every day gift, having Jesus in my heart is cause for celebration, every single day that I am breathing. My gratitude to Jesus for loving me so much, that he would give his life for me, is unending. Don’t take your relationship as a son or daughter of the Most High lightly. Rejoice and shout the good news, every day!

There is someone who needs to hear it, someone out there is watching you and wondering what it is that you celebrate. So celebrate!

BRITAIN AND THE EU A few years ago Relate (the UK’s largest provider of relationship support) ran a survey about family arguments at Christmas . They reported that 68% of respondents expected to row over the holidays.

I confess I was surprised it wasn’t higher. After all, a family argument over the sprouts is as British a Christmas tradition as the Queen’s Speech. So predictable are Christmas family rows that the advice columns run annual features.

This Christmas the columns were a little different. Six months on from the EU Referendum, instead of the usual suggestions about how to deal with awkward relationship questions from inquisitive relatives, British newspapers and magazines bristled with advice on how to get through the season without falling out with loved ones overBrexit – British exit from the European Union. The European Union (EU) Referendum in June 2016 was, arguably, the biggest event in British politics in a generation. The official campaigns,‘Leave’ and ‘Remain’ were flanked by secondary campaigns and arguments were at times vituperous, at times ludicrous, but always passionate. The British public voted, against almost all expectations, to leave the European Union by 51.9% to 48.1%. The results revealed a divided nation: Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain, England and Wales to leave. . It led to the resignation of the Prime Minister, calls for a new referendum on Scottish.

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Independence and, as the plethora of yuletide advice columns suggests, it caused rifts within families and communities. The ripples caused by the UK’s decision to secede the EU will have global implications – if only in terms of how trade with the UK is conducted – yet, most of the world (including much of Europe) remain baffled by both the decision to hold a referendum and the vote to withdraw. To understand the reasons behind the decision it is important to know the history of the UK’s membership. The forerunner to the EU was the European Economic Community, the EEC. The UK was not a signatory to the Treaty of Rome and, when we tried to join the EEC later, we were twice refused membership. We did not become members until 1973. A referendum was held in 1975 asking the public if we should remain in the EEC and ‘yes’ won with 67% of the vote. But between 1975 and 2016 a number of changes took place, changes which the UK electorate did not have a vote on. The EEC was “common market”, a trading union, with nine member states and a total population of 250 million. The EU, by contrast, is a supra-national political union with 28 members, a common currency, and a population of more than 500 million. Political pressure to hold a referendum on our membership of the EU had been escalating ever since the Maastricht Treaty . It mounted with the economic stresses caused by the 2008 financial crash and the rise of UKIP. In 2013, David Cameron (then UK Prime Minister) bowing to that political pressure, pledged an in/out referendum if the Conservative Party won the 2015 election. But, despite the political pressure, the Remain campaign were widely expected to win the referendum, final polling on the night of the vote predicted they would take 51% .The polls were, obviously, wrong and there are many analysts still working on why that was. The question of why people voted the way that they did is no less complex.

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CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

Britain and the eu

Perhaps for some, it was a rejection of the ‘expert’ opinions which predicted economic collapse.

For others it was a feeling that the economic benefits of the EU hadn’t trickled down to them, that the money we pay as members could be better spent in the UK. For still more there was fear over uncontrolled immigration placing pressure on services already underfunded and oversubscribed.

And for some, like me, it was about our relationship with the EU. For me, a vote to remain was not a vote for the status quo. It was a vote for ever-closer political union. Unless the EU reforms, the Presidents of the European Union will become more powerful over time. Proposing and pushing forward more legislation which sits outside of the sovereign control of its constituent nations. The President of the European Council, President of the European Commission, President of the European Parliament, and the Presidency of the Council of the European Union are not elected by popular vote. As a citizen of the UK, and of the EU, I have no direct vote to remove them from power or demonstrate my support for an alternative leadership in a substantive way – at the ballot. In an age where the UK parliament, with a lower chamber elected by the people and accountable at the ballot, is frequently accused of being unaccountable, a vote to remain under a demonstrably less accountable, supra-national European body seemed to me to be a mistake.

Six months on almost all UK Parliamentarians, whatever their personal vote, have declared their intention to respect the results of the Referendum; our new Prime Minister’s catchphrase is “Brexit means Brexit, and we will make a success of it”. Much is still unknown. The Law Lords have yet to rule on whether Parliament will be required to vote before Article 50 can be triggered, the economic forecasts are better than originally projected but could still take a turn for the worse – we have after all not yet left the EU. But if I could go back, I would not change my vote. I believe that post-Brexit Britain will be as outward looking as it has always been. I believe we have an opportunity to open up trade and forge better links with old friends and allies, like Pakistan. I believe we will make a success of it. But, whatever happens, I suspect advice columns about how to avoid a Brexit row at Christmas will continue for many years to come.

https://www.relate.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/pressreleases/2013/12/11/tis-seasonarguments http://ec.europa.eu/archives/emu_history/documents/treaties/rometreaty2.pdf https://europa.eu/europeanunion/sites/europaeu/files/docs/body/treaty_on_european_union_en.pdf https://yougov.co.uk/news/2016/06/22/final-eve-poll-poll/

By Councillor Mary Stamp

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Diana Legacy and her story

Diana Legacy and her story Sisters want compensation for deaf-mute victim of abuse by Clercs de Saint-Viateur Eight months after a class-action suit was settled on behalf of former students at the Montreal Institute for the Deaf, a total of 195 victims have come forward to tell their stories of repeated sexual assault at the hands of the Clercs de Saint-Viateur, the religious order that ran the boarding school. The men, many of them now in their 70s and 80s, named a total of 33 priests and religious staff as well as five lay people who preyed on them over a period of more than four decades — from 1940 to 1982. But one victim, who died in 2014 at the age of 84, was not counted among them, and now his sisters have been told it’s too late for them to apply for compensation.

The deadline was Sept. 2, 2016.

“My (brother’s) life was destroyed because of them,” said Dana (not her real name), who now lives in northwestern Ontario, but grew up in New Brunswick with the rest of the family — 18 children in all. The family’s names are being withheld so as to protect the identity of the victims.

CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE “He’d come home from school for the summer holidays, and my mother would have to fix him up (physically), but every September my parents would send him back. He must have thought Mom and Dad hated him.” The lawsuit does allow for the families of deceased victims to receive compensation — half of what the victim would receive if he was still alive. The record $30million settlement — the largest in Quebec history for sexual abuse — reflects the severity of the abuse at the school in Villeray, and the vulnerability of the students. Boys as young as seven were molested by staff, from teachers to cafeteria workers. Being deaf-mute, however, the boys could not call for help. When some of them did report the abuse to parents, they were not believed. John told his sister Alice (not their real names), who is also deaf, about the abuse when they were children on the train home to New Brunswick for the summer holidays.

For four years, starting at the age of 13, John was assaulted every week by two of the brothers at the institute. But John told Alice, now 78, not to tell their parents — he was afraid he wouldn’t be believed, and that the priests would take vengeance on him, Alice said through an interpreter. Robert Kugler, with law firm Kugler, Kandestin, who has represented the victims since the lawsuit was launched in 2010, was sympathetic to the family’s situation. But he said the Sept. 2 deadline was strict. “I’m so upset to hear this, I wanted everyone who was victimized to have a right to get paid,” said Kugler. “But the deadline was imposed by the court. ” The only recourse for the sisters is to appeal directly to Superior Court Judge Eva Petras, to extend the deadline, Kugler said. But it would be a hard case to make — any new claim would diminish the amount of the existing claims, he said.

(The money will be disbursed according to the severity of the abuse, but if it was divided equally, each victim would receive almost $154,000.) Dana believes the other victims would not begrudge them. “It’s not right (to refuse the claim),” Dana said, adding she found out about the deadline a week after it had passed, on Sept.

9. “(John) was one of the victims and he got it bad. I know the other victims would not care about the extra $700 or $800 (they would lose).

They waited 40, 50 or 60 years to get this money.” In a claim form for compensation filled out by Alice on Oct. 14, she wrote that Brother Yves Laberge — who was also named by at least five other victims — would come for John during the night.“When (John) would say he was tired, the priest would take him by the neck and choke him, bringing him into a room in the basement to sodomize him

… (John’s) rectum was torn and he was in a lot of pain. Nothing stopped Brother Laberge.”

Alice also named another priest — Brother Hervé Neveu — who is not on the victims’ list of abusers, alleging he would also assault him regularly. Laberge went on to work in Haiti for 15 years. He died in Outremont in 2012, at the age of 89; Neveu continued working at the Villeray school then at the Centre 7400 that replaced it until 2007. He died in 2014 at the age of 97.

Asked to describe how the assaults affected the victim, Alice wrote that the abuse affected the whole family. John, who left the school at 17, went to live with one of his sisters and sexually abused her son when he was a child. “He was so perturbed, he didn’t know right from wrong. His life became a life of debauchery, and he worked his whole life for little pay. A wasted life — he couldn’t learn to read or write, his head would not obey. He died a miserable man.” Both Dana and Alice said if they got the money on John’s behalf — likely about $75,000 — part of it would go to the nephew who was abused, to seek therapy himself.

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The Sovereignty of God

The Sovereignty of God Many people in our day deny God and His control over all things. These insist upon walking in their ignorance—for they refuse any testimony from the Bible. Many Christians, however, also appear to be unsure of the extent of the power and control of God. They are willing to concede that God tries to save sinners—but they are not certain whether God can really and fully accomplish His purpose. They agree that God sends all good things—but are loath to maintain that God sends wars and sickness. They are ready to say that God guides good men—but hesitate to confess that wicked men are also under His direction and control. One of the truths which has been historically and emphatically confessed by Reformed, Calvinistic churches is that of the Sovereignty of our God. Sovereignty refers to absolute, total rule and control over all things, a rule which God alone possesses. God’s Sovereignty is not limited. Nor is it given to Him. But it is without limit and it is God’s personal right. God is not the Ruler of some sort of democracy in which He rules by the will of the people. His rule and authority belong exclusively to Himself—and God fully exercises this rule in His creation. He is the Sovereign One. Nothing and no one escapes His rule.This is a vital truth. Without it, or in distorting it,

one cannot but propose doctrines or beliefs contrary to God’s Word. Consider this once in the light of what the Bible itself teaches. First of all, the Sovereignty of God includes the fact that He has formed by His powerful Word the whole of the universe—and He preserves its existence. This fact staggers the imagination! The universe itself is so vast that man knows not how to describe its beginning or its end. The number of stars is so large as to be uncountable.

The energy expended by all these heavenly bodies in the universe cannot be measured by man. There are those who claim to be ignorant concerning the origin of this universe.

Some suggest that perhaps it is eternal. But the Bible tells us simply, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). And Hebrews 11:3 states, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Imagine! God created the vast universe—and He Himself is far above it, nor is He limited by it. So also did Solomon pray in dedicating the temple at Jerusalem, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth?

Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (I Kings 8:27). But the Sovereignty of God is not limited to the formation of all things by His powerful Word. He is Sovereign in that He directs and governs all things that take place.

God places the sea within its bounds: Job 38:8, “Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?” Or again, He causes the rain to fall and the grass to grow: “Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains” (Ps. 147:8).

Striking, is it not, that the Sovereign God causes each drop of rain to fall where He wills; He causes each flake of snow to descend according to His good-pleasure. This is not the extent of His power, however. God’s power extends over the birds of the heavens and even over the hairs which fall from one’s head. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:29-30). But still more amazing, though disputed by many, is the fact that God’s power directs wars, pestilence, disease and winds which come upon the earth. Not only does He as God send peace but He also causes war. He not only gives health but He also sends sickness and death. God says in Isaiah 45:7, “I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace and create evil; I the Lord do all these things.” Again we read in Psalm 46:8, “Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolation he hath made in the earth. .” When Christians, then, hear of or encounter terrible hurricanes or tornadoes,

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, when they behold the destruction of disease, when they see the devastation of wars—let them confess: “The hand of the Lord directs all these things!” There is a yet more amazing wonder in this fact of God's Sovereignty. His rule extends even over evil men —yes, and over the devil himself. Many deny this. It is often suggested that God influences and directs good men—but that evil men and the devil are minor forces outside of the rule of God. It is conceded that God can frustrate the evil designs of these forces of darkness, but the claim is that these are nevertheless independent forces. If this view were correct, there would be a serious limit to, or abridgment of, the Sovereignty of God. Fact is, however, that God is also sovereign with respect to wicked men. They cannot lift up one little finger, they cannot perform one evil act, but this too is under the absolute control of God. That this is true can also be shown clearly from Scripture. We read in Exodus 3-4, that Moses, who earlier had fled from Egypt, was caring for the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro. This had been his occupation during the past 40 years. Suddenly, God changed the life of Moses. God met him at the burning, but unconsumed, bush in the wilderness, and instructed him to go to Pharaoh with the command to let God’s people go. . But then God told Moses, “When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all these wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in thy hand; but I will harden his heart that he shall not let the people go.” It is not true that Pharaoh first hardened his heart—and then God further hardened it. Before Pharaoh was even aware of the existence of Moses, God emphasizes: “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” (Ex. 4:21). As a result of this act of God, Pharaoh hardens his heart. Though God hardened Pharaoh's heart, yet Pharaoh himself is held responsible and is terribly punished, through the ten plagues, for his sin. And why should God harden Pharaoh’s heart? The apostle Paul answers with the words of Romans 9:17, “For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.” Other instances are mentioned in Scripture. There is the account of I Kings 22, where Ahab sought advice through his false prophets concerning his plan to fight against Syria. These false prophets unanimously urged him to go to battle —with the assurance of victory. But then Ahab called God’s prophet Micaiah. Micaiah explained to Ahab that it was God who placed a lying spirit in the mouths of Ahab’s false prophets—in order to lead Ahab to his destruction in this battle. God was Sovereign even over those false prophets. But there is more too, for even the devil himself is under the direct control of God. Possibly the clearest evidence of this is found in the book of Job. In the first chapter, we read that Satan appeared before God. God reminded Satan of Job who was “a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil.”

The Sovereignty of God

“Ah,” says Satan, “but does Job serve God for nothing? Touch what he has and he shall curse Thee.” God then tells Satan in verse 12, “Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.” Thus did God give Satan specific but limited power to carry out the evil design of trying to cause Job to curse God. But there is a yet more wonderful, amazing evidence of the Sovereignty of God revealed in Scripture. This Almighty God, through His own power alone, saves His people from sin and death and brings them to heavenly glory. Many mistaken preachers will claim that Jesus stands outside the sinner’s heart and insistently knocks upon the door. The decisive action leading unto salvation must be taken by man. But that is not the presentation of Scripture. In Jeremiah 31:1819 we read, “Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, but I did bear the reproach of my youth.” And we read concerning the preaching of the missionaries Paul and Barnabas, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). And on another missionary journey, Paul spoke to women worshiping at a riverside near Philippi. One of these women, Lydia, believed. Concerning her, we read, “Whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul” (Acts 16:14). Further, it was the Sovereignty of God which was evident at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. When one views what happened at the cross, one might be inclined to suggest that matters had gotten out of hand. It almost seemed as though God had lost control. It appeared as though Satan was about to have the victory. Yet that is exactly what did not happen. God had all things under control at the cross. What took place, took place in harmony with His grand purpose. So also did Peter explain to the audience at Pentecost when he told them, “Jesus, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23). God had determined that the cross must come—but wicked men took and crucified the Christ. Thus did God use the evil action of wicked men to accomplish His glorious purpose. It is also this same sovereign, almighty power of God whereby He preserves His people in the salvation He gives unto them. We read in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

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The Sovereignty of God

The Sovereign God has revealed His absolute control over all things in saving a people from sin and bringing them to heaven with all of its glories. Is it important that the faithful Christian maintain this scriptural presentation of God’s Sovereignty? Most definitely! The very reason that the whole of the universe exists is that God’s Name might be highly exalted. All that has taken place, all that shall yet occur, must serve the purpose of glorifying God. No one or nothing may attempt to take away from the Sovereignty of our God. It is the characteristic mark of all heresy that the truth of God's Sovereignty is compromised. Man would introduce that which exalts man, that which exalts man’s power or ability, that which claims that man has a certain ability to earn or merit something of God. Or man deliberately attempts to detract from God’s absolute rule by suggesting that others, outside of God, possess an independent power.

But it is the mark of a faithful Christian and of the true church that these believe and confess the scriptural truth of the absolute Sovereignty of God. All doctrine, every confession, must be founded upon the truth of God’s Sovereignty. Whatever detracts in any way from this truth must be rejected. True doctrine must follow out of and reveal the truth that God is the Sovereign One. The Christian must live and walk in the consciousness of this truth too. All too often one would think of himself as independent—free from the power and authority of God. He does not seek God’s face in prayer as he ought. He does not support the cause of God’s kingdom as a faithful child of God is called to do. He finds pleasure in this world with all of its lusts.

Such an one lives as though God is not the Sovereign One. What a wonderful truth is this confession of God’s Sovereignty! My God is He who hears and can answer my prayer. My God directs all things for my good (Rom. 8:28). Because my God is absolutely sovereign, there are no real accidents which befall me. And I shall surely dwell in the house of the Lord forever—my Sovereign God sees to this through His Son Jesus Christ.

What comfort, what assurance, it is for the Christian to know and confess God’s Sovereignty. There is nothing, then, that can ever separate me from the love of God. “For,” says God’s Word, “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39). That is true because God is the sovereign God. Thank God that He is!

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A LIFE OF WORSHIP

A LIFE OF WORSHIP

Often when we speak of the word “Worship” we tend to think “Music”, but worship is more than the words that we speak or sing. Worship is surrendering all that we are, giving all that we have and placing it at the feet of our Lord.

Worship is a response of the heart and thankfulness for all that God has done. Worship is ultimately a way of life!!

Hi, I’m Jason and I am the worship music leader in Zion family christian church in Roscommon, Ireland. I have been leading our choir in music for almost five wonderful years. I am also a Songwriter with my debut album “Blameless out Febuary 04th 2017. Firstly, you may ask, “ What is it about worship music in particular that allows it to serve as such an important vehicle of the Spirit?” The Bible says that God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3).

In other words, God “dwells” in the atmosphere of His praise. This means that praise is more than a reaction of coming into His presence... Praise to God is a vehicle of faith which takes us into His presence and power! Praise and worship is a gate which allows us to enter the presence of His glory. The psalmist writes, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalms 100:4) Jesus taught that His presence will inhabit the gathering of believers who congregate in His name: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). A “gathering in His name” means that Jesus must be the focus and at the center. He must be the one preached about, sung about and the one praised and worshiped. A few years ago a friend of mine said something to me that changed everything I had thought and often been doing when leading worship. He asked me “Who does the songs I pick for leading worship reflect?”

In the last few years contemporary christian music is growing and becoming very popular in many churches, there is so many beautiful songs to choose from and with catchy melodies.

But it's important to remind yourself who are the songs reflecting that we are singing in church.

The very idea of worship is to reflect and lift up the name of Jesus. Praise means “to commend, applaud or magnify.” For the Christian, praise to God is an expression of worship, lifting-up and glorifying the Lord. It is an expression of humbling ourselves and centering our attention upon the Lord with heartfelt expressions of love, adoration and thanksgiving.

I am the first to put my hand up and admit to singing “So called worship songs!!” because of the melody. But in reality they only speak about “US” what God has done for me or can do for me. Let me go ahead and stop right there!

“Worship music is not about me, it’s not about you or us, it’s not about what we have been through” It’s all about “Jesus” fullstop and lifting his name above all others.

Often our praise to God is something that many people will leave at church, an event that happens only when we come together with other Christians. However, praise should be a part of a believer's lifestyle, intertwined as a part of our daily prayer-life. When we are at work, in the car, at home in bed, or anywhere else.

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Children's Ministry with Purpose

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY WITH PURPOSE

The essential role of the Sunday School teacher is to help the child develop their knowledge and personality. The teacher is a person who seeks and above all to guide, encourage and discover the interest of the little ones. It is hard work and presents both challanges and difficulties. The teacher who has an ability should always seek new ways and techniques to arouse the childrens interest in the word of God. 1 Corínthians 7.20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

(NIV) To be teachers we need to open our hearts and let the Holy Spirt work through our life, because He is the one who gives guidence, inspiration and ability is the Holy Spirit. If you enjoy teaching children, you will seek ways by which they learn more and more. Now, in order to achieve a good performance in the child's learning, there must be a dedication that is synonymous with interest and will. Talking to children without criticizing them is a good way to show them love. Always have a smile for them.

This love must be kept with authority. If needed a correction, correct tenderly, gently, remembering that "soft answers turn away wrath" (Prov. 15: 1).

In the spiritual part, God is pleased with whom is willing to fulfill his command. "Train the children in the way they must go" (Proverbs 22: 6). It is essential to establish a relationship with the parents in order to know the needs of the child both spiritually and emotionally: lack of maternal affection etc., so that the teacher can understand the situation, within the psychological methods.

It is the duty of the teacher to know biblical verses that make known how we should behave in the House of God. When the teacher leads like this, the class is the students feel happy to be with them and are interested in learning the word of God from them. Because you can not educate without God. We can not teach the Bible only with our mouths and not show this in our life.

Without these qualities before the people of God and before the world, it is not possible, because we are the letter of Christ known and read by all people (II Cor 3: 2,3). The children make an unconscious commitment to themselves and to their parents to attend Sunday School. The parents in turn, trust and give their children to be guided. This is already a great step taken for the spiritual formation of the child. A large part of this responsibility lies with the family and another with the teacher. Because it is from them that the child will learn something from God, and from spiritual things. Therefore, it is the teacher's duty to meet this expectation. We read in Zechariah 12: 1 that it is the Lord who forms the spirit within man. But we are the instruments used by God to convey the divine message to him. That is why we are to present ourselves to God as the apostle Paul encourages us in 2 Timothy 2:15 "As workers who do not need to be ashamed and who handles the word of truth". We should make the child aware of his salvation and teach him that he should show God his gratitude for such a great gift, making him understand that God's plan of salvation was created for all, including for the children in Proverbs 22: 6 Teacher is compared to a gardener. Knowledge is the conviction of awareness gained by perception. The Sunday School child teacher should know the Bible because he reads it. We must not speak of what we do not know. God Himself will teach you all truth. The teacher is obliged to know how to comment on the Sunday lesson, because the one who gives grace is Jesus, but the one who should read to know the lesson is the teacher. It was very clear that the Apostle Paul recommended to the Romans (12: 7) that for those who teach, "there is dedication to teaching". Teacher, see how great your responsibility is. Do you know why? For the Scripture says that "the doctrine of the wise is a fountain of life to wander from the snares of death" (Proverbs 13: 1) and says "a bad messenger falls into evil" (Proverbs 13:17).

So after you have an understanding about your vision and calling it’s time to work for king-dom of God, do it with love and dedication because God can use you to change someones life. Every child is different, use all your kindness and patience and never give up even when at times it might be challenging.

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GOD’S RENEWED MERCIES, COMPASSION, AND FAITHFULNESS LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23

GOD’S RENEWED MERCIES, COMPASSION, AND FAITHFULNESS LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23

There is nothing we can do that causes God to renew His mercies each day but it is by His own desire to do this for His creation, His children that He loves so dearly. Our only response is to receive His renewed mercies but don’t take it for granted. The amount of compassion we have received from the Father daily, we should be doing the same for others, even those who have wronged us. Regardless of the treatment Christ received he never stopped showing compassion.

Compassion is blind to the imperfections of the one its being given to. Christ showed an abundance of compassion while knowing the person’s indiscretions/sins because his focus was reconciliation, redemption, healing, and deliverance. Are we able to show forth the same level of compassion that Christ did? If we are truly His disciples this is what we should be doing. Christ took delight in what he was doing because he knew the Father would be pleased.

Just as God’s mercies are renewed every morning so are we a new creature each new morning.

Therefore, those things that happened yesterday shouldn’t affect who we are to be today. With his renewed mercies gives us another chance to become better and more like Christ.

God has proven His faithfulness to us repeatedly and we, too, should be faithful to our life as a Christian and to those who we’ve been called to witness to, to bring healing, to bring deliverance, to bring love, to bring peace, and to bring joy.

Being a new creature with every new day should be filled with the same mercies, compassion, and faithfulness as our heavenly Father. No difference towards anyone but equal always. Christ did not show compassion to some and not others but it was available to all who would accept it.As we seek the Lord for His mercy daily with expectancy, give others that same opportunity with you.

If you have not been living by these principles, now is a great time to start doing so.

The world needs our God’s compassion and to see that He is yet faithful and full of mercy, even in their sin-state, just as we once were.

No one is beyond redemption and receiving the Father’s love, mercy, compassion, and faithfulness.

Will you be the one to bring someone restoration because of the example you are representing of Christ?

Though the hearts of men have become hardened “waxed cold”, we are still expected to walk in the way of Christ. Can God count us to be merciful, compassionate, and faithful?So after you have an understanding about your vision and calling it’s time to work for king-dom of God, do it with love and dedication because God can use you to change someones life. Every child is different, use all your kindness and patience and never give up even when at times it might be challenging.

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NEW YEAR LIVING FAITH

NEW YEAR LIVING FAITH

Bible says Habakuk . 2:4 “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith”. The believer live by faith. The righteous shall live by faith. How faith can live?

Man lives of God's life and faith in Christ Jesus.

Salvation has come to our outside God and to the Lamb. Salvation is not us but the people .As humanity we are sinners .

Romans. 3:21But now, apart from the Law, God’s righteousness is revealed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets— 3:22God’s righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah— for all who believe. For there is no distinction among people,3:23 since all have sinned and continue to fall short of God’s glory. 3:24 By his grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus, 3:25 whom God offered as a place where atonement by the Messiah’s blood would occur through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because he had waited patiently to deal with sins committed in the past. 3:26 He wanted to demonstrate at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies anyone who has the faithfulness of Jesus. God is at work in us through His Word and His Spirit. The Bible speaks of faith that Jesus influence.

Bible says ; “It was the power of His Name that gave strength to this lame man. What you see and know was done by faith in His name ; it was faith in Jesus that has made him well , as you can all see” Act. 3:16 We must look of the Lord Jesus Christ Only Saviour and God. Hebrews 12 12:1 Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off

everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us, 12:2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God. So that faith can begin to us, so we must first know the will and the revelation of God through the Bible the Word of God. The Bible tells us Salvation. The Bible tells us that God has sent His only begotten Son to be the Saviour of our sins and reconciliation of the world. God gave his only begotten Son, Jesus, that none who believes in Him would have everlasting damnation, but have everlasting life. John. 3:16 Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.

1Ti 2:4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to know the truth fully.

The grace of God has appeared for the salvation of the all people. God desires all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the only way to heaven unto the Father, God. John. 14.

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UK DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SYRIAN CHRISTIAN REFUGEES

SOURCE: Barnabas Fund

If they were resettled proportionately with Muslims the UK would admit 2,000, as

A

freedom of information request has revealed that less than 2% of Syrian refugees resettled by the UK government were Christians.

The figures show that between 7th September 2015 and 30th June this year the UK government resettled 2,592 Muslims, 51 Christians and 13 Yazidis under its “Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme”. This is despite increasingly widespread recognition that Christians and Yazidis face genocide at the hands of Islamic State and other jihadist groups.

The UK government has promised to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, but at this rate less than 400 of those will be Syrian Christians.

they made up 10% of Syria’s prewar population. Whilst the UK government points out that it outsources its selection of vulnerable refugees to the UN, its toleration of this level of discrimination against some of the most vulnerable people in the world is itself morally wrong.

For it to tolerate this when Christians and Yazidis are actually facing genocide in Syria and Iraq is a national scandal of historic proportions.

Barnabas Fund has urged the UK government to accept more Christians and other vulnerable minorities from Syria, but our calls have been ignored.

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RET. SGT. HIRAKLIS T. SIFONAS

RET. SGT. HIRAKLIS T. SIFONAS

My name is Hiraklis (Hercules) Takis Sifonas. I have been in the Military/Law Enforcement and Security domain for nearly 30 years in over 28 different countries throughout the world; most of them during periods of war, insurgence and corrupt government for purposes of forensic identification of everything from large scale theft to murder. I have been wounded 9 times in the line of duty and I have taken life and saved life, the first requiring a tremendous amount of healing on my part, as the conscience that comes with it and inappropriate guilt, both guided by the hands of "doubt" "double" - "Devil", as the French coined it, almost took my life. A misguided conscience will kill you in greater pain than you can imagine. It is nothing more than inverted "fear". A dagger that you turn onto yourself. And without the healing of faith, this misguided conscience becomes what we have coined PTSD and/or Depression, that takes more lives each year than bullets. I know; as I said, I almost took mine. As the thought attacking me were unbearable, the guilt, the self condemnation, reproach, anger, rage, sadness and loss of the will to live. If it were not for my faith in God and in our Lord Jesus Christ, I would not be typing this article for you all to see today. My soul was indeed in "Hell"; and that is what the Devil wants. You see, the Devil does not own your soul. He tricks you into believing that; leaving you in a state of "limbo" and suffering until the day you die. And that is one of his "three" great tricks. He convinces us that he can take God's soul given to you by God, he convinces us that he does not exist and also convinces us that all wrongdoing is God's mistake and not "his" interference. We sober; be vigilant. Firstly, it is scientific fact that treatment and faith versus treatment alone is far more effective in healing the individual. Let alone society. Our social values have invested themselves ever so slowly and vice is slowly becoming virtue and virtue vice. A sad state of affairs.And that all begins with the destruction of the nuclear aka "united" family.

Careers become more important than our children, our children see their parents as "lame" and embrace the media and the Law Enforcement, Peace Keeping process is viewed as "tyranny". In a time when once, the Police Officer was respected and the father and mother figure were respected; now, they are looked upon with disdain. We've seen it. Ego has replaced self esteem and hatred has replaced love for ones "mission" on earth.

Revenge has become the most powerful motive in society. And that revenge requires copious amounts of perquisite, social ascendancy and competition versus synergy. When we compete against one another, the results are "antagonism". And antagonism cannot possibly help us as a society as "Synergy" can, as in synergy the "whole is greater than the sum of its parts". Thus 1 + 1 = 4. In "competition. 1 - 1 = 0. The individual who wins may benefit, but society as a whole suffers. Ego. Why do we lie to ourselves that we "must" be the best in order to be worth anything? Ego is so fragile in that particular state. As we do not accept mistakes; instead, make up lies to cover for them. We do not accept responsibility, as it requires making mistakes and taking charge of them and changing them. Being "accountable" cannot be possible to the public when one become accountable to a madness called "perfection of vanity". Basically, Ego states, "I am the best and anyone who says otherwise is a liar and my enemy". Whereas "Self Esteem" dictates, "I am not the best. I am not the worst. I may be less or more; but I am all that I have and I love myself and my reason for being here and will "do" my best. Loving yourself; you suddenly discover, being born in God's image, that you also love God! And that is when the healing begins. How do you heal a broken soul and heart? By loving yourself for who you are.

Loving God and accepting his forgiveness and yours for your errors and understanding that you are a "Human Being" and have been put here to make mistakes and learn from them.

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There are no "masters" on earth; only pupils. And anyone that believe's otherwise is a false teacher.

For when you love who you are and understand that you are a good pupil; you will eventually become a good leader. The only things a "GOOD LEADER" is can be defined as a superior and understanding and compassionate "PUPIL". You can never lead with having served; as being proficient in service is what leadership is. To serve your fellow man and your society to the best of your abilities, learn from them, understand their needs, wants and expectations and try to exceed them if you can.

This is "service" and in turn, this is good leadership!

Be a student. As the world has infinite things to learn from. I shall be a student until the day I die.

And am quite proud of that. And Egotistical individual once told me that he "didn't bother with what the world needed". Only himself. We were aboard a plane about to take off at the time. I asked him, So how would you feel if the people in this airplane's maintenance thought that way?". He almost gripped onto the handle on the seat.

Judgment. Here is a clear way to destroy yourself.

Judgment. For as you judge others, you begin to judge yourself internally without realizing it. Every time you pass judgment upon another; you create a "land mine" of the mind, ready to be stepped on upon your first major error in life and judging you instead of allowing you to heal and learn from the process. Judge nobody. Not even yourself. Love everyone and understand that they are human. Even in battle; if you need to "take a life", never judge thine enemy. He and you are not much different, or when you do realize this, that judgment will fall hard upon you and force you into a battle of ethics.

A great trainer of fighters once told me, accept your enemy as an honored guest. It is far better to fight out of a love for something than a hatred for your enemy. Hatred is fire. And fire needs things to burn in order to keep its impetus. Love is light. And light requires nothing more of you than acceptance.

Fire will burn you out like a house on flames. If you can contain it; it will burn hard and long, but you must feed it with more reasons to hate and that will eventually run out and so will the fire. Whereas, let us say a good swordsman wishes to be apt as their craft. He must eliminate "hate" and replace it with a "love for the art of the sword"! And with that love; his sword will never once be unsheathed out of hate or anger. For anger is self defeating and always serves destruction. Love is not "lame" as so many say. The greatest swordsman on earth hated nobody. He loved the "Way of The Warrior" aka "Bushido". Just as our Lord Jesus Christ spoke of embracing the "Talents". When he told Peter, "Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword"; had Peter been apt at the sword, it would not have discouraged him. But he was not and he

RET. SGT. HIRAKLIS T. SIFONAS

feared dying by the sword. So he heeded the words of the Lord. Regret. It is a painful way to live in the past. Our past is often full of it.

Regret does nothing. It is fine to grieve for a lost loved one or a lost passion; but to regret is only to torture your soul. And there is one simple thing you can apply to keep regret from consuming you. Live your life as best as you can. Love yourself and most importantly, stop right where you are and asked yourself as to when was the last time you told someone you love that you "love" them? Has it been a while?

Well, then stop reading, pick up the phone and tell them. Don't wait. Human life is fragile. One moment we are here and the next we are gone.

Tell those you love them always. The truth is; they know. But it' s nice for them to hear it and nice for you to say it, as you will "remember" it if and when, God forbid, the time comes for them to leave you. Tell those you love that you love them. It does not hurt and costs nothing.

The horrible thoughts of depression. Indeed, they eventually become chemically embedded, as they do with PTSD. But with faith and treatment, using faith as your ballast, you will come out a live and then have the power of the knowledge to help others. You see, there is a big misconception of faith. Faith is "not knowing". If you know something for sure, then you do not require faith. It is only when you are lost and everyone and everything in the world seems to be telling you to go against who you are that you need "faith" to hold on to until this hurricane of fear, conscience and guilt pass es.

And please, do not mistaken conscience for compassion! That will kill you, my brothers and sisters. Compassion requires nothing but your understanding and care; conscience demands for sacrifices. And sometimes, sacrifices of your own life and peace. Things evil wants when it controls your conscience. There is no room for conscience when you have compassion. Rid yourself of it. Conscience and guilt are the key in ingredients in depression along with trauma; add fear, the father of guilt and conscience, and you have a powerful tool to brainwash an entire society into believe that the right thing to do is to suffer. The right thing to do is to be happy!

To enjoy peace and love for the world you live in; the sunrise, a wonderful trade or skill, a woman, a man, a good walk in the park. Simple things that can not be bought and don't need to be. There is so much I could expound on here; but, don't take my word for it! Go out there and live them! Try them! Enjoy them. You may find that you love something else and that's fine. But how will you know until you try? Share. Share your grief, share you emotions, your happiness,

CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

Church of America Christianity InternationalKenya Chapter The above-named organization is a non-profitable organization whose core values and mandate is clearly stipulated on her vision and outlined in her mission and objectives.

Vision Leading people toward Christ-likeness; hence transform communities by inspiring people throughout the world to open their minds, accept and include people with intellectual disabilities and thereby anyone who is perceived as different in the kingdom of God for uniformity.

Mission Exalting Jesus Christ through evangelism, discipleship, worship, fellowship, stewardship, and prayer, for the glory of God and the joy of all communities to whom we work in partnership with to create a more informed public – one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures Objectives Boots on the ground for excellent spiritual nature in truth and holiness Working toward new hopes for the benefit of the societies to God’s glory Empower the communities economically in a sustainable way to distance themselves from engaging in risky sources of income Honesty, loyalty and generosity the key values for positive growth and equality.

Our Values 1. Making obedient, mature and fruit-bearing disciples of Christ who honor God through Christ-likeness.

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2. Glorifying God by pursuing joyous pleasure in Him and submitting to the Headship of Christ.

3. Glorifying God by pursuing joyous pleasure in Him and submitting to the Headship of Christ.

4. Proclaiming sound doctrine derived from a literal, historical, grammatical and contextual interpretation of the Bible.

5. Building our ministry on Biblical principles and prayer.

6. Worshiping to glorify God and minister to the saints.

7. Cultivating a caring community of believers where Biblical fellowship and the “one another” commands of Scripture are practiced.

8. Reaching the lost in our community through personal evangelism and special programs and activities.

9. Actively participating in world missions as goers and senders.

10. Strengthening marriages and equipping parents to bring their children to maturity through Biblical discipline and instruction in the home.

11. Developing family-strengthening and age-integrated programming.

12. Helping men become godly servant leaders and ladies become models of Biblical womanhood.

13. Equipping and engaging believers in ministry as members of the body of Christ, which includes helping believers discover and develop their spiritual gifts.

Executives for Nairobi-(Kenya Mother Church) Reverend Erastus Wasonga – The General Overseer for Kenya Chapter Mr. Emmanuel Juma – The Chairman Mr. Kennedy Ambet – Management Secretary Mss. EddediaEkiru – Management Treasurer

CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE

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Max King Gus Nichols Debate

MAX KING GUS NICHOLS DEBATE Foreword By Don K. Preston (D. Div.)

The story of this debate is a bit of a personal story to me.

As a young man growing up in the churches of Christ fellowship, Gus Nichols was one of my “heros.” He was heralded as a great Bible teacher, speaker, debater - a champion of the Truth. I was privileged to hear him speak on several occasions and truly thought that he was a great thinker, an excellent logician.

On one oc casion my father came back from attending the Freed-Hardeman Lectures, held in Henderson, Tennessee. He related a story that I found both humorous and a bit disturbing at the time. In that story, I heard the name of Max King for the first time.

My father recounted an exchange between Gus Nichols and King during the Open Forum.

Someone from the audience asked brother Nichols what he thought of Max King’s vi ew. He rather stridently condemned King and his followers as false teachers. King stood up and challenged the comments, asking if Nichols had even read any of King’s works. He hadn’t.

King responded that it is hardly appropriate to condemn a man before and without knowing what he believes and why. Nichols simply scoffed at King’s comments. When my father related to me what the controversy was about, I was somewhat intrigued, but, put off by what had seemed, according to my father who also admired Nichols, an unkind and unfair situation in the way King was treated. In my admiration for Nichols, I found it hard to believe that he was not being fair, but, that was the report. That was pretty much the last I heard of King for a few years. I knew a debate between Nichols and King had taken place, but I heard som e very disturbing things about it and never purchased a copy.

As the years passed, and I had begun to study the scripture for myself, I knew that I was beginning to espouse views diametrically opposed to those taught by my heroes in the faith- men like Gus Nichols. In fact, I had begun to believe in some of the “strange things” that this guy Max King supposedly taught, (I did not own a copy of his book) acc ording to my father’s recounting of the earlier exchange. As I began to share my findings with my preaching peers, I was repeatedly accused of being a “Kingite,” a follower of Max King. I had to ask what that meant, since, as mentioned, I did own a copy of King’s book and had never heard him speak.

The more I studied and the more I shared, the more I was rejected, even ostracized. I could see a train coming.

Two things then happened. One of my other heros of the faith, Jim McGuiggan, had a debate with Max King. I had the utmost respect for McGuiggan’s knowledge, and felt that if anyone could “rescue” me from the road that I was on, it was McGuiggan. I still did not fully understand everything King was saying, but, I did know that he claimed that the second coming of Christ, the end of the age and the resurrection occurred at the end of the Old Covenant age of Israel in AD 70. I had begun to see that possibility, but, I just did not want to go there! I badly wanted, and expected, McGuiggan to so thoroughly expose King’s error that I would be pulled back from the brink of apostasy. I had been warned repeatedly by several prominent brethren that if I continued on my path of studies that I was headed for brotherhood rejection. So, I purchased the McGuiggan-King Debate and read it, over and over again. I was utterly, totally disappointed in McGuiggan!

What happened in that debate was that McGuiggan, on several occasions, literally “gave the farm away” with his admissions.

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It was more than obvious that McGuiggan had not done his homework, and his desperation grew as the debate proceeded. (To McGuiggan’s credit, in a later book, he apologized to King for his unChristian conduct, and went so far as to say that few men alive understand Pauline theology as well as King). Realizing that McGuiggan had so totally failed to rescue me, I frantically cast around to find some other resources to do the job. That is when the second thing happened: I found a copy of the Nichols - King Debate from years earlier. I eagerly purchased that, hoping that Nichols would succeed where McGuiggan had failed. Once again, I was totally disappointed.

What I found, and what I think the discerning reader of this book will find, are several disturbing things about Nichol’s approach to the debate.

1. He purposely and repeatedly misrepresented King’s position, as King repeatedly pointed out.

Yet, even though he was corrected, Nichol just repeated those false claims. This is totally inappropriate. (It is regrettable that misrepresentations continue to be a mainstay of the opponents of Covenant Eschatology).

2. Nichols literally ignored many of King’s arguments. Now, in fairness, in the time strictures of a debate, it is extremely difficult to address every point raised. However, when a person presents an argument repeatedly, as critical to his position, it is incumbent on the other man to address the fundamental issue.

Nichols refused to do this, repeating his “straw man” arguments.

3. Nichols made several arguments that were nothing but “poisoning the well” arguments. He gave no exegetical support for his claims, simply throwing out several claims about King’s position.

This is too common of a debate tactic, but of course, it proves nothing.

4. Most of Nichol’s arguments were purely presuppositional in nature, and not based on textual exegesis or sound hermeneutic. He simply affirmed that time will end. He simply claimed that physical bodies must come out of the ground. Assertion is not proof.

5. As the debate progressed, Nichols grew increasingly angry, and caustic in his language, while King remained the very picture of Christian decorum. This was a very telling development

Max King Gus Nichols Debate

As I read the Nichols - King Debate, I realized that, just as McGuiggan had failed to refute King, Nichols had done even worse of a job.

(Nichols and his camp knew this, and it is demonstrated by the fact that there was an original agreement for a follow up debate to be held in Alabama. Nichols and his eldership broke that agreement, violating their own word, and refused to have that second debate).

As you read this debate, I believe you will see exactly what I did. You will see tradition come face to face with scripture. You will see exegesis refuting mere assertions. You will see sound logic and proper hemeneutic at work, refuting slopping “proof-texting.” You will see the power and simplicity of Truth, presented

by King in an humble, yet convincing manner, while anger, frustration and bitterness was on the rise from Nichols.

I am happy to recommend this book to you for you own careful study. I believe you will find it to be eye-opening.

Don K. Preston (D. Div.) President, Preterist Research Institute Ardmore, Ok. Www.eschatology.org

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THE GENERATION

THE GENERATION

BY TERRY CROPPER

"Very I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled"(Matthew 24:34). Jesus very plainly said here the ALL of the things He had mentioned would come to pass in that generation. This would include all the persecution of the disciples, the gospel being preached in all the world, the abomination of desolation, the great tribulation, and the coming of the Son of man. Most commentary frankly acknowledge this as troublesome. And this is why the verse is troublesome to many other people as well. They want to make the verse read, "some generation in our future� instead of, "this generation" as (God Jesus said). On the lips of Jesus 'this generation' always signifies the contemporaries of Jesus. "Some have sought to get around the force of this text by saying that the word generation here really means race, and that Jesus was simply saying that the Jewish race would not die out until all these things took place. Is that true? We should accept these words of God exactly as He gave them. The Bible is not to be read in such a way that it is made to conform to our opinions and assumptions; instead, we must conform to what it says. he word "generation" as used in Matthew 24:34 is from the Greek word "genea" which means,"by implication an age

(the whole multitude of men living at the same time, a space of 40 years ). ." This word has the very same meaning as the "generation" found in Luke 11:50-51 "That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of THIS GENERATION..."from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of THIS GENERATION." Generation (people living at the same time or in a 40-year period) is often the best translation of genea. It can mean nothing but "generation or contemporaries." Paul knows this very well because he recalls the words of Jesus spoken. Notice what Paul writes to the church of Thessalonians. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who (killed both the Lord Jesus and THEIR OWN PROPHETS, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 1Thessalonians 2:14-15.

Notice Paul put the killing of Jesus along with (the prophets) at the feet of their own countrymen.

The "generation" of Matthew.23:36 is the same as the "generation" of Matthew.24:34 both refer to those living in the first century. Matthew 23:34 "Therefore, indeed, (I send you prophets), wise men, and scribes: (some of them you will kill and crucify), and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, That the blood of all the prophets, that was shed from the foundation of the world, would be required of that generation living. The word "generation" as used in Matthew 23 and Luke 11:50-51 does NOT mean "race, kind, nation, offspring, stock,"

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C.I. Scofield says (p.1034. Old edition, Scofield Reference Bible). "Gr genea, the primary definition of which is, ‘race, kind, family, stock, breed; Mr. Scofield is wrong here. He used the wrong Greek word with his definition, for the definition he gives is for the Greek word. "Genos." But this is not the word used in Matthew 24:34. The word used in Matthew 24:34 is certainly "genea," but this has a different definition which is, "by implication an age." If the verse meant "kind, nation, offspring, stock," that it would have had the Greek word "genos" but it did not; the word is "genea." and Scofield's definition of that word is not correct.

But how many Christians today know Scofield's definition is wrong? I challenge you: Get out your concordance and look up every New Testament occurrence of the word generation (in Greek, genea) and see if it ever means 'race' in any other context.

Here are all the references for the Gospels: Matthew 1:17; 11:16; 12:39, 41, 42, 45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:36; 24:34; Mark 8:12, 38; 9:19; 13:30; Luke 1:48, 50; 7:31; 9:41; 11:29, 30, 31, 32, 50, 51; 18:8; 17:25; 21:32. Not one of these references is speaking of the entire Jewish race over thousands of years; all use the word in its normal sense of the sum total of those living at the same time. It always refers to contemporaries.

"Many commentators play around with the word 'generation' (genea), and thinking to avoid embarrassment, However if we use the Bible to interpret the Bible biblically. We know the generation in Matthew 24:34 is the very same generation or contemporaries in Luke 11:50-51. The word "genea" is used in Luke 1:50 "from generation to generation is also used in Acts 13:36, "he had served his own generation. It is also used in Hebrews 3:10, "I was grieved with that generation.

THE GENERATION

Jesus to His disciples: Mark 8:38, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." In Luke 17:25 He says, "First Christ must be rejected by this generation" What "generation" was Jesus referring to in this passage? Jesus said it was the adulterous and sinful generation that rejected him then living while Jesus was alive!

As one can easily see, this word means an age or period of time, not a race of people. But because of Scofield's Reference Bible most Christian take "that generation" to mean nation, or races, etc. Baby eat what they are giving. We not trying to heart anyone here we are just giving you the plan truth.

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CTM International ISSUE 2/JANUARY 2017

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