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Report: Persecution of American Christians up 133% between 2001 and 2016

by Dean Smith

A report recently released by First Liberty Institute (FLI) entitled “Undeniable: The Survey of Hostility to Religion in America” outlines the growing number of attacks on religious liberty in America. Founded in 1972, First Liberty Institute fights for religious liberty in the US through advocacy and litigation by providing pro-bono legal defense to those being persecuted or discriminated against for their faith. According to the organization’s report, the number attacks on Christians jumped by 15% between 2015 and 2016. Since FLI started tracking attacks on religious liberty in 2001, the number has increased by 133% over the following five years. In 2011, FLI reported 600 attacks on religious liberty and by 2016 the number had reached 1,400. FLI’s CEO Kelly Shackelford noted that the cases they cited are just the ones that were published. She described them as just the “tip of the iceberg” as many cases of faith persecution and discrimination are simply not reported. This is not even referring to the number of attacks on Christians that now routinely take place in...

Pray that God will bring down North Korea’s strongman

Published by Dean Smith

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness...

September 18, 2017

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Bible, Spiritual Warfare, Main

Moved by the Hand of God

Published by Dean Smith

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28...

September 17, 2017

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Apologetics, Main, Miracles, z72

Letting go of your unrealistic expectations of others

Published by Barb Smith

For three days I battled with the expectations I had put on a particular person in our church. I would relinquish the expectation and then take it back. I...

September 15, 2017

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Emotional health, Main, Women, z72

Did hurricane Irma confirm Exodus 14:21?

Published by Dean Smith

Tampa Bay’s bay is normally filled with ocean and fish, but on Sunday morning, September 10, 2017, some residents of Tampa were seen walking out into the bay. It...

September 14, 2017

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Apologetics, Bible, Main, z72

Foot prints in the sand disrupting evolutionary theory

Published by Dean Smith

The discovery of human footprints embedded in sedimentary rock on the island of Crete a couple of weeks back is causing major problems for those promoting evolutionary theory. Somebody...

September 13, 2017

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Apologetics, Creation, Evolution, Main, z72

Territorial Spirits: The bay of pigs

Published by Dean Smith

In my series on Territorial spirits, I have been talking about the hierarchical structure in the demonic realm where satan has put evil spirits over countries and even provinces...

September 12, 2017

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Bible, Main, Spiritual Warfare, z72

Joel Osteen and the Gimli Glider

Published by smcintos

On August 26, 2017, Hurricane Harvey landed in Texas. Houston was badly damaged, and one of the casualties was Lakewood Church and its pastor Joel Osteen. One of the...

September 11, 2017

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Main, Opinion, z72

US solar eclipse: Sign or coincidence? You decide

Published by Dean Smith

The total eclipse of the sun that cut a swath across the US on August 21, 2017 from Oregon to South Carolina has certainly garnered more than its share...

September 10, 2017

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Apologetics, End times, Main, z72

China forbids children from attending church

Published by Dean Smith

According to reports coming out of China, several provinces have stepped up their persecution of the Church by prohibiting children from attending religious services. Recently, over 100 churches in...

September 8, 2017

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Main, News, Persecution, Religious, z72

Are you a people-pleaser?

Published by Barb Smith

Giving and pleasing look exactly the same on the outside but they both come from a different place or motivation of the heart. They even feel different because giving...

September 7, 2017

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Emotional health, Main, Women, z73

Success despite failure

Published by Dean Smith

When the Atlantis Space Shuttle was returning from its space flight in 2002 a piece of insulation intended to protect the craft from the searing heat as it traveled...

December 30, 2015

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Main, News, Studies, z30

Are Orthodox Rabbis changing long-held opinions on Jesus?

Published by Dean Smith

Maybe the time predicted by the Apostle Paul is nearer than we think. Quoting from Isaiah 59:20, Paul stated one day that all Israel would be saved: “and so...

December 29, 2015

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Apologetics, End times, Israel, Main, News, Religious, z30

The real story behind the first Christmas

Published by Dean Smith

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright… When Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr of Austria penned the famous Christmas carol Silent Night in 1818, they...

December 21, 2015

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Bible, Christmas, Main, News, Teaching, z30

Dinosaurs on Mars?

Published by Dean Smith

For decades, “fossil” fuel is a term used to describe oil. It leaves the impression that oil is derived from the decay of ancient dinosaurs and fauna, millions of...

December 20, 2015

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Apologetics, Evolution, Main, z30

A woman’s perspective: Can forgiving others make you feel lighter and jump higher?

Published by Barb Smith

I read an article recently referring to a study reported in Social Psychology and Personality Science that determined the act of forgiving makes us lighter both emotionally and physically?...

December 16, 2015

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Main, News, Studies, z18, z30

Peter Hollens amazing A cappella rendition of ‘Mary, Did You Know’

Published by Dean Smith

This rendition of the Christmas favorite, Mary, Did You Know, has received nearly 2 million views on YouTube since it was posted on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. Based in...

December 11, 2015

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Arts, Main, Music, z30

Are you a victim of a victim mentality?

Published by Barb Smith

A few years ago at a seminar for emotional healing, a group of us were in the hallway waiting for the next session to start. We were all proud...

December 11, 2015

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Bible, Main, Teaching, z18, z30

A nugget from the begats

Published by Dean Smith

When we encounter a genealogy chapter in the Bible, where the King James version quaintly drones on about how “Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber,” our eyes quickly...

December 7, 2015

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Apologetics, Bible, Main, z30

New Brazilian worship song “Minha Essência” (My Essence)

Published by Dean Smith

I encourage you to listen to this video by Thiago Brado, a worship singer from Brazil. The song sung in Portuguese, entitled My Essence in English, has nearly 4.3...

December 4, 2015

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Arts, Main, Music, Music, Uncategorized, Videos, z18, z30

Ancient seal discovered proclaiming Hezekiah king of Israel

Published by Dean Smith

At a December 2, 2015 news conference, archaeologist Dr Eilat Mazar from the Hebrew University announced his team had found a seal bearing the name of King Hezekiah at...

December 3, 2015

Comment 1

Archaeology, Main, z30

Apologetics, Miracles, z

Girl falls 30 feet inside a hollowed-out tree, has a vision of Jesus, but then an odd thing happens

[by Dean Smith] According to a report in the Daily Mail, Annabel Wilson Beam, 12, of Texas was playing with her two sisters on a hollowed out Cottonwood tree...

Apologetics, Global Warming, z, z5

Truth versus perception: CO2 and global warming

[by Dean Smith] My wife, daughter and I were recently watching a favorite program on Netflix, when I hit the pause button. “I have a simple question for both...

Apologetics, Miracles, z

St Louis’ Doctor says: ‘Heart was jump started by Holy Spirit listening to request of his praying mother’

[by Dean Smith] Attending emergency physician, Dr Jeremy Garrett, called it a ‘bonafide miracle.’ On Martin Luther Day (January 19, 2015), John Smith, 14, along with two friends were...

Islam, News, Testimony, z

Former Muslim imam says the Qur’an is the reason he converted to Christianity

[by Dean Smith] Mario Joseph is a Catholic teacher/evangelist living and ministering in India. He differs from a priest in that he is married with children. He also differs...

Apologetics, Miracles, z, z14

Prayer results in two miracles at Florida’s Boca Raton hospital

[by Dean Smith] When Ruby Graupera-Cassimiro, 40, entered Boca Baton Regional hospital in Boca Raton, Florida, for a typical C-section she was not expecting a few hours later that...

Bible, Project Management, Religious, Studies, Teaching, Testimony, z

The Charter: Stepping out of the Dream

So what is your dream, something you want to see, or something you desperately need? Do you want something for yourself or your family, or other people; like a...

Apologetics, Israel, Miracles, News, z

Miraculous healing causes a stir in Tel Aviv, Israel

Found along the Mediterranean sea in Israel, this area has witnessed miracles in the past. Tel Aviv is located on the old port city of Joppa (also called Jaffa),...

Apologetics, Bible, End times, Teaching, z, z53

Sir Isaac Newton predicted world would end in 2060 AD

Most know Sir Isaac Newton as the father of modern science. Newton who died in 1727 is considered among the world’s most influential scientists. He formulated the law of...

Miracles, z

Healing baffles government computer and doctors

When June Clarke phoned the British government to cancel her disability allowance, she never expected problems. In 2000, June was severely injured after a bad fall at work resulting...

Apologetics, Miracles, z

Man raised from dead by son’s shout, shocks medical staff

OHIO. US: When Melissa found her 37-year-old husband unresponsive at their home in West Carrollton, Ohio on August 5, 2013, she immediately called an ambulance. When the medics arrived, they found...