Author: Dean Smith

Jewish rabbis ask the Israeli government for permission to conduct the Passover sacrifice on the Temple Mount

Israel365 News reports that a group of rabbis has sent a letter to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben Gvir, the Minister of National Security asking for permission to perform the Passover Sacrifice on the Temple Mount. The Passover sacrifice is one of the most important rituals on the Jewish calendar and the Rabbis state it can only take place on the Temple Mount where the Jewish altar once stood. Since there is no temple, the Rabbis would build a temporary altar for the sacrifice. They add that Temple Institute has already trained priests to perform the sacrifice. Though Jerusalem is under the authority of the Israeli government, Israel has allowed Muslims to control the Temple Mount on which the Jewish Temple once stood through the Jordanian waqf. At present, there are two Muslim buildings on the Temple Mount, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock. However, the Muslims are absolutely opposed to the Jews performing such a sacrifice, and it is further complicated by the fact that if the Jews …

Was COVID part of a strategic satanic attack?

There is an interesting verse in the book of Mark that describes the events leading up to King Herod’s slaying of John the Baptist after Herod’s wife, Herodias, had her daughter ask for John’s head after performing what was essentially a strip tease for Herod and his cronies. The verse hints at the seditious nature of the spiritual conflict that we are involved in. 21 A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; (Mark 6:21 NASV) The 1995 version of the NASV called Herod’s birthday celebration as a strategic day. Other versions translate the Greek word ‘eukairos’ as an opportune time. But the meaning is clear, it speaks of a well-timed assault and speaks of satanic forces strategizing in their attack on the Kingdom of God. And it’s obvious from this verse that this strategy involved manipulating political leaders. Herod’s wife Herodias wanted to take out John the Baptist who was publicly criticizing her marriage to Herod. Using her daughter, …

Did Arizona Governor’s press secretary call for violence against transphobes?

The press secretary for Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has apparently resigned because of the backlash she received from a tweet that seemed to suggest transphobes should be shot, Fox News reports. Fox News provides more details: “Us when we see transphobes,” Hobbs press secretary Josselyn Berry tweeted just hours after 28-year-old Audrey Hale opened fire at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, killing three children and three adults.  Berry’s tweet included a GIF of actress Gena Rowlands in a scene from the movie “Gloria,” where she is pointing two revolver handguns. “The Governor does not condone violence in any form. This administration holds mutual respect at the forefront of how we engage with one another. The post by the Press Secretary is not reflective of the values of the administration. The Governor has received and accepted the resignation of the Press Secretary,” the governor’s office said in a statement released on Wednesday.  READ: AZ Gov. Hobbs’ press secretary resigns after tweet suggesting gun violence against ‘transphobes’ RELATED: Controversial group behind ‘Trans Day of Vengeance’ raised money …

Actress Melissa Hart shares about her battle with forces of darkness

Actress Melissa Joan Hart, who became famous playing the lead role in 1990s TV hit series, “Clarissa Explains It All” and later in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” shared about her journey of faith in an interview with Paula Faris on her podcast Journeys of Faith, CBN reports. Hart explained that she came from a Roman Catholic background and her husband, musician Mark Wilkerson, was raised as an Alabama Baptist. The two reached a compromise and decided to become Presbyterian and her faith began to grow after she decided to attend a community Bible study at a Presbyterian church. In the interview, Hart shared how she believed faith in Christ was the only way to heaven. It came up as she shared how her son had befriended a Jewish boy at school. The two ended up having many discussions about faith and Hart shared with her son that Jesus was the only way to heaven. Unfortunately, Hart’s comment generated a massive backlash on social media as she was criticized for holding this belief. It reflects a …

Are you lonely?

Since COVID hit in 2020, the accompanying lockdowns have disrupted the social life of people around the world. This included stopping church services which subsequently moved to online ministry. And while online services served as a temporary stop gap, God never intended this to be permanent. Humans are social creatures. We need community. We require interaction with real people to be healthy. Recently, Dr Lalitaa Suglani, a psychologist from Britain shared 12 signs that may suggest you are struggling with loneliness: The Daily Mail provided a list of these 12 indicators: “1. Disconnecting from loved ones. 2. You constantly feel tired/exhausted. 3. You feel a loss of ‘purpose’. 4. You find yourself taking really long and hot showers. 5. You can’t stop binge-watching shows. 6. You lack motivation/are unproductive. 7. Spending lots of time on social media. 8. Feeling like ‘everything’ is an effort. 9. You have feelings of restlessness. 10. You have a negative self-image and find yourself frequently self-doubting. 11. You can appear withdrawn or moody. 12. You can have a disruption in …

2022 sets a record for the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the US

According to the Anti-Defamation League, a leading Jewish advocacy group in America, there were 3,697 incidents of anti-Semitism in the US reported in 2022, the Christian Post reports. ADL has been tracking anti-Semitic violence and harassment since 1979, and 2022 set a record for the number of anti-Semitic incidents recorded in a single year. But equally concerning is that the 2022 statistics reflected a dramatic 36% increase over the previous year when there were 2,717 reports of anti-Semitism. According to ADL’s report, this reflected a 51% increase in vandalism over 2021, a 29% increase in harassment, and a 26% increase in anti-Semitic assaults. This also included 91 bomb threats against Jewish synagogues, schools and other institutions. The ADL stated the significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2022 could not be tracked to one ideology or group, but it noted that there was a significant increase involving White Supremacist groups which accounted for 852 incidents in 2022. This was more than double the number of incidents, 422, involving members of these groups in 2021. If the …

Three children and three adults killed in shooting at Nashville Christian school

Six people, three children and three adults, were killed after a woman who appeared to be in her teens armed with two assault rifles and a handgun opened fire on a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, TN. UPDATE: Police have now confirmed the suspect was a 28 year old transgender man, (born a biological female) and may have been a former student at the school. The killer, who has yet to be identified, entered the school through a side door and was killed after Nashville police engaged the shooter on the second floor of the school within 14 minutes of receiving calls of the shooting. Covenant School offers classes from kindergarten to grade six. Located on the outskirts of Nashville, it is operated by the Presbyterian church and has a staff of 33 and a student population of 210. READ: Female Shooter Kills At Least 6, Including 3 Kids In Nashville Christian School Shooting: Officials AND Police identify 28-year-old female shooter in school massacre that left 3 kids, 3 adults dead AND Police Identify Victims …

Was Junia a woman apostle?

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. (Romans 16:7 NKJ) At the end of February 2023, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) announced it had kicked out Saddleback church. The reason for its removal is that the California megachurch, founded by Rick Warren, had appointed three women as pastors, which the SBC did not believe was Biblical (1 Timothy 2:12). While this is part of growing discussion about the role of women in church. A verse from the book of Romans cited above adds to this, because the Apostle Paul suggests that a woman might have been an apostle in the early church. In an article for Christianity Today, Professor Nijay Gupta of Northern Seminary writes that Junia was a popular female name in Roman times. Meanwhile, the male equivalent (Junias) is extremely rare, essentially non-existent, leaving little doubt this was describing a woman The verse seems to imply that she was looked upon as an apostle. According to …

Baylor University impacted by Asbury University revival

The revival that started at Asbury College has now spread to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. It is a Baptist college with over 20,000 students. Each spring, Baylor holds a 72-hour service of prayer and worship called FM72 where students can gather to reflect on their own spiritual journey. However, this year’s meeting was different as it was impacted by the revival that broke out at Asbury University earlier this year. This year’s meeting not only had a massive turnout, but it has also resulted in over 20 students being water baptized. Because of the incredible response to the first gathering, Baylor has announced that it would be holding an unprecedented second FM72 meeting this year between March 27-30. READ: Baylor University’s 72-Hour Christian Revival Leads to 20+ Baptisms

Blac Chyna quits her degrading OnlyFans career after becoming a born-again Christian

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Blac Chyna, 34, shared the remarkable transformation that took place in her life after becoming a born again Christian and getting water baptized in May 2022. Blac Chyna, 34, a model, reality star and former stripper had set up a profile on OnlyFans in 2020 where she earned $1 million a year and was quickly awarded celebrity status on the website. OnlyFans is a subscription-based website where individuals set up profile and provide pornographic material to subscribers. Since her commitment to Jesus, she has changed her name back to her birth name, Angela White and has quit providing pornographic material through the OnlyFans website. The first hint of this remarkable change that was taking place in her life came shortly after her conversion when she shared a video of her being water baptized with her subscribers. The Daily Mail writes: Revealing all in a candid chat, the model explained that – following her baptism in May last year – she came to the realization that continuing to share very X-rated …

Canada: Report alleges MP urged Beijing to delay the release of Canadian hostages

There have several allegations recently that the Chinese Communist Pary (CCP) was actively involved in Canada’s last two federal elections to ensure that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reelected as Prime Minister. Now Global News is alleging that a Canadian MP, Han Dong, who allegedly may have benefitted from the CCP’s election interference was advising the Beijing Government not to release two Canadians who had been arrested by the CCP. Most believe the two were arrested because the Canadian government had detained Meng Wanzhou, a Huawei executive, at the request of the US government. It is alleged that Dong asked Beijing to delay their release because an early release would benefit the Conservative Party in the upcoming 2021 federal election. The Post Millennial provides more details: Canadian MP Han Dong has been accused of privately advising a senior Chinese diplomat to hold off releasing the Two Michaels, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, whom China had detained on espionage charges, until after Canada’s 2021 federal election.  Two national security sources stated that Dong suggested to Han …

Politicians try to criminalize sharing the Gospel in Israel

A piece of legislation was recently introduced into Israel’s Knesset or parliament that would make it illegal for anyone to share their faith in Israel. If passed, anyone convicted of sharing the gospel by word or any other medium such as the printed page, radio, internet or TV could be sentenced to one year in prison. This would be increased to two years, if it involved someone under the age 18. It would essentially criminalize sharing the Gospel in Israel. The bill was introduced by two ultra-orthodox members of the Knesset, Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher. Gafni and Asher are both members Ashkenazi Haredi party United Torah Judaism that are helping keep Prime Minister Netanyahu minority government in power. Gafni and Asher stated that they were motivated to introduce the legislation, because there has been a noticeable increase in Christians sharing their faith: “Recently, the attempts of missionary groups, mainly Christians, to solicit conversion of religion have increased. At times these attempts do not involve monetary promises or material gains and are therefore not illegal …

Colorado city to ban the construction of new gas stations

The city council of Louisville, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, is considering passing an ordinance that would prevent the construction of any new gas stations or auto service businesses that would provide any type of car repair, Fox News reports. The ordinance would be part of the council’s attempt to fight climate change. With a population of 21,000, the city council essentially wants to cap the number of gas stations in the city to six. Under the provision, the city would allow the construction of a seventh gas station provided it is part of a larger retail mall. Any new station would also have to include two charging stations for electric vehicles as part of its service. Banning the construction of gas stations seems to be part of a new trend being embraced by the environmental and political elites. READ: This blue city wants to ban new gas and auto service stations over climate change

Climate Change reaches official religious-cult status

Many describe the fanaticism driving the climate change hysteria as little more than a religious cult, and this was recently confirmed when the University of Helsinki in Finland awarded Greta Thunberg, 20, an honorary Doctorate in Theology. Yes, you read that right, theology. In its news release, the liberal and clearly woke university described the degree as its highest award. Thunberg is the poster child for the climate change fanaticism that is being used by the political elite to try to control how people live their lives. As one pundit noted, all that’s left is for Thunberg to be declared a ‘saint’ so people can start praying to her. This past week, Thunberg found herself targeted by social media critics after she deleted a 2018, tweet where one climate change scientist/activist warned that if we didn’t end fossil fuel use in five years, all humanity will be wiped out. The fearmongering of the climate change fanatics is starting to wear a bit thin. For the past 30 years, we have traditionally received our annual warning …

ER doctor admits ‘This was a miracle’

CBN recently had the story of incredible healing and what made the testimony even more intriguing is that it was given by Dr. Landon D. Vinson, M.D, who was a first-hand witness of what took place in a video along with Rev. Randy DePriest, the pastor of First Assembly of God in Coffeyville, Kansas. Vinson serves in the emergency room at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. In spring 2021, a woman who was not named was brought into the hospital’s ER. Her heart had stopped and for the next hour the ER’s medical team performed CPR, but nothing changed. The woman’s eyes were fixated. There was mottling taking place on her limbs and she had no gag reflex. The final step in this downward progression was the inevitable rigor mortise. From their perspective, the woman was brain-dead, and they were keeping her body alive through the constant injection of adrenaline and the use of a ventilator. At this point, it was time to turn off the life support. As they were about to pull the plug, …

Has persecution come to the schools of America?

Public schools in action

A teacher at Churchill High School in Eugene, Oregon is on paid leave after someone exposed one of his assignments where he asked students to write a sexual fantasy. Oregon Live provides a description of the assignment. “You will write a short story of a paragraph or two. This story is a sexual fantasy that will have NO penetration of any kind or oral sex (no way of passing an STI),’’ the assignment read. “You will choose 3 items (romantic music, candles, massage oil, feather, feather boa, flavored syrup, etc) to use in your story. Your story should show that you can show and receive loving physical affection without having sex.” As well, the students were asked to write down the initials of a fellow student they would like to explore this sexual fantasy with. The assignment has since been removed from the school’s curriculum. READ: Oregon High School Teacher Had Students Write About Sexual Fantasies and Reveal Classmates They Would Have Sex With AND Oregon teacher at center of sexual fantasy assignment controversy placed …

Was a heart attack part of God’s providential care?

I just wanted to get you a bit of a health update. In late February, both my wife and I were pretty excited when I got a call asking if I was available last minute for a knee replacement operation. I suspect there had been a last-minute cancellation. It was providential. My knee was steadily worsening, and all the more remarkable considering I had only been on the list for a full replacement for just a year and four months. Today, most are told the wait list is now four years for a new knee. I immediately said yes, and the next week was a world wind of tests and picking up the needed equipment for my extended recovery. My knee had started acting up several years back. I went for arthroscopic day surgery, which did help. But it didn’t last and when the pain returned a few years later, the doctor told me that knee replacement was the next option. Now over the years, I had prayed for God to heal my knee, but …

60% of Americans fear sharing their faith at work, survey

According to a survey conducted by Ipsos Survey on behalf of Alliance Defending Freedom, 60% of Americans are fearful of sharing their faith at work, the Christian Post reports. The survey entitled, ‘Freedom at Work,’ was conducted between Oct 7 and Nov 16, 2022. According to the survey, three in five expressed that it was ‘likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ that if they shared their faith at work it would result in “negative consequences at work.” The survey also revealed that 25% stated that they knew someone who had suffered repercussions for sharing their faith or political opinions at work. READ: 3 in 5 US workers fear sharing religious views in the workplace: survey

Israel’s red heifers will soon be of age to be sacrificed

Orthodox Jews were excited about the arrival of five red heifers in Israel last fall as they are a necessary step in preparing for the construction of a third temple in Jerusalem. CBN reports, that the excitement is mounting as the red heifers have still not developed off-color hairs, white or black, that would disqualify them for the ritual sacrifice. The ashes from the red heifer are used to purify the priests and since a sacrifice produces such a huge reservoir, there have only been 9 red heifer sacrifices in Israel’s history. The red heifers are being kept at a secured location in Israel and are between 1.5 and 2 years of age. They will not be sacrificed until they are three years old and will not be used if they become ritually impure by growing a single black or white hair. They will be inspected with a magnifying glass to ensure their purity. According to Rabbi Mamo, the Temple Institute already has what he described as “nine pure priests” who are ready to perform …

Opentheword Update

I just wanted to give you a bit of an update on why there there has been a drop off in posts on opentheword.org. Early last week Monday, March 6, 2023, I went into the hospital for elective surgery which quickly and unexpectedly became much more serious. This resulted in me being unable to write. Thankfully, the more serious underlying health issue has been for the most part resolved and God willing I expect the site to return to normal over the next couple of weeks. Thanks to all who have been praying for us it is much appreciated.

Study: Vitamin D supplements may reduce chances of getting dementia

Researchers from Britain’s Exeter University and Hotchkiss Brain Institute based in Calgary, Canada have concluded that people who regularly take vitamin D supplements may have less risk of coming down with dementia than those who don’t, the Daily Mail reports. Their study of 12,400 people concluded that those who regularly took vitamin D had 40% fewer cases of dementia compared to the group who didn’t take the supplement. They believe this is because vitamin D may reduce the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau in the brain, which is responsible for both dementia and Alzheimer’s. Speaking on behalf of the research group, Professor Zahinoor Ismail, who teaches at both the University of Calgary and the University of Exeter, said: ‘We know that vitamin D has some effects in the brain that could have implications for reducing dementia, however so far, research has yielded conflicting results. ‘Our findings give key insights into groups who might be specifically targeted for vitamin D supplementation. ‘Overall, we found evidence to suggest that earlier supplementation might be particularly beneficial, before …

Transformed by a touch  

By Dr. Harold Sala Jesus reached out His hand and touched… Luke 5:13 When Elisabeth Elliot was visiting Dohnavur fellowship in South India to do research for a book on the life of Amy Carmichael, she met a remarkable woman who was working with the mentally challenged. The woman herself was greatly handicapped by the loss of one eye. “I have no professional training,” she explained, adding, “The Holy Spirit gives me new wisdom each day to deal with them. Some are like wild animals but the Lord Himself is my helper. I can’t see on one side, but even in my weakness He has helped me.” When Elizabeth Elliot inquired as to how she had become involved in such a work, Pungaja explained that one day, tremendously burdened by life, she went to Amy Carmichael, who was affectionately known as “Amma” by nationals of India. “When she hugged me,” she said, “all my burdens went away!” The Indian men and women who followed in her footsteps serving others have been a powerful witness to …

Study concludes that marijuana users are a third more likely to have heart disease

One of the biggest problems with the legalization of Marijuana is the claims by activists behind this push that it is a ‘safe drug.’ According to a study by researchers from Stanford University, regular users of Cannabis are 34% more likely to experience coronary artery disease than those who don’t use the drug, the Daily Mail reports. The conclusion was based on a study of 175,000 Americans. Lead researcher, Dr Ishan Paranjpe, said: ‘In terms of the public health message, it shows that there are probably certain harms of cannabis use that weren’t recognized before, and people should take that into account.’ Previous studies have found that marijuana not only caused people’s hearts to beat faster but that it also caused a person’s arteries to narrow quickly. READ: Cannabis users are up to a THIRD more likely to develop heart disease, major study warns

How Coronado, California ended homelessness

The city of Coronado has done what most people would think impossible, considering it’s located in California, it has ended homelessness, Fox News reports. The city, which is located in San Diego County and across the bay from San Diego, has the lowest homeless population in the state. This is because the city has taken a unique approach to the problem. Instead of feeding the homeless crisis by providing free drugs and paraphernalia, pandering to their criminal behavior and allowing them to live wherever they want, the city took a hard line. In an interview with Fox and Friends, Mayor Richard Bailey (R) stated that city policies can actually have an impact. He said there are basically two types of homeless, those who want help and those who don’t. The city, along with the police and its homeless services, has implemented policies leaving the homeless with only one option, which is getting the help they need. Along with providing services to help people ‘get back on their feet,’ the mayor said: “We also make it …

It’s Time for You To Stop Acting Like You’re a Victim!

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it — Colossians 2:15 By Rick Renner We can count on the fact that there are unseen evil forces that have been assigned to kill, steal, and destroy everything good in our lives. The Bible clearly teaches that these devilish forces band together to commit acts of aggression against the saints — and that includes you and me! This truth is quite evident in Scripture, for Paul wrote many verses about spiritual weapons, spiritual armor, and how we are to resist these unseen, demonic forces. Yet it is very important that we approach this subject with the right attitude! Because of Jesus’ death on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead, the forces of hell are already defeated. However, even though they have been legally stripped of their authority and power, they continue to roam around this earth, carrying out evil deeds like criminals, bandits, hooligans, and thugs. And just like criminals who refuse to submit to the law, …

Obsessing about the news can make you physically and mentally unwell, study

According to researchers from Texas Tech University, people who obsessively follow the news have a greater chance of not only have mental health issues, but physical ones as well, Study Finds reports. In fact, the researchers described it as “significantly greater physical ill-being.” The researchers reported that constantly checking the news and looking for updates, can result in individuals losing hope and ‘feeling powerless’ in the midst of what is happening. The researchers cited both the Ukraine war and the climate change hysteria as examples. [Note: they didn’t say hysteria.] It results in people being in a ‘constant state of high alert’ and researchers found that 16.% of the participants in their study were in a category that they described as ‘severely problematic.’ They were so obsessed with the news that it was constantly dominating their thought life. It also affected personal relationships, made it difficult to focus on school and work and affected their sleep. Significantly, their survey found: READ: Obsessively watching the news can make you mentally and physically sick

Why did Walmart close its two remaining stores in Portland?

Walmart has just announced it is permanently closing its two remaining stores in Portland, Oregon citing financial concerns, Fox News reports. This will result in over 580 lost jobs in the city. So what are these financial concerns? Well, we know at least part of this involved shoplifting, which is running rampant in cities, where woke prosecutors are failing to properly prosecute criminals, often letting them out the same day they are arrested. Fox News explains: “Theft is an issue. It’s higher than what it has historically been,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in December on CNBC. He added that “prices will be higher and/or stores will close” if authorities don’t crack down on prosecuting shoplifting crimes.  In November, another Portland business, Rains PDX, also shuttered its doors and posted a note on its door specifically citing crime as the primary reason for its closure: “Our city is in peril. Small businesses (and large) cannot sustain doing business, in our city’s current state. We have no protection, or recourse, against the criminal behavior that goes …

The Spirit of Anarchy Is Not from Above but from Below

By Dr. Michael Brown

The Greek word anomia occurs 13 times in the New Testament and it literally means “lawlessness.” As defined in one major Greek dictionary, anomia means “to behave with complete disregard for the laws or regulations of a society — ‘to live lawlessly, lawlessness, lawless living” (Louw-Nida Lexicon). The spirit behind anomia is not from above, but from below.

Inmate leads a powerful worship service at a woman’s prison

‘God Behind Bars’, a Christian ministry to the incarcerated, recently posted a video of a woman inmate leading 300 women in a worship service at a Colorado prison, God TV reports. According to the article, the woman called Miss T, had desired to lead worship at church service while growing up, but a change in direction led her to prison. But while in prison, Miss T accepted Jesus. In its Instagram post, God Behind Bars explains what happened next: “Right away she had a passion to lead her prison in worship spread Jesus to every inmate. She had always felt like God was going to give her an opportunity to lead her prison in worship.” Listen to part of the service below, it’s powerful: READ: Inmate Leads 300 Prisoners To Worship After Accepting Jesus

‘Jesus Revolution’ movie also sparking revival

As the Asbury revival spreads across America, another interesting phenomenon is showing up, CBN reports. It appears that the movie, Jesus Revolution, which portrays the start of the Jesus people movement in the early 60s and 70s that led to tens of thousands of hippies turning their lives over to Christ, is having a similar impact. There are several stories of people getting saved at the movie. Below is a video of what happened during a recent viewing of the movie at a theater in Miami, Florida. If you are having problems viewing the video above, click on this link. The Asbury revival is also continuing to spread, with reports that it has impacted other secular universities such as Ohio State and Western Kentucky University. And the revival has also reached Portland, Oregon. The video below shows what happened at a church youth meeting in that city: READ: Revival Goes Nationwide, Hits Theaters After ‘Jesus Revolution’ Film as Well as ORU, Portland, Ohio State

NYC mayor: ‘When we took prayers out of schools, guns came into schools’

During a recent interfaith breakfast, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he rejected the notion of the separation of church and state and believes that the removal of faith and prayer from schools has contributed to many of the problems we are now seeing in our education system, The Blaze. The Blaze provided a few comments that the Democrat Mayor made during his presentation at the annual breakfast held at the New York Public library. “Don’t tell me about no separation of church and state. State is the body. Church is the heart. You take the heart out of the body, the body dies.” “I can’t separate my belief because I’m an elected official,” Adams continued. “When I walk, I walk with God. When I talk, I talk with God. When I put policies in place, I put them in with a God-like approach to them. That’s who I am.” “When we took prayers out of schools, guns came into schools.” Mayor Adams suggested that the declining faith in society may also be behind …

Arizona school board member says board should reject hiring teachers with Christian beliefs

A member of an Arizona School Board has stated that the board should reject hiring any teachers who hold sincere Christian beliefs, Fox News reports. These views were allegedly made during a Feb 23, 2023 meeting of the Washington Elementary School District, when the board decided to end a contract with Arizona Christian University allowing it to place teaching students at the school to gain field experience. According to Fox News, the anti-Christian sentiments were expressed by school board member, Tamillia Valenzuela, who at the same time claimed she supported religious freedom. Fox News writes: During the meeting, school board member Tamillia Valenzuela blasted the university over its Christian beliefs and said she was “disheartened” to learn about the contract that had been ongoing for five years.   Valenzuela describes herself as “a bilingual, disabled, neurodivergent Queer Black Latina… who loves a good hot wing (but only with the right ranch) and things that sparkle.” “While I full-heartedly believe in the religious freedom and people being able to practice whatever faith that they have, I …

Did Kelsey Grammer receive a sign from God about his role in ‘Jesus Revolution’?

American actor, Kelsey Grammer, who plays Chuck Smith in the Jesus Revolution, a movie about the Jesus People’s movement that swept America in the late 60s and early 70s may have received a sign from God leading him to accept the role, the Western Journal reports. Kelsey Grammer is best known for playing psychiatrist Frasier Crane in two hit TV series, Cheers and Frasier. Grammer shared the unusual story that led him to accept the role in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on NBC’s Tonight Show. “The truth is I was having sort of a meditative evening one night in my home, and I was up pretty late. It was about 3, 4 in the morning,” Grammer told Fallon. “And I started to think, ‘I want to do something worthwhile, something that has a bigger purpose than just me.’ And I was kind of saying a prayer, I guess. And the next morning the script lands on my door. And I read it and I said, ‘OK, that’s it. I’m doing this Jesus story.’” When …

Study finds that churches are embracing technological changes since pandemic

With churches having reopened after COVID, a study by Pushpay reveals that most will be permanently embracing the technological changes they made during the pandemic that included streaming services online, the Christian Post reports. When churches were asked what their services will look like in 12 months, only 28% stated that it would include only in-person services, while 81% stated that they would be incorporating a hybrid model that would include both online and in-person services. The survey also found a significant percentage of churches stated that they were planning to make more radical technological changes. This included 25% stating they were planning on creating churches in the metaverse virtual world and 20% stating they were moving to have only online services. READ: Most churches leaders see in-person only worship services as a thing of the past: study

Canada: Chinese donors to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s foundation wanted a statue of Mao set up in Montreal

In 2002, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set up a foundation to honor his father, former Canadian Prime Minister Elliot Trudeau, with $125 million in taxpayer funding. It is said to be a nonpartisan charitable organization. But the foundation has also received donations from several wealthy Communist China businessmen, who according to The Globe and Mail asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to set up a statue in Montreal honoring Chinese dictator Mao Zedong. Mao is the founder of the Chinese Communist Party and arguably one of the world’s greatest mass murderers. According to a spokesperson for the University of Montreal, the group even suggested that this memorial could include Prime Minister Elliot Trudeau standing beside Mao.