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ISSUE #2 - JUNE 2013
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South African Man Claims He Is Jesus Christ; Believes He Is Immortal A South African man is claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, just a week after reports came out about a man in Australia with a similar claim. Page 14 President Mugabe is the Most Learned African Leader - Prophet Boateng Ghanaian prophet Victor Kusi Boateng has described President Robert Mugabe as the most learned African leader who makes decisions based on knowledge rather than mere sentiment. Page 14 Nigeria: Anglican Church Blames Nation’s Woes On Recycled Politicians Anglican church has blamed much of the country’s woes on old and recycled politicians, noting that this has foisted on the youths the ignoble role of thuggery, armed robbery, kidnapping, suicide bombing and other vices. Page 15
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Study Reveals New Insights on Family Breakdown... Page 7 Can small children come to Christ to be saved?... Page 7 A Father’s Legacy... Page 9 God’s Plan for You... Page 9
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CHURCH: Your place to "Belong"!
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od wants each of us to feel that His Church, the body of Christian believers everywhere on earth, is the perfect place "to belong". In the bible, there are passages that assure us that even when our own parents and families and love ones reject us we have a "home" and a "family" in the house of God. In Mathew 12:50 whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother and sister and mother." I have friends who say Church is repetitious but so is life. The days of our lives are structured around work, eating, family and other things. Any of these can become boring if we don't strive to find something interesting about them. The reason we go to Church is to seek to build our relationship with God, renew our spirit and to learn the Bible and to thank God for blessing us with another week of life. Please realize that when I say "Church", I am not talking about a building or even a certain denomination. I'm talking about the body, or group, of all saved, Christian believers. We need to belong
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to a community of faith that includes our brothers and sisters in Christ who are trying to live out the gospel just like we are. Have you ever entered a church or other Christian meeting far from home and immediately felt like you belonged? You may have thought to yourself, "I don't know anyone here by name, but I know them all. They are my brothers and sisters in God's Family! We all have God's love and Jesus' salvation in common!" If you haven't ever felt that way, maybe you need to examine your life. The only way to feel like you really "belong" in God's Family is to first accept Jesus as the Savior and Lord of your life. The next step is to meet regularly with other Christians, actively worshipping the Lord with them. Then you need to commit yourself to being a productive and responsible part of that church body...by spending your time, energy, talents, and material wealth in helping to grow and nurture God's Family. And finally, you need to invite and make welcome those around you who need to feel that they belong. Remember: "Everyone is welcome in God's Family!"
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ev. Apostle Alexander Adu Gyamfi is a man after God's own heart. His success in ministry comes as a direct result of his humility, obedience and desire to please God. He's a source of inspiration to many and a great shepherd for God's flock. Today, Bible Believers' Tabernacle Inc. (BBT), a true manifestation of the fulfillment of God's purpose stands in the heart of the Bronx, NY as a fountain of hope and an arena for raising champions into the Kingdom. Each week, Alexander delivers his message of hope, love, patience and trust in the Lord to his congregation and his audiences who watch his sermon through live stream every week. He has impacted the community with his message and developed relationships with key religious and political leaders. You can visit Bible Believers Tabernacle at: 1877 Bathgate Avenue Bronx, New York, USA 10457 Tel: 718-294-9411 Website: www.bbtchurch.org
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The Christian Journal
WORTHY NEWS
The Leading Christian Newspaper By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
'Reign of terror' against Christians in Central African Republic BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICA REPUBLIC slamic militants launched a "reign of terror" against Christians in the Central African Republic after Seleka rebels took control of the country in a March 24 coup. Armed with a "hit list" of pastors and places of worship, Seleka rebels systematically looted church property, even seizing monies from collection plates. This month, Human Rights Watch released a report
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citing severe violations committed by the Seleka rebels against civilians that involved rape, pillage and execution, including the death of a church leader after the rebels fired upon a funeral procession on the Ngaragba Bridge in Bangui on April 13. As a result, many Christians have fled into the countryside: more than 200,000 people were displaced while nearly 50,000 others crossed CAR's borders into
Iran arrests Pastor, then closes his Church TEHRAN, IRAN ranian agents closed Iran's largest Persian-language Pentecostal Church Monday, one week after arresting its pastor during worship services, according to Fox News. Apparently the closing of Tehran's Central Assemblies of God was part of the Islamic Republic's crackdown on Christians before the presidential election in June to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "These incidents appear to be an attempt to stop worship services from being conducted in Farsi, the language of the majority of Iranians," George Wood, general superintendent for the Assemblies of God (U.S.), told BosNewsLife, a news service that reports
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on the plight of Christians in the Middle East. Previously on May 21, Iranian authorities abducted Pastor Robert Asserian while he was conducting services; his whereabouts are still unknown. "Before going to the church, authorities raided Pastor Asserian's home where they confiscated a computer and several books," Wood told BosNewsLife. "Then, they found Pastor Asserian at the church leading the prayer service, immediately arrested him and announced the church's imminent closure." The number of Iranian Christians, many of them converts from Islam, is estimated at only 100,000 in a nation of mostly 75 million shi'a Muslims.
neighboring nations, according to Barnabas Aid. Last week, UN envoy Margaret Vogt urged the Security Council to debate deploying a security force to contain the anarchy in CAR. Vogt said there was a "total disregard for international law, as elements of Seleka turn their vengeance against the population".
Zanzibar: Islamist hotbed of hate ZANZIBAR CITY, ZANZIBAR anzania, whose population is almost entirely Muslim, has seen a sharp rise in the persecution of Christians, especially on Zanzibar, a small island off Tanzania's east coast where Pastor Dickson's church was attacked on May 26. "Radical Muslims, who are growing in number in Tanzania, set fire to my church building," Dickson said equipment and our PA system. They even [burned] our Bibles …" Dickson told ICC that this heightened hatred for Christianity came from a growing number of fundamentalist Islamists and other radicals operating in Tanzania, especially on Zanzibar where much of the violence is fueled by separatists who want the island to break away from the mainland.
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But attacks against Christians aren't limited to Zanzibar. In February, Pastor Mathayo Kachili and Father Evarist Mushi were murdered on the mainland, after which a threatening text message was sent to many Christian leaders, according to ICC. "We thank our young men, trained in Somalia, for killing an infidel. Many more will die. We will burn homes and churches …" The texted threat became all too real last month when the opening ceremonies for St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church were abruptly ended after a bomb was tossed from the street into the crowded church. As a result, many Christians on Zanzibar are afraid to attend church and may soon abandon their island home for safer havens.
China Plans to End House Churches BEIJING, CHINA hina's closure of a dozen churches in Hainan Province while threatening to close many more strongly suggests that the Communist government has a clandestine plan to eliminate all unregistered house churches, according to the China Aid Association. "The government is carrying out its plans to 'eradicate' the independent house church movement, a crackdown that would affect up to 100 million people," CAA President Bob Fu said in a press release. "China Aid expresses its shock and concern that the relevant administrative departments of the Hainan government are systematically closing down house churches. Recent
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reports from many other provinces and regions indicate that the same thing is happening to house churches elsewhere as well, further confirming China Aid's report last year of the intensification of the Chinese government's secret 10-year plan to eradicate house churches." According to the CAA report, China has already initiated a three-phase plan to eradicate all unregistered house churches by forcing them to join the official Three-Self Patriotic Movement system. During the first phase from January to June, the State Administration for Religious Affairs had secretly investigated all of China's unregistered house churches. In the second phase, these churches will begin to be shut
down while their leaders are sent to labor camps for allegedly "organizing and using a cult to undermine law enforcement". House churches that join the TSPM will be renamed "house gatherings". Although some house churches have already joined the TSPM to avoid further harassment, most congregations refuse to join because of the Chinese government's censorship of sermon content, according to Morning Star News. The third and last phase is predicted to span 2015 to 2025 after which time the government will shut down all unregistered house churches that still haven't joined the TSPM.
Kazakhstan: Tea and Prayers lead to Pastor's arrest ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN pastor in Kazakhstan was arrested last month for allegedly serving hallucinogens to his congregation while wielding a powerful psychological influence over them. However, the "hallucinogens" Pastor Bahtzhan Kashkumbaev served proved to be just red tea -- used as a non-alcoholic alternative for communion -- and the only influence he wielded came from the pastor's prayers during worship service, according to Wade
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Kusack of Russian Ministries. Kashkumbaev's arrest may prove a harbinger for many more under Kazakhstan's new religion law; to date, there have been at least eight arrests, but according to Kusack, Kashkumbaev's arrest was different because he had converted from Islam. Many Christians in Kazakhstan believe Kashkumbaev's arrest was actually a punishment sent from Muslim officials for his evangelical activities, Kusack said.
“It is (a) punishment for him and a threat for all others not to change their religion: If you are Muslim, you should stay Muslim; If you are Christian, you should stay Christian.” Kashkumbaev's arrest reminded Kusack of how the Soviets once treated Christians living in the former USSR. "If the church all over the world ignores this and there is no reaction from the West," said Kusack, "I believe this type of persecution will continue."
For more religious news visit: www.worthynews.com
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The Christian Journal
ARTICLES
The Leading Christian Newspaper
CHANGE IS LIVING
Relationship
by Janice S Ramkissoon
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hange is the only certainty in life, yet we still have individuals entering relationships marriage, refusing to adapt to change. ENTERING A RELATIONSHIP Expect Change: My work life is rooted in the travel industry so I have plenty of practice in expecting, acknowledging and accepting change in this changing environment. Working in the transport, accommodation or attractions sector of the industry can provide some form of stability and regularity. However, the retail sector is on a daily alert for changes. This varies from changes in the special offers, booking system, government policies and airline routing to name a few. A consultant or agents only need to be away from the office for a few days and he/she has fallen behind with the most recent developments. Major disasters, particularly financial ones, can occur if one gets back to work without a brief when one returns. The only regularity in retail travel is the start-time (unless you work on a shift pattern) and in few cases, the finishing time. I would therefore advise employment seekers, not to enter a travel career, if you are looking for consistency and predictability. I look at relationships, marriages in particular, in a similar manner. Entering a relationship one has to expect, acknowledge and accept changes. One has to be open to new ideas that may help one's relationship to grow. Failure to recognize this as an integral part of relationship growth is a recipe for relationship decay. Without growth, stagnation steps in (some refers to this as boredom) and the end of many relationships often begins at this opening: "We just grew apart." Wrong! Chances are: someone in that party refused to accept the inevitable change. Sometimes this is not obvious in the early stages and can be brought on through life circumstances especially where couples lack support. One party believes that what they are doing constitute the only way forward. They can't see a way out and so becomes trapped in that situation and other problems develop from there. If you find yourself in this position: be prayerful, proactive and work together to avoid this being a thorn in the relationship. "That's how you married me. You
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knew the package you were getting. Why are you trying to change me?" Or "This is who I am. Don't expect me to change..." You were born a babe, grew to be a child, a teenager then an adult. For each stage of your development, your mental status and physical being required different input. Likewise your relationship started young and it too needs to grow from infancy to maturity. Both have to put the effort in to make it work. A ROUGH DIAMOND will change: A relationship should be viewed as a rough diamond. It takes hard labor for the rough diamond to sparkle and shine. So stick through it when the
because 'This is who I am.' And the other starting to crumble under the excessive pressure thinking 'It's the only way forward...' based on the other's belief. Soon, the relationship starts to die. If you have not yet entered into a relationship prepare your mind in this fashion before you take on such responsibility. A relationship needs to grow and growth equals change. What you started with is already in need of improvement. Your relationship cannot survive on just physical giving of yourself to each other and gift tokens of your appreciation. You need to take an active
Entering a relationship one has to expect, acknowledge and accept changes. One has to be open to new ideas that may help one's relationship to grow. rough days come because when you w o r k t h r o u g h i t t o g e t h e r, i n partnership, you'll both share in its beauty. You will cry sometimes and your heart may take a while to mend but working through as a team, will tighten the bond between you and your relationship will grow even stronger. Overcoming one hurdle in your relationship contributes to growth. You have grown to a higher level and are more equipped to deal with what may come next. When you repeat this process you get stronger and stronger and your love for each other will soar. As a couple waiting to be wed, there are certain flexibilities you have as individuals that will be restricted once you become husband and wife. These are further restricted when you take on the responsibilities of becoming a homeowner and sometimes temporarily put on lockdown when you start a family. Same couple but with new and growing demands placed upon you. The physical may not change (though anyone who has ever been pregnant may beg to differ) but the mind has to develop in order to accept the different stages of the relationship. If this process does not take place, one person will be forced to take on most of the responsibilities (that comes with the changes) while the other remains na誰ve to what is actually taking place. Both believing that they are correct in their thinking; one thinking all is well
role in forward thinking and prepare your mind for future changes. This way you can plan towards these changes that are positive; enhancing what you now have together and also plan against the ones that are negative and will damage your relationship.
Your friends or relatives may one day be in a similar position and need your help but without your healing you will not be able to offer that help. You'll most likely hinder the growth of their relationship. So cry if you have to, write your thoughts down if you need to, sing out loud in praise to God release it all to Him and He will restore the days, weeks, months or years that hurt has stolen. Then change will come once more as your spiritual growth becomes evident and all bitterness and resentment disappears. Now you can walk in the newness of life you have found -- the newness that allows love to cover all. Live through the changes for change is living. Having read this article, I hope that you are encouraged to reach for higher heights in your relationships. Though the article focuses on marital relationships, the points raised can be applied in all forms of relationship from the business world to the local church. As long as it's a relationship, change is certain. So let us change our way of thinking and be receptive to the idea of change.
E M P O W E R M E N T I N ACCEPTING CHANGE: Don't be afraid of change. Accept that it will come, then embrace the positive and reject the negative ones when they do come along. Change is living. So don't allow the negatives to kill your relationship. Rebuke it. Allow God to find and remove the root of the problem, through prayer (as the key) and faith in believing it is done. Rise above it and drench your relationship with the juice of loving kindness. Show mercy and forgiveness. Let the fruit of the spirit come alive in you. Allow the grieving, of any form of hurt or pain that you may feel, to run its course. That way you can receive your healing and be able to help others to grow.
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The Christian Journal
The Leading Christian Newspaper
Study Reveals New Insights on Family Breakdown
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new study by family scholars shows that U.S. churches have paid little attention to the widespread experiences of those who grow up without married parents. The report, "Does the Shape of Families Shape Faith?", encourages faith leaders to be more engaged on the topic, both for the health of churches and the sake of young people. Onequarter of today's young adults have parents who divorced, while a growing number of children are being raised by a parent or parents who never married. How young adults approach questions of moral and spiritual meaning will influence broader trends in churches, the researchers suggest. "The health and future of congregations depends upon
understanding, reaching out to, and nurturing as leaders those who have come of age amid increasing family fragmentation," the study states. Co-investigators of the report are Elizabeth Marquardt, director of the Center for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values; Amy Ziettlow, an affiliate scholar at the Institute for American Values; and Charles E. Stokes, scholar in residence at Samford University. The researchers report that when children of divorce reach adulthood, compared to those who grew up in intact families, they feel less religious overall and are less likely to attend church. Those raised in a family where their parents were happy were more than
twice as likely to attend religious services, compared to those raised in homes where the parents amiably divorced. The study found that of those young adults who regularly attended church at the time of their parents' divorce, two-thirds said no one - either from the pastoral staff or congregation - reached out to them. "The resulting alienation from a life of faith can represent a second, silent schism in the child's life," the report states. "First there is the rupture of the marriage of the child's parents, then there is the rupture of the child's connection to a congregation and even to a life of faith."
Can small children come to Christ to be saved?
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oth committed Christians and uncommitted skeptics often wonder whether young children can be genuinely saved. The skeptic questions it because he doubts the reality of salvation for anyone, and especially for those he deems too immature to understand the complex theological issues involved. The sincere Christian parent sometimes wonders because he knows salvation is real, and he is concerned lest his child substitute youthful enthusiasm for genuine conviction and commitment. Jesus Christ welcomed and blessed children during His incarnate ministry. Mark 10:13-16 reveals an interesting incident involving children. "And they began bringing children to
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Him, so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, 'Permit the children to come to me; and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter in at all.' And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them." While some of the children brought to Christ were no doubt too young to understand the significance of their meeting, they could at least feel His warmth and love and thus be favorably disposed toward Him when they grew older. The Greek word used for
"children" specifies that these were very young children, so was Christ's effort in vain? No, for that same Greek word is used in II Timothy 3:15 to state that from earliest childhood Timothy had "known the sacred writings which were able to give (him) the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ." Some feel a child has to reach a certain age (often called the "age of accountability") before he can make any spiritual decisions. Often the age of twelve years is advanced, because of Jewish ceremony which marked the twelfth or thirteenth year. Rather than assigning an arbitrary age, one would be more consistent with Scripture to realize that at whatever age a child is capable of learning simple Biblical truths, at that age he becomes accountable to God for acting on those truths. Since children are susceptible to pressure from significant adults and peers, care must be taken to insure that their decisions are truly their own. Children can feel intimidated to "walk the aisle" merely to please a parent or to go along with a friend. This can happen without genuine repentance over sin or personal faith in Jesus Christ, amounting to no more than merely going through the motions. However, once a child realizes his sinfulness and responds to that sinfulness in repentance and faith in Christ, he can and will be saved, regardless of his age. Christ’s indignation at His disciples probably came because they thoughtlessly assumed that none of the children could understand.
Family ARTICLES
NEWS ROUND-UP WOMAN CONFESSES TO COOKIE CAPER AT CATHOLIC CHURCH PENNDEL, PA. - Police say a woman has confessed to stealing cookies from a Catholic church outside Philadelphia. The Bucks County Courier Times reports the 51-yearold suspect confessed to Penndel's police chief a week after she and a man broke into Our Lady of Grace and stole Oreos, coffee, bulk packets of sugar and other items belonging to the church's Alcoholics Anonymous program. Chief Joseph Sciscio says he'd been talking to the woman about an unrelated landlord-tenant issue when she told him that something was bothering her. The chief says she then confessed to the cookie caper and turned over some of the stolen items. Police plan to charge her with burglary. Her alleged accomplice also faces charges. CHALLENGES AT FRONTLINE OF NIGERIA EXTREMIST FIGHT MARTE, Nigeria - Islamist extremists who had burned down a village church in northeast Nigeria have vanished as Nigeria's military regained control in a recent offensive. Military commanders told journalists touring the region said that they had struck a decisive blow against radicals who want to impose strict Islamic law over the multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people. Yet behind the smiles and speeches, commanders acknowledged fighters with the extremist network Boko Haram likely escaped their dragnet, burning equipment they couldn't carry while still maintaining an arsenal of heavy weaponry. That means Nigeria's quick military successes may carry the price of years of troop commitments to hold territory against a now-unseen adversary. Boko Haram is responsible for more than 1,600 killings since 2010 alone, according to an Associated Press count. SOUTHERN BAPTISTS RE-ELECT FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT HOUSTON - The Southern Baptist Convention has reelected its first black president, the Rev. Fred Luter Jr. Luter was first elected in 2012. His presidency comes at a time when the nation's largest Protestant denomination is trying to move beyond its traditional white Southern base. The Southern Baptist Convention claims 16 million members, but recently announced that membership declined in 2012 for the sixth straight year. Luter was re-elected on Tuesday during the convention's annual meeting in Houston. He was unopposed and received a standing ovation. Southern Baptist presidents can serve a maximum of two one-year terms.
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The Christian Journal
The Leading Christian Newspaper
A Father's Legacy
ARTICLES
By Greg Laurie
T
he greatest legacy we pass on as fathers is not our inheritance. It is not even our good name. It is the spiritual heritage that we give to our children, desiring them to walk in the way of the Lord. When David was on his deathbed, he said to his son, "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever" (1 Chronicles 28:9 NKJV). God has placed parents as the authorities in the life of the child. And in many ways, we as fathers represent God to our children. A story I've often told about a little boy illustrates this well. The little boy was frightened one night by a very loud thunderstorm. He called to his father in the next room and said, "Daddy, I am scared." His father called back from the next room, "Son, don't be scared. God is with
D God's
Plan for
YOU By Toni Babcock
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you." The boy paused for a moment and then said; "Yeah, but I want someone with skin on right now." Fathers, in many ways, are like God with skin on to their children. I don't mean that literally, but I do mean that fathers are the representatives of God to that child. Consider this: many of the attitudes a child will develop about God will be based on their relationship with their fathers. While I am not trying to lay a guilt trip on fathers, I do want to say that we fathers need to do everything we can to be a godly influence on our children. When our children see their mom or dad contradicting what they know is true, great damage can be done. Sadly, many children do not honor their parents simply because they are not very honorable. Many adults have never grown up themselves, so they abandon their responsibilities to their families to chase after their own interests. That is why Andrew Murray said, "The secret of home rule is self-rule: first being ourselves what we want our children to be."
o you often feel confused about what God expects from you? Do you feel frustrated and hurt by what appears to be insurmountable circumstances? Have you buried your wounds so deep, you can't seem to recover from them, and wonder why you can't stop feeling depressed? If you do, understand that you are not alone. A lot of people feel confused, bottled up and hurting these days. The good news is, Jesus came into the world to lift up broken and hurting people just like you. He is not interested in beating you down, or whipping you into shape with pious platitudes or pat answers. The Bible says he was sent to "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" (Isaiah 61:1b KJV). Jesus is calling you to believe on Him. Think of Jesus as the perfect Counselor, better than any other counselor on earth, because He is. He knows how frightening the world can be, and how difficult it is to live according to His will, but He doesn't want this reality to discourage you or cause you to
Our children must see the gospel lived as well as preached. We are not only to be witnesses to the world. We also need to be witnesses in our homes. Children pay attention to what really matters to us and how our Christianity affects us in day-today living. You are an example. The question is, will you be a good one or a bad one? We find an interesting insight in an oftenquoted passage regarding parenting — one that is usually quoted when children go astray. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it" (NKJV). This phrase, "in the way," could also be translated, "in his bent." The Amplified Bible translates it this way: "Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it." We see in this a recognition that every child is different. I hope, as parents, that we realize this about our children. Every child has a unique and distinct personality. Just as no two snowflakes are
despair. He said "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world, (John 16:33b KJV) Jesus holds the power - the power that can enable you to be forgiven and live a life that pleases Him. No other counselor on earth has that kind of power! Living a new life that pleases God is part of His plan for you. All who believe on Jesus Christ were part of his plan even before they knew how to believe. There are two important parts to God's plan for you. The first is to understand Jesus calls sinners like you and I. If you think you are too big of a sinner to hear the call of God consider this; you are not too big of a sinner! You are just the kind of sinner He is calling! Jesus said "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, (Matthew 9:13b KJV). Jesus calls sinners like me and you to turn to Him in faith, believing by grace, our sins are covered by His blood and we are forgiven in Jesus name. His promise is sure, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
exactly like, it is the same with children. This is why we need to observe our children. We need to watch our children. Then we need to adapt our training accordingly. This doesn't mean we turn away from the principles of Scripture, but that we adapt them to each child. For example, stern words get some children in line, while others need a different approach. My point is that we need to recognize the unique characteristics in the lives of the little ones whom God has entrusted to our care. We want to do our best to point them in the right direction and train them in the way of the Lord. How often we think, "I'm too busy for the kids!" Yet time goes by so fast. Treasure each moment with your children, and don't neglect them. Express your love to them. To know that our children walk with the Lord — that is our great hope. But we need to remember that they don't belong to us; they belong to God. Our responsibility is to point them to Him.
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," (John 3:16 KJV.) Believing in Jesus means to turn away from sin and unbelief. This takes place when we turn our hearts to God in faith, believing Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again to save us from our sin. It is impossible to put ourselves in a right standing before God until we believe. That brings us to the second part of God's plan. In the Bible we are told "...He died for all, that they who live should henceforth not live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again," (II Corinthians 5:15 KJV). Jesus did more than reserve a place in heaven for those who would believe in Him. He died and rose again to empower people to live for Him; to overcome destructive patterns in their lives, and to honor His Father in heaven. Envision what it would mean if you truly believed you were bought by the blood of Jesus. You would believe your sins were forgiven because of His great sacrifice for you on the cross! You would gladly give God what rightfully belongs to him namely,
your heart. You would cease any arguments with God you once had. When you believe in His great love for you, He will no longer seem like an enemy, but a Friend who has provided for your every need. But what if you don't believe Christ bought you for Himself? It will enable you to continue to live as you please, without regard for His great love for you! Do not allow unbelief to shut Jesus out of your life. If you turn away from Jesus, it might mean you will never be inclined to hear His voice again! Believe the good news of the gospel! Believe once and for all, 'Yes I am blood-bought Jesus died and rose again to live His life in me!' Then say to the Lord, "Jesus, forgive me for the unbelief that has shut you out of my life. I accept your forgiveness for all of my sins! Take my life this moment - it belongs to you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. From this day forward, make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus Name." Amen.
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may 25, 2013
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host of stars Getty and Friends, Lady Prempeh, and Emmanuel Baako joined Evangelist Diana Asamoah in a gospel concert at United Bethel Pentecostal Ministries Inc. The glittering event, named Building Bethel, Building You Gospel concert and fundraising started at 6pm till midnight. Introducing the event were Bethel Voices who sang beautifully, Getty & friends who uplifted the audience with her golden voice was next, followed by Lady Prempeh. Evangelist Diana Asamoah started with a powerful, uplifting, and inspiring worship. Her ministration was very power professing what how far God has brought her and encouraged the audience not to forget what God have done in their lives. The gospel music icon Evangelist Diana Asamoah, who has dominated the gospel music industry with uplifting and soothing music for some time ended with exuberant performance with Getty & Friend and Lady Prempeh. It was a very powerful performance at United Bethel Pentecostal Ministries. – New York, The Christian Journal Reporter
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June 7, 2013
@ Inner Court Sanctuary (Praise palace) - 1660 east gun hill rd. , bronx ny 10469
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ev Joshua Kas-Vorsah and Rev. Nicholas Anane Agyei of Inner Court Sanctuary held an inspirational Evening of prayer and anointing service on June 7th and 8th. The congregation was blessed to see the man of God in person. It was an opportunity for believers to pray and receive the anointing of this wonderful and a great motivational speaker. This was his first trip to the New York and he promised to come anytime he was invited. It was a beautiful night of prayer one of attendant’s said. – New York, The Christian Journal Reporter
KINGDOM SUMMIT
June 9 - 16, 2013
@ Living Faith International Church - 195 West First Street, Mount Vernon, NY 10550
New York, The Christian Journal Reporter -- Those who have attended this year’s Kingdom Summit have experienced the power and understanding the kingdom of God. Guest Speaker Apostle Jannie Nwale from South Africa opened the Summit with a great Sermon. The week-long event has been drawing large crowds. Bishop Allotey in his powerful sermon explained how God’s financial system never runs dry. He said the mistake, we make at church is looking at someone response to giving instead on focusing on our own way of giving. He encourages Christian to give from their hearts and learn to submit to the Kingdom of God. More report to follow soon at www.tcjonline.org
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AFRICAN NEWS South African Man Claims He Is Jesus Christ; Believes He Is Immortal By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter SOUTH AFRICA
A
South African man is claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, just a week after reports came out about a man in Australia with a similar claim. “I will never die, as God gave me as a command,” said Moses Hlongwane in an interview with eNews Channel Africa. The man, who lives in the northern KwaZulu-Natal town, has apparently
attracted over a dozen followers, who are giving him money in hopes that his message will be spread around the world. Hlongwane says that much like Jesus, he spent time in the wilderness, where he overcame Satan and was resurrected as the Son of God. “I was in this room from 1992 and have spent 22 years in a fight with the devil and have overcome him,” the South African claims. “As I speak to you I will never see death and I am now getting ready for the opening of the graves and healing of blind and lame.” eNews Channel Africa interviewed one his followers, 84-year-old Paul Sibiya, who said that he gives his entire pension to the man he believes to be the reincarnated Son of God. “I am a pensioner, however, I don’t use it (social grant) to support my wife but I give to the king of kings as a financial boost,” Sibiya said.
His wife, Alfin, said that her husband believes that he is making a sacrifice “for his soul.” Some of the disciples featured in the video are as young as 14-years-old, and say that they want the entire world to “acknowledge Hlongwane as the legitimate Jesus Christ.” Last week, reports came out on an Australian man who has also been claiming for the past few years that he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, and that his partner is the reincarnation of Saint Mary Magdalene. “Just a little over 2,000 years ago, we arrived on the earth for the first time. My name then was Yeshua ben Yosef, or the Jesus of the Bible, the son of Joseph and Mary. Mary’s name then was Mary of Magdala, the woman identified in the Bible as Mary Magdalene. Mary was my wife then, and the first person I appeared to after I was crucified,” 50-year-old ex-
software professional Alan John Miller writes on his website, which features DVDs of his speeches and YouTube videos of him answering questions about his claims. The Rev. Dr. David Millikan, a Uniting Church Theologian, has warned that such movements can have negative effects for their followers. “The danger is you’ll be drawn closer and closer into his web to a point that you lose access to your social life, you spend all your money, you’ll have the curses of all your family ringing in your ears and you may well lose your relationship,” Millikan observed. A number of commentators have pointed out to Matthew 24:5 in the Bible, which states: “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
President Mugabe is the Most Learned African Leader
Catholic Archbishop Laments Politicians’ Thirst for Blood
ZIMBABWE
NIGERIA
Prophet Victor Kusi Boateng Founder/Overseer, POWER CHAPEL WORLDWIDE
G
hanaian prophet Victor Kusi Boateng has described President Robert Mugabe as the most learned African leader who makes decisions based on knowledge rather than mere sentiment. Prophet Boateng, spiritual father to United Family International Church leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa said this during a leadership seminar which was a precursor to the Word Convention in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. “President Mugabe is the most learned president of our time. Some presidents don’t even understand the constitution of their countries, but not with President Mugabe,” said Prophet Boateng who flew into the country for the convention. He said some presidents were preoccupied more with selfaggrandisement and were not usually in
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sync with events in their own backyard and around the world. “Zimbabwe, you are lucky to have President Mugabe, a man with such dedication towards his people.” President Mugabe is famed for his alertness and attention to detail on domestic and global events. Even MDC-T leaders such as its president Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, secretary general Mr Tendai Biti and national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa have also expressed awe at President Mugabe’s wit and intellect. They have on many occasions expressed admiration of these attributes. Prophet Boateng prophesied that Zimbabwe’s economic rebound was imminent, buoyed by the mining sector. “God revealed to me while I was praying today that there is going to be a boom in mining. God is going to raise the economy. The economy will rise from that end (mining),” said Prophet Boateng. Governments across the world reportedly consult him for guidance. Speaking to more than 50,000 congregants, Prophet Boateng reiterated that the time for Zimbabwe had come. “There is going to be an economic boom in this country in a few years to come. It will start with mining. Even those countries that were at war with you will come and make peace. They will come and make huge investments here,” he said to much applause from the audience. – THE HERALD, ZIMBABWE
By Uju Mbanusi, Abuja(VANGUARD)
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN
T
he President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama has lamented the blood thirsty inclination of many Nigerian politicians, saying that their greed will take Nigeria nowhere. Speaking during a special prayer session
J
to mark the mid-term of the life of the National Assembly in Abuja, he charged that politicians must practice the politics of holiness to contribute to the task of nation building. The prayer session for the legislators was held at the St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja. The Catholic Archbishop said those in authority should imbibe the fear of God if the nation will progress in the right direction, saying that Nigeria as a multi cultural and traditional entity is clouded with series of challenges ranging from insecurity, corruption and socio-economic imbalances. Assuring that despite the challenges facing the nation, Nigeria will remain one indivisible country, he said: “We need goodwill to be our brother’s keeper. We need an attitudinal change to alleviate the pains and suffering of our fellow country men.”
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Museveni Asks Church to Continue AIDS Fight
AFRICAN NEWS
UGANDA
P
Yoweri Museveni President of Uganda
resident Yoweri Museveni has urged the Church to engage in an aggressive preventive healthcare campaign through educating people on the importance of basic hygiene, proper sanitation and good feeding. Museveni said it was everyone’s duty, including religious leaders, to continue the campaign against HIV/AIDS which has killed thousands of Ugandans. “The Church is encouraged not to get tired of openly campaigning against the AIDS scourge whose spread is to a great extent, a morality problem,”
NIGERIA
Museveni said. The President’s speech was read by Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the VicePresident, who represented Museveni at the centenary celebrations of Katigondo Major Seminary in Kalungu district. Museveni hailed the Church for contributing to national development through health, education, agriculture and other sectors. Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the Kabaka of Buganda, who attended as a special guest, asked religious leaders to help in fighting
drug abuse. He said since the public listens to religious leaders more, they should commit more time to preaching against the vice. Mutebi warned the youth against the western world influence. He wondered why coffee and cotton were no longer important crops. “Uganda’s major cash crops were coffee and cotton. Where are they today? What income-generating activities have replaced them?” the Kabaka asked. (THE NEW VISTION)
GHANA
Anglican Church Blames Nation’s Naadu’s Bible Hits 50,000 Supplies SHS, exhorted the students to remain Woes On Recycled Politicians devoted to God, and to develop a personal
A
nglican church has blamed much of the country’s woes on old and recycled politicians, noting that this has foisted on the youths the ignoble role of thuggery, armed robbery, kidnapping, suicide bombing and other vices. Secretary, Nigerian House of Anglican Bishops, Rt. Rev. David Onuoha, who made the observation in a message to Nigerian children, also urged the youths to demand as of right and take up their rightful place in the nation’s scheme of things. Bishop Onuoha, who doubles as the Anglican Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese, wondered why some politicians were endlessly being recycled in power, and asked that they exited public office honourably. He said: “These old hands have been recycled for too long. They have nothing new to offer Nigeria and Nigerian youths. We must realize that the problem of youth unemployment is a time bomb that is waiting to explode.” he said. He implored youths in the country to take their destinies in their hands, if they were to have a bright future, saying “while we are opposed to any violent action along this line, it is certain that through peaceful resistance and sponsoring of bills in the legislature, Nigerian youths can preserve a future for themselves.”
He said the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, ought to lead the crusade aimed at dissuading youths from engaging in cultism and all manner of violence. Onuoha said: “If the recent information from the Federal Bureau of Statistics, which shows that youths constitute 70 percent of the Nigerian population is anything to go by, it then shows that this country belongs more to the youths.” He said creating youth wings in political party arrangement with the sole purpose of using them for hatchet jobs was condemnable. “Given the salutary roles played by Nigerian students in the struggle for independence and the years following, one wonders what the present NANS is doing to preserve a future for Nigerian youths,” Onuoha grieved. He said it was time for NANS to rise and halt further plundering of the country through greed and selfishness. Bishop Onuoha also equally concern that many were simply watching quietly as the country was systematically being impoverished, and “our commonwealth appropriated by just a privileged few.” (VANGUARD)
KENYA
Coast Police to Enforce Ban on Crusades Following Attack By Eugene Okumu
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team of police officers and officers from the CID, crime prevention unit and the anti-terror unit have launched a manhunt for two suspects at the Coast following an attack on a church in Likoni yesterday. Coast PPO Aggrey Adoli has said that the team of officers has been put together to look into obtaining crucial evidence leading to the apprehension of the two suspects who
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carried out the attack on the Earthquake Miracle Ministry Church in Likoni at around 6.45 pm. Likoni DCIO George Mutonya identified the explosive device used in the attack as a Russian made F! Grenade used during World War II. Adoli who placed the number of injured at 17, has further reminded Coast residents that the ban on crusades past 5:30 pm that was issued last year is still in effect.
Dr. Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills Former First Lady of Ghana
F
ormer First Lady of Ghana, Dr. Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills, wife of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, has launched the Ghana First Lady Senior High School (SHS) Students’ Bible Project at Aburi in the Eastern Region. The project, which was initiated by the former First Lady, is aimed at encouraging and inspiring students in the SHS across the country to lead moral and responsible lifestyles for national development. A total of 500,000 Bibles, printed by the Tyndale House Publishers in the United States (US) at a cost of GH¢10,000, would be shared among SHS students by the Scripture Union (SU) Ghana. Launching the project, Dr. Mrs. Naadu Mills disclosed that before her late husband became President, they had prayed to God to give them the opportunity to influence affairs of Ghana, hence the initiation of the project. Dr. Mrs. Naadu Mills, who is a past student and former teacher of Aburi Girls
The PPO urged residents to adhere to the directives to ensure their own safety and enable the police to protect them. Adoli's remarks come in the wake of a wave of attacks in various parts of the country that have left several dead, scores injured and many others displaced. Yesterday, two people were critically injured when a grenade was hurled into a restaurant they were in near Pumwani
relationship with Him. “My late husband and I loved God’s word, and after his demise, the Bible remains my most important source of comfort and encouragement. By the word of God, you can overcome any challenge that you face in life, and it will help you take responsibility of your own lives,” she said. Dr. Mrs. Naadu Mills urged the students to study, memorize and obey the words of God, since it could guide them to address challenges such as inter-tribal and general conflicts, diseases and poverty. Vice President Paa Kwasi Amissah Arthur, who graced the occasion, commended Dr. Mrs. Naadu Mills for her vision, saying, “It would go a long way to transform the country, since the lifestyles of our future leaders will be shaped through the word of God.” He urged students to let the Bible be their source of guide in their studies and decision making. Mr. Jude Hammer and Mr. Kwame Adu, immediate past and incumbent General Directors of the SU, respectively, eulogized the former First Lady for her support for the Union. Mr. Jude Hammer and Mr. Kwame Adu pledged to support the project. Ms. Rosemond Bampoe, Headmistress of the Aburi Girls SHS, said the project was timely to address the unacceptable behavior of the youth in society. She expressed gratitude to Dr. Mrs. Naadu Mills for supporting the school with cash and musical instruments. GHANAIAN CHRONICLE
Maternity Hospital. Eyewitnesses say that the occupants of an unidentified vehicle threw a grenade at the Mwapambe restaurant opposite the maternity hospital before speeding off. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack by they are similar to others that were carried out in the northern part of the country in Garissa for which the AL-Shabab claimed responsibility.
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Kingdom Covenant Family Church Overcomer’s Temple
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3G MEDIA INC. 3G Media Inc., 3gmediaonline.com is your information source for Ghanaian/African community in America. An online news magazine bringinging you local entertainment news and community events. 3G Means – God, Global and Giving Publishers of 3G Magazine, 3gmediaonline.com, Organizers of the Annual 3G Media Awards USA, 3G Radio & 3G Foundation, 3G Films & Rosette's Multi-Services LLC EVENT PLANNING, PUBLICITY & PROMOTIONS 3G Media represents many African celebrities in the African music and movie industry respectively. 3G Productions - Covers All Your Photography/Videography needs in any event. We organize all Live Performances (concerts, crusades) we have partnered with many International Agent/promoters in the music Industry. 3G Media produces the Annual 3G Media Awards in New York Movie Productions 3G Media has joined forces with Buckswell Films and Rapsoco Media to Produce movies & documentaries Movie Credits - "Mama's Boy" by Blayz Filmz and "Paparazzi, Eye in the Dark" and upcoming movie;"From Na Dene with Love" - A 3G-RAPSOCO-OMG PRODUCTION
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MINISTERING - MOST SNR. APOSTLE (DR) JOSHUA E.E.O. OSASUYI JP. (MFR) GENERAL OVERSEER/SPIRITUAL LEADER, CHAIRMAN CHURCH COUNCIL AND MOST SNR REV. DR. MRS. GRACE I. OSASUYI (AFP), THE COORDINATOR GENERAL CHOSEN WOMEN INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER ANOINTED MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD SPEAKING IN POWER AND MIGHT OF THE HOLY GHOST
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A biblical task: Translating the Bible in the 21st Century
ARTICLES
By Flavia Di Consiglio BBC Religion and Ethics
W
hen scholar and priest William Tyndale decided to translate the Bible into English in the 1520s, he set out on a dangerous journey that eventually led him to be burned at the stake. At the time, the only authorised Bible in England was a 4th Century Latin version, and translations were forbidden. Tyndale's crime was an intense desire to see his fellow countrymen read the Bible in their own language. According to the United Bible Societies, the complete Bible has been translated into over 475 languages, and the New Testament into more than 1,240. Bible ban Oldi Morava, a translator for the Bible Society, was born in Albania, where the Bible was not always welcome. All religious observance and education were banned in 1967 when the country, led by Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, was declared the first atheist state in the world. The ban was not lifted until 1991. Even Bible smuggling was too dangerous: "The persecution was so brutal that people were very afraid to get involved in anything like that," says Mr Morava. He embraced Christianity when the communist regime in his country collapsed. He was only 11 years old: "At that time, we had quite a hunger for Christianity and God," he recalls. "We would be reading whatever we had, although we had quite a limited amount of books about Christianity." Mr Morava moved to the UK to study theology and is now one of three linguists working on an Albanian version of the Old Testament: "It's an interconfessional translation, which means that the translators are from different church traditions," explains Mr Morava.
He represents the Protestant Church, while his colleagues belong respectively to the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church. This is the first time that the Old Testament is being translated from Hebrew into Albanian by an interconfessional group of translators. There are other Albanian versions, but most of them have been translated either from Latin or Italian. But forget translating fragile, ancient scrolls in a remote monastery, waiting for divine inspiration to strike: "I spend most of my days in front of a computer screen," says Mr Morava. "Bible translation doesn't have that romantic [aura] that it had in the 15th Century," says the translator as he describes the sophisticated software he uses daily. The invisible translator Whether working on a business text or a novel, it is often said that a translator of should be 'invisible'. This means that the text that reaches the reader should be practically identical to the original - a very difficult result to achieve, as languages and cultures often simply do not translate. However, the pressure is even higher for a Bible translator: "Knowing that you're translating a text that is considered holy or God's word, you somehow put a limit to your own work," says Mr Morava. "I want [the audience] to find the voice of their God in the text that I'm translating. Therefore I have to be very careful to consider the theology of the community that's going to read it, their concerns, their desires, their passions - their God." This is made slightly easier by working in an interconfessional translation committee, says Mr Morava. The goal is not to produce a "clinical text", but to represent the three confessions equally, and to make sure that the translators do not leave their theological
imprint on the final version. Mr Morava gives an example of how this delicate balance is achieved, citing the concept of redemption. It is an important aspect of Protestant theology and refers primarily to the event of the crucifixion, whereas, says Mr Moravia, it does not find a lot of favour among the Eastern Orthodox Church. "The Old Testament speaks often of God redeeming Israel from Egypt," says Mr Morava. "A Protestant translator would prefer to keep this term in order to echo the redeeming act of God that finds full expression later in history in the story of crucifixion. However, an Orthodox translator finds this unnecessary and rightly points out that the use of such terminology in these verses does not make sense for the reader." According to Mr Morava, a suitable alternative is to translate as 'saving' or 'liberating' the people of Israel from Egypt. Translate for thy neighbour But translating the Bible also means taking into account the religions that live side by side with Christianity: "There is a majority of Muslims in Albania, although the type of Islam that you find there is very relaxed, very nominal," says the translator. As Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years, many Turkish words have entered the Albanian language throughout the centuries, and are used by both Muslim and non-Muslim people. The translation committee decided to not use these words of Turkish origins: "An example would be the word for circumcision," says Mr Morava. He explains that there are two different ways of expressing this concept in his language: one is the word of Turkish origin synet; the other is rrethprerje, a slightly artificial-sounding, but all-Albanian word. The translators opted for
Pope Francis on Salvation: We Cannot 'Pick and Mix' Holy Spirit, World
P
ope Francis urged Christians to avoid adopting a "pick and mix" attitude when it comes to faith, speaking at the Casa Santa Marta residence for Monday morning Mass. "This is salvation: to live in the consolation of the Holy Spirit, not the consolation of the spirit of this world,"
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the pontiff said in his speech, according to the Vatican radio. "Salvation is moving forward and opening our hearts so they can receive the Holy Spirit's consolation, which is salvation. This is non-negotiable; you can't take a bit from here and a bit from there? We cannot pick and mix, no? A bit of the Holy Spirit, a bit of the spirit of this world ... No! It's one thing or the other." Pope Francis continued by reminding the congregation that people cannot serve two masters – "you serve the Lord or you serve the spirit of this world." He also talked about the Beatitudes, which are a set of teachings Jesus made featured in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and said that they cannot be understood by human intelligence alone – they need consolation of the Holy Spirit. "They are the new commandments. But if we do not have a heart open to the
Holy Spirit, they will seem silly. 'Just look, being poor, being meek, being merciful will hardly lead us to success'. If we do not have an open heart and if we have not experienced the consolation of the Holy Spirit, which is salvation, we cannot understand this. This is the law for those who have been saved and have opened their hearts to salvation. This is the law of the free, with the freedom of the Holy Spirit," the Vatican leader said. He argued that many people have their hearts closed to salvation because they are afraid. "He is in charge," the pope said of Christ. "And we are afraid of this because 'we want control of ourselves.'" "This is hypocrisy: not allowing the Spirit to change our hearts with His salvation. The freedom of the Spirit, which the Spirit gives us, is also a kind of slavery, of being 'enslaved' to the Lord which makes us free, it is another freedom. Instead, our freedom is only
the latter, as they wanted to separate the biblical concept of circumcision from the more Muslim-specific sense implied in the Turkish word. But other translators have opted for different strategies: "There are parts of the world that translate the Bible using Muslim terminology, so it is no surprise to find a Bible speaking about Musa [Moses] and Allah [God]," says Mr Morava. "This is done not only to connect with a society that is rooted deeply in a Muslim religion, but also for linguistic reasons. Arabic and Hebrew share many similar features as they are part of the same Semitic family, so what we might think of as a Muslim influence is just a natural translation between two Semitic languages." The translators are hoping that their final work will reach churchgoers and nonbelievers alike. Mr Morava says that, at this stage, it will probably not be used by the traditional churches as a liturgical text, as that requires more work by the Church authorities to authorise it, but he hopes that will happen in the future. Three or four different drafts are produced before the text is published. One stage even involves the local religious community and members of the public who want to give feedback on the drafts. So how does it feel to translate the most widely read book in the world? "It's not just a great scholarly exercise, [although] I enjoy that aspect too," says Mr Morava. "Being a devoted Christian, it's also a privilege - and a big responsibility."
By Stoyan Zaimov slavery, but not to the Lord, but to the spirit of the world. Let us ask for the grace to open our hearts to the consolation of the Holy Spirit, so that this consolation, which is salvation, allows us to understand these commandments," he said. In another homily in May, Pope Francis said that following Christ should come from the heart, and should not be treated like a career. He warned that some priests and bishops follow Jesus as a road to get higher up and gain more power, which is not what following Christ is about. "Following Jesus is just that: going with him out of love, behind him, on the same journey, the same path. And the spirit of the world will not tolerate this and what will make us suffer, but suffering as Jesus did," the pontiff said.
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