All posts filed under: Arts

79% of Christian schools reported an increase in attendance

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According to a survey conducted by DickersonBakker, attendance is up in 79% of the Christian Schools in America with 43% reporting a ‘substantial’ increase since the pandemic started in 2020, ChristianHeadlines reports. DickersonBakker added that the growing interest in Christian schools was due to multiple issues including pandemic-related, and as well to concerns about moral and social issues. READ: Christian School Enrollment Booms: 79 Percent See Increase Post-Pandemic, Report Says New Christian schools opening The survey only looked at the growth of established Christian schools and does not include the interest reflected through the opening of new Christian schools this fall and in 2023. Pop star Kanye West recently announced opening of Donda Academy this fall in Simi Valley, California. MSN reports that the Christian school will include as part of its curriculum, “full school worship; core classes of language arts, math and science; lunch and recess; enrichment courses including world language, visual art, film, choir, and parkour”. READ: Kanye West opens private Christian school called Donda Academy Pastor John McArthur who pastors Grace Community …

Deion Sanders shares how he called out to God during a medical crisis

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Former NFL star, Deion Sanders, shared how he called out to God for help, which included speaking in tongues, during a serious medical crisis in 2021, the Christian Post reports. Saunders, 55, who is now the head coach of the Jackson State University football team, had to go to the hospital last year after experiencing blood clots in his legs that resulted in the amputation of two toes. Fearing the loss of his leg and possibly his life, Deion shared his experience in an interviewed with Chris Neely of “Thee Pregame Show,. In her article for the Christian Post, Jeannie Ortega Law provides more details: “It was a blessing. Because I could have lost my life very easily. It was there. It was a thought process of losing my leg from the knee down. It was almost there,” the legendary cornerback continued. “So when I look up and say thank you, Jesus, it’s because I know the quiet cries at night that were in that hospital.” […] “I know all the speaking in tongues, and the …

Has Shia LeBeouf found God?

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I have enjoyed Shia LeBeouf as an actor, from his early days as a child actor in “Even Stevens’ to his role in the “Transformers”. But there are now reports that LeBeouf has become a Catholic during his preparation for the movie on the life of a controversial Catholic Priest, Saint Pius of Pietrelcinathat, also known as Padre Pio, CBN reports. In the movie to be released in September, LeBeouf, 36, plays Padre Pio, who died in 1968 and was proclaimed a saint in 2002 after gaining notoriety when his body displayed the signs of the ‘stigmata’ (signs of the crucifixion) on his body. In preparation for his role, LeBeouf visited a monastery to acclimatize himself to the life of a Franciscan friar and in an interview with Los Angeles Bishop Robert Barron on his show “Word on Fire”, LeBeouf spoke of his conversion to Catholicism. He described his stay at the monastery turning into “something beyond all that” and found himself being drawn to the Bible. “It was seeing other people who have sinned …

‘China’s Taylor Swift’ displays her faith in the midst of communism

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You may never have heard of G.E.M. (Gloria Tang Sze-wing), 31, but in Communist China she is known as “China’s Taylor Swift.” Deng, who was born in Hong Kong, skyrocketed to fame after entering a singing competition on mainland China in 2014 called “I am a singer 2” where she placed second. She became the first Chinese singer to surpass 200 million views on YouTube, and the first female artist in that country to have four exceeding 100 million views, making her one of the country’s top pop singers. And in a country run by the atheistic Chinese Communist Party desperate to stamp out Christianity, she is a believer in Jesus. Throughout her music and videos, we see references to her Christian faith, such as Israel’s Red Sea crossing in her latest video, Gloria, based on the English name given by her father. As she prays in the video below, the sea parts and Deng encounters a bright light. Deng told Christianity Today, that Gloria was inspired by an incident in her own life when …

When the Holy Spirit falls upon people: Ex-gay Hollywood designer explains how this helped lead him to Jesus

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We read throughout the Bible of times that the Holy Spirit fell upon people and each time something unusual happened as there were outward manifestations: As we move into the New Testament, there is a shift because of Christ’s perfect redemption the Holy Spirit is now able to permanently reside inside us (1 Corinthians 6:19). But there were still instances of the Holy Spirit falling upon people, as took place on the Day of Pentecost. The same thing happened to a group of gentiles at the home of Cornelius as Peter was preaching. The Holy Spirit also fell on them, and they began speaking in tongues: 15 As I [Peter] began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. (Acts 11:15 ESV). When the Holy Spirit falls upon people, something invariably happens, and a similar event laid the groundwork for Becket Cook, a Hollywood designer, to become a Christian, Faithwire reports. Becket was an influential designer in Hollywood, and had worked for major stars such as Oprah, Paris Hilton …

How God impacted Jim Wahlberg, the brother of actors Jim and Donnie Wahlberg

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While Mark Wahlberg and his brother Donnie gained fame during the mid-80s as part of the popular boy band, New Kids on the Block, their brother Jim was going down a different road, Caleb Woods writes in his article for CBN. Having grown up in poverty, Jim began to steal when his family moved into a middle-class neighborhood, and he realized how poor they actually were. The first time police arrested Jim, he was only 10 years old and as he moved into his teen years, drugs, alcohol, and crime followed. At the age of 17, Jim was arrested for armed robbery and spent the next five years in jail. After his release, he began binging on alcohol and drugs and then remembered waking up in a jail cell, covered in blood, and after breaking into the home of a police officer. He was charged with home invasion, which can potentially come with a life sentence. But after the officer of the home Jim broke into pleaded for leniency, the court sentenced Jim to six …

Justin Bieber prays and worships God during a recent concert

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After being forced to cancel concerts earlier this year due to Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which resulted in temporary paralysis of his face, mega popstar Justin Bieber is back on tour. Justin recently posted a video of a concert on Instagram, where he openly prayed, inviting the Holy Spirit into the concert and worshipped God in front of the thousands of people in attendance. Charisma News writes: With his head bowed and eyes closed, he declared, “God I pray right now for every fear, every insecurity, every bad thought we have about ourselves or someone else we just release that right now in the name of Jesus.” He was able to share with those at the concert who God is and why we need Jesus in our life, through his bold prayers. In a time when depression is higher than ever, Bieber prayed over the crowd, ushering in the presence of God, “We thank You God, that You are here…I pray against any tormenting thought, any insecure thought, we just give it to You, in Jesus name.” …

Reality star Kat Von D announces major changes stating ‘There is a spiritual battle taking place’

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I am not exactly sure what it all means, but reality star Kat Von D, whose real name is Katherine von Drachenberg, recently announced on Instagram that she is making some major changes in her life, the Daily Wire reports. Over the years, Kat Von D has gained fame as a model, author, tattoo artist who starred in the reality shows LA Ink and Miami Ink, recording artist, and entrepreneur who developed her own goth look beauty line. But there may be significant changes coming, as Kat announced that she is ending her association with the occult and will no longer be selling items associated with the occult or tarot cards. Explaining her decision, Kat added, “it’s never been more clear to me that there is a spiritual battle taking place, and I want to surround myself and my family with love and light,” The Daily Wire provides more details from Kat’s Instagram post: “I don’t know if any of you have been going through changes in your lives right now, but in the last …

The impact of a godly wife: ‘I’ll never be mad at God’, Jim Breuer on the death of his wife, Dee

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Jim Breuer is a popular stand-up comic, musician, actor, radio host and podcaster. He became famous for playing Joe Pesci and the “Goat boy” on Saturday Night Live between 1995 and 1998. He has also had roles in several movies, including ‘Half Baked’. Jim married his wife Dee in 1993, and they have three daughters. I don’t know if Jim is a Christian, but his wife, Dee, certainly is, and she has had a profound impact on Jim. Dee, who was also a regular contributor on Jim’s podcast, The Breuniverse Podcast, was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, which was successfully treated. However, in 2015 she was diagnosed with Lymph node cancer and doctors admitted there is nothing they can do. But even after her second diagnosis, Dee continued to join Jim on the podcast as she talked about her struggle with cancer. In a recent episode, Jim shared a conversation that he had with a friend and you can see Dee’s profound impact. The friend, a former actor on SNL, asked if Jim …

Ten stories from this week

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Here are a ten news stories, that caught my attention, this past week. Prophetic word about draft, fulfilled in the very last pick in 2021 NFL draft Grant Stuard was an all-conference linebacker while playing for the University of Houston. His dad was in prison several times and his drug-addict mother worked strip clubs to feed her habit, leaving Grant to raise his four siblings. There had been hints he would be drafted in the 2021 NFL draft, and a friend even gave a prophetic word, that this would happen. But Grant was losing hope by the time the seventh and final round of the draft started. But Grant was picked by the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the very last pick of the draft. READ: NFL’s Last Draft Pick Sees His Blessing Movie director encourages Chris Pratt to ‘keep standing for Jesus’ Andrew Erwin, who has directed films such as American Underdog and Moms’ Night Out, took to Instagram to support Hollywood actor, Chris Pratt, after he was criticized for sharing that his faith …

Granger Smith’s wife, Amber, speaks of her need to forgive others for hurtful comments

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Granger Smith, 43, is a country music singer, songwriter, who also goes by the name of Earl Dribbles Jr. He had a number one hit in 2016, Backroad Song and another, If the Boot Fits, was a top ten hit in 2017. In 2010, he married his wife, Amber. But in 2019, the family was struck with tragedy when their three-year-old son, River Kelly, drowned at the family home. Amber, 40, recently share an Instagram Post of people who are still condemning and blaming her three years later for their son’s death. It started after Amber commented on the post of another woman, whose child had also apparently died. “All of us mamas who know this pain have been praying so hard for your family,” Amber wrote. “We are all rallying around you and are here for you. Light will come from the dark. He is working. Bless you for blessing others in your deepest hurt. Sending all our love.” After she posted that comment, the condemnation about her son’s death started pouring in. One …

Christian News: Chris Pratt, the Christian Taliban, Jane’s Revenge, Ex Mafia boss, exorcisms on the upswing, NHLer Josh Manson, Canadian military chaplains, and a mother’s prayer

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Here is a brief round-up of some Christian news this past week: Christ Pratt talks about religion Hollywood actor Chris Pratt found himself in a bit of controversy this past week, when in an interview with Men’s Health, Pratt said that he was not religious, but added that he had a relationship with God. “I think there’s a distinction between being religious — adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God — and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred. Whatever it is,” Pratt explained. When asked if he attended Hillsong, which has found itself in a pile of controversy recently, Pratt said he attended Zoe Church in Los Angeles. READ: ‘I’m Not a Religious Person’: Chris Pratt Addresses Online Backlash Concerning His Faith Facebook labels Jane’s Revenge a terrorist group? According to Life Site News, Facebook has labeled Jane’s Revenge a terrorist group and given it, Facebook’s strictest Tier …

Justin Bieber asks for prayer for Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

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In a video posted on Instagram, Justin Bieber, 27, asked for prayer because he is struggling with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which has resulted in him having to cancel some upcoming concerts, CBN reports. “As you can probably see from my face, I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome,” Justin told his fans. “As you can see, this eye is not blinking. I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move, so there’s full paralysis on this side of my face.” Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (RHS) occurs when a shingle outbreak occurs on the face near a facial nerve. According to the Mayo Clinic, shingles is a result of having previously caught Chicken Pox. After recovering from this disease, the virus continues to live in a person’s nerves and can sometimes reactivate when you are older in the form of Shingles. Though typically people are more vulnerable to shingles after the age of 60, RHS symptoms can result in facial paralysis that includes difficulty in closing your eyes, hearing loss and …

Former child actor Richard Keith explains how God saved and delivered him from a demonic attack

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In a recent interview with The 700 Club, child-actor Keith Thibodeaux, 71, shared how his involvement in the occult led him to become suicidal and how this was broken after he received a vision of Jesus, CBN reports. Thisbodeaus, who later changed his name to Richard Keith, is best known for playing the role of “Little Ricky Ricardo” on the 1950s TV hit series I Love Lucy. He would later go on to have roles in The Luci-Dezi Comedy show and the Andy Griffin show. I addition, Keith played in a secular band, called David and the Giants. At the age of 5, Keith was already earning $2,000 a month playing drums for a band called Horace Heidt Orchestra, when His father took him to an audition for the I Love Lucy Show. In his interview, Keith shared two stories that dramatically impacted him and sent him on a downward spiritual slide. It started when his mom and dad divorced after his father had an affair. Keith said the divorce made him extremely angry not …

The hidden cost of faith

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As believers, we like telling the world that salvation is a free gift available by faith through Christ’s death and resurrection. But though it is free to everyone who chooses to believe, it also comes with a cost. And that was evident in a recent article on CBN about a young Christian woman, Leah Church, who chose to leave the University of North Carolina’s basketball team rather than compromise her faith.

How actor Michael Sheen’s great-grandfather went from town drunk to street preacher

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Welsh actor Michael Sheen is best known for playing roles of famous people during his acting career, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in The Deal. He also played the role of journalist David Frost in Frost/Nixon, a movie about Frost’s 1977 interview with US President Richard Nixon. Though I am uncertain of Sheen’s faith, in April 2011, the actor led a modern retelling of The Passion in Port Talbot, Wales, the home of his great-grandfather. The play performed outside over three days involved the dramatic retelling of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. On the first day of the play, which started at 5:30 am on Good Friday morning, it drew a crowd of a few hundred people. By Easter Sunday, the crowd had grown to an estimated 13,000. But Port Talbot also serves as the backdrop to the remarkable spiritual transformation of Sheen’s great-grandfather. His great-grandfather was basically the town drunk, but Sheen says that all changed when one night, after being thrown out of the local pub, he was lying on his back in …

Denzel Washington’s advice to Will Smith: The devil comes for you at your highest moment

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I haven’t watched the Oscars for years and probably never will, but there was a shocking moment last night when actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock after he joked about Will’s wife Jade Pinkett Smith. Jada, who is struggling with hair loss because of alopecia, has chosen to shave her head bald. Rock joked, “Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see you,” a reference to the movie GI Jane when actress Demi Moore shaved her head bald for the role. Will Smith would go on to win an Oscar that night for best actor in King Richard. But during a commercial break shortly after the slap, Will said that Christian actor Denzel Washington counseled Will and gave some sound advice: “Denzel (Washington) said to me at the highest moment, be careful — that’s when the devil comes for you. It’s like, I want to be a vessel for love.” Will Smith would later apologize and according to reports Chris Rock has chosen not to press charges. But Denzel’s words, that …

A weird thing happened to actress Joey King while filming ‘The Conjuring’

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Faithwire recently reported on comments that actress Joey King, 22, made in her appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show” concerning what happened to her while filming the supernatural horror movie, The Conjuring, which was released in 2013. The movie revolved around demonic events that took place at a farm owned by Roger and Carolyn Perron. King played the role of one of the family’s daughters, Christine. Though it happened over nine years ago, King added there are times she still has a slight shudder about what took place. During the 38 days it took to film the movie, King came down with a serious blood disorder. It required daily medical treatments at the hospital before the start of filming and then immediately after because of concerns it could cause serious internal bleeding. They diagnosed the blood condition after bruises started appearing on King’s body. Coincidentally, these bruises showed up as they were filming the scene when bruising appeared on the body of the family’s mother, Carolyn, after she was possessed by an evil spirit. Initially, …

Country singer and actress Jana Kramer gets water baptized

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Faithwire reports that country singer and actress, Jana Kramer, recently shared Instagram posts of her water baptism that took place on Sunday, Jan 23, 2022, after her profession of faith. Kramer, 38, started her singing career in 2012 which has since featured seven chartered singles. She has also had acting roles on several TV series including, Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and CSI: NY. In her first post, Jana described the healing she received after coming to Christ, writing, “I don’t have the words yet …I will…but for now…’In the name of Jesus there is healing.’ Then in a follow-up post, which shows her sitting in a baptismal tank, Jana went into more details of what happened. Over the years, she has struggled with believing in God, and seems to suggest that this was due in part to a troubled relationship with her father, for which she was partially to blame. “He was always walking with me…I just didn’t think I deserved that. If I’m honest, I didn’t know how …

Kathie Lee Gifford says westerners are too terrified of the ‘gifts of the Holy Spirit’

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In an interview with Sheila Walsh, who hosts “Life Today,” Kathie Lee Gifford said that Americans are way too ‘terrified’ of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. She added that we need to see how these gifts are operating in believers around the world to fully appreciate them. Gifford, who formerly hosted “Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee” suggested that while some Christians believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today, this is not what the Bible teaches. “We’re all supposed to have gifts of the Spirit,” Gifford said. “They’re supposed to be different, used like different parts of the body for one good work, but we’re all supposed to use them. And people go, ‘Oh, Jesus doesn’t do that anymore, God doesn’t do that anymore.’ Really?” She pointed to a passage in the Gospel of John, where Jesus said that everyone who believes in Him will be able to perform the same miracles as the Lord did. “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works …

How a Jewish pop ‘Idol’ star in Israel found Jesus after being bitten by a snake

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If you have ever been a fan of American Idol, you may enjoy this story about a Jewish woman, Birgitta Veksler, who finished eighth in Israel’s version of the program, ‘Kochav Nolad’ (Pop Idol). Birgitta was born to a Jewish family in Sweden and lived much of her early life in Estonia before her family decided to move to Israel when she was 12. But before she left, Birgitta had believed in Jesus for her salvation. However, when her family joined Israel’s Jewish community, Birgitta quickly learned that Jesus was an unacceptable, even taboo, topic, and quickly quit talking about her relationship with Christ. She became famous in Israel at the age of 17, when she finished in the top ten in the country’s equivalent of the American Idol. As her popularity grew, she was drawn into the partying scene of alcohol and boys, which left her feeling empty. But things would soon change for Birgitta. Israel has compulsory military service and at the age of 18, young men and women are drafted into Israel’s …

A New Year’s Resolution: What if I want to start over?

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I am writing this on January 1, 2022. That means we have a new year in front of us, and everyone I know is tired of the old one. We had an endless stream of bad news about our health, and the health of the economy, and political arguments. For me, the news every day was a toxic mix. This morning, I had text messages from friends and a relative, and they feel the same as me. There is not enough optimism at the beginning of this year. We need something new, and better. It might comfort you to know that God thought of this first: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43: 18 and 19) Those are the instructions from a higher source, the highest source, when we get lost in things that happen around us. It is easy to …

Denzel Washington does some preaching in ‘New York Times’ interview

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In a recent interview for the New York Times, famed Hollywood actor, Denzel Washington, 63, shared a lot about his Christian faith. Maureen Dowd was interviewing Denzel about his most recent movie, ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ and The Blaze provides a few of Denzel’s comments: “If you don’t have a spiritual anchor, you’ll be easily blown by the wind, and you’ll be led to depression.” “I’m a God-fearing man. I try not to worry. Fear is contaminated faith.” “The enemy is the inner me. The Bible says in the last days — I don’t know if it’s the last days, it’s not my place to know — but it says we’ll be lovers of ourselves. The No. 1 photograph today is a selfie, ‘Oh, me at the protest.’ ‘Me with the fire.’ ‘Follow me.’ ‘Listen to me.’ We’re living in a time where people are willing to do anything to get followed. What is the long- or short-term effect of too much information? It’s going fast and it can be manipulated, obviously, in a myriad …

How to Lose it all: Have you seen the movie ‘Come Sunday’?

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Did you ever lose your faith? Yes, you did, if you are older than six. When I was a boy, I remember some other children who were told that Santa Claus was not real. I stayed out of that violent argument, but I saw their confusion and outrage. As we get older, people disappoint us, and if we are honest, we can disappoint ourselves. I formed a career goal when I was about twelve, and I saw myself as one of those people, just working on an education and waiting for an opportunity. I knew who I was, and my conviction was unshakable. Near the age of forty, I had to tell myself that it would never happen, and I had to keep the job I already had. I lost my faith. You are probably wondering; I saw myself as an archaeologist, like the ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and I thought of it first, before they made that movie. After reading all those books, and studying in so many university courses, it never happened. …

Actor Chris Pratt says listening to Christian music relieved his depression

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In a recent Instagram post, Hollywood actor Chris Pratt stated that as he was going through a recent bout of depression, he listened to Christian music while jogging, and it provided an almost immediate release for the actor famed for his leading roles in Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Premier Christian News reports that the depression started after an uproar over an earlier post Chris had made, where he thanked his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, for giving birth to a healthy daughter. He was immediately attacked by trolls who accused Pratt of mocking his previous wife who had given birth to a son nine weeks early, who consequently experienced health issues including visual impairment. Of course, this was not Pratt’s intent, but the trolls were relentless and had previously gone after Chris because of his Christian faith. In his post, Chris explained what happened: “Good morning, everybody. I went to bed last night really kind of upset and depressed, and I woke up feeling crappy, and I didn’t want to work out. “I …