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Current Faith
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For quite some time already, there are several incidences that show the proceedings of the end times, as predicted by Jesus Himself and other scriptures in the Bible: persecution, natural catastrophes, false teachings, even false Christs. And of course, also the increased work of the Holy Spirit.Persecution begins at such very points, where intolerance blinds people. The so-called "political correctness" is the biggest intolerance I've ever come across! Christian persecution is building up more and more in all over the world. The so-called "tolerance" here in Europe, especially in Germany, has come to that extreme that our own identity is lost. Believing in Jesus is seen as fanatism which has to be kept low. In the USA, this "tolerance" has come even farther, where public places displaying Christian smybols and even public prayers are facing lawsuits.
And people look away, just as they do in countries like North Korea, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea and others where Christians are imprisoned, tortured and sometimes kept even worse than murderers. With statements like these here, I don't want to open hard discussions (this is already done at other places with no results) - I just want to draw everybody's attention to reality. The correct answer to this is NOT BY FIGHTING against all that, but BY TURNING BACK TO GOD and accepting His solution for our salvation in JESUS CHRIST. In Matthews 24, Jesus is predicting incidents like these, also natural catastrophes that are becoming worse than ever before (take the tsunami of December 2004, earthquakes, floodings, hurricanes), wars, etc.
Notice: this is NOT God's "punishment". No matter whether man-made or natural catastrophes, it all derives from a fallen nature that needs redemption. But God can allow and use those things as to His will. As we say here in Germany, God can write very evenly on the most crooked ways. What we see are those things that He allowed to pass. But we don't see what He has prevented us from! This is why God made us know that those who don't have the Holy Spirit don't understand His message (1 Corinthians 2). And like Jesus said, we are to be alert. We can rely on the fact that He has overcome this world (John 16) and that we can live in His victory (1 Corinthians 15)!
We are still in times of grace, but I am pretty sure that time is short. We have to get out of our comfort zones and publically proclaim WHO is Lord of Lords! We cannot avoid things from happening, but we can tell people of how they can avoid getting lost! As our Creator, God is THE one who can oversee things much better than anyone of us ever could. Therefore, it is my concern that people learn to trust Him again, Him who loves us so much that He gave the ultimate sacrifice so we might get the possibility to relate to Him again! But He does not force anybody into anything, this is why everybody must decide for him or herself.
In this link here, I will upload articles with contents like this whenver I find them, from different sources. And also articles on what God is doing these days, because the increase of the work of the Holy Spirit is also a sign of the last days!
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Possibly the Oldest Hebrew Inscription Found—could Shed Light on King David's Reign, and Confirm Biblical Account
Aimee Herd, Breaking Christian News BCN, October 31, 2008
the artifacts to be between 1,000 and 975 BC—the same time as King David's kingdom rule in Jerusalem according to the Bible.
"Researchers…dated the artifacts to be between 1,000 and 975 BC…"
Hebrew inscription on pottery(Hirbet Qeiyafa, Israel)—A shard of pottery, discovered by a teenage archaeological volunteer at a hilltop dig overlooking the Elah Valley (said site where David conquered Goliath), was found to be inscribed with what could be the oldest Hebrew writing to date. (Photo: AP)
The inscription is made up of five lines of characters known as "proto-Canaanite," which—according to the AP report—is a precursor to the Hebrew alphabet.
Researchers used Carbon-14 analysis on burnt olive pits, which were found in the same layer as the pottery, and dated
The dig is headed up by Yossi Garfinkle, archaeologist with the Hebrew University, who noted the historical importance of the discovery, "The chronology and geography of Elah Fortress create a unique meeting point between the history, historiography and origins of the early Davidic Kingdom," he said.
saying, "king," "judge," and "slave."
The excavation siteThis is the oldest Judean city uncovered to date, and its very construction has unprecedented implications on our understanding of this era."
Skeptics are hesitant to support the interpretation of the find by Garfinkle, and scholars are still deciphering the five lines of writing in black ink that were inscribed on the pottery shard. However, Garfinkle is excited by what has been defined as
"This is the oldest Judean city uncovered to date, and its very construction has unprecedented implications on our understanding of this era."
According to Garfinkle, the inscription could have been a message or "official note" from the time of King David's reign, and could serve as invaluable evidence that would point out the accuracy of the Biblical account of David and his kingdom.
Source: AP, FOXNews.com
Wall Street Turns To Prayer in Midst of Financial Crisis
by Teresa Neumann, Breaking Christian News BCN, September 30, 2008
"We should not be intimidated by the magnitude of the darkness of the times, but should realize how quickly the light stands out in all that darkness."
Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, and elsewhere, and pastors began planning to gather for sidewalk prayer meetings outside of the stock exchange."
(New York, N.Y.)—Christian Today has reported that the turmoil in New York's financial markets has triggered a spiritual response among Christian leaders as cell phone text messages quickly spread calls to prayer, and Christians on Wall Street set up special prayer meetings for the week. The report also said "extraordinary prayer meetings were scheduled at Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup,
Mike Faulkner, pastor of New Horizon Church, said, "Honestly, I am praying God will bring healing and revival. The church should be available in every way for people on Wall Street who maybe didn't think much about God before. One should be comforted that righteousness will prevail."
One chief operating officer was quoted as saying that maybe Christian faith can stand out as a light of compassion and truth. "We should not be intimidated by the magnitude of the darkness of the times, but should realize how quickly the light stands out in all that darkness."
Evangelicals Portrayed as Dangerous Elements
German Evangelical Alliance: Public Image Has Changed
By Wolfgang Polzer, Special to ASSIST News Service, September 30, 2008
BLANKENBURG (ANS) -- Public attitudes towards evangelicals in Germany have changed. Whereas they used to be ignored they have become the focus of attention in recent years.
The media in Luther's home country tend to approach the roughly 1.3 million evangelicals with a hostile attitude. They often portray them as dangerous fundamentalists, says Stephan Holthaus, Dean of the Free Theological Academy in Giessen.
Speaking at a central meeting of the German Evangelical Alliance, in Blankenburg, Thuringia, September 27, Holthaus criticized the media for presenting an undifferentiated image of evangelicals. They were often described as "hardliners" or "fighters" for the faith.
Marginal issues in Germany, for instance homeschooling, were blown out of proportion. The media seemed to suggest that evangelicals on the whole refuse to send their children to public schools. For most German evangelicals this is, however, a non-issue, said Holthaus.
Many journalists also tended to exploit the widespread fear of religious extremism and place Islamic terrorists and evangelicals in the same bracket.
"Evangelicals are misfits in the framework of a totally tolerant society," said Holthaus. "We evangelize and we stand for an absolute truth". This standpoint clashes with post-modern relativism.
Holthaus admitted that sometimes evangelicals fail in public discussions because their arguments are not good enough. He called on the Evangelical Alliance to establish a "Center for Apologetics".
Juergen Werth, chairman of the German Evangelical Alliance, hopes that the umbrella organization will also serve as a platform for the growing number of independent and migrant churches in Germany.
Approximately 400 evangelical congregations are not affiliated with any of the established churches according to official estimates. The number of local churches made up of immigrants from all continents is also growing.
Prayer Alert:
Carnage Continues in Orissa—Reports of 150 Houses and 20 Churches Destroyed as Christians Flee Horrific Violence
Michael Ireland (August 29, 2008)
All those concerned should contact the Orissa Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to ask for protection for those being attacked.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For many days now, we’ve been hearing of the horrendous attacks and violence against our brothers and sisters-in-the-Lord in Orissa, India. Please join BCN in praying for them and for their government to take action against this persecution. –Aimee Herd, BCN.
India(Orissa State, India)—Sources within the Indian state of Orissa say that anti-Christian violence continues with little to no response from the government.
According to the Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) sources inside Orissa, 150 houses and 20 churches have been destroyed while some groups are reporting as many as 300 houses and churches destroyed.
ICC sources indicate that most places are without curfew in contradiction to the government’s claims.
ICC has received numerous reports of carnage including the following:
**A 20-year-old woman attempted to stop Hindu extremists from attacking children in an orphanage and was thrown alive into a burning building.
**Mobs have surrounded villages to attack Christians. Pastors, priests, and nuns have been injured.
**Christians have fled to the jungle to save their lives.
ICC sources indicate that the Orissa government is not responding and that Christians in Orissa have lost trust in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
This onslaught began over the weekend when Hindu extremist groups accused Christians of murdering VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates on August 23, even though a Maoist organization has reportedly claimed responsibility.
Jeff King, ICC’s president said, "The lack of government response is alarming to say the least. The national government of India must step up to the plate and get Orissa officials like Shri Naveen Patnaik to act.
"At this point, the lack of any serious response from Orissa officials looks to the entire world as complicity with the radical Hindus that are doing the actual damage. Orissa officials should be held accountable and the Biju Janata Dal-BJP coalition government should step down."
All those concerned should contact the Orissa Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to ask for protection for those being attacked.
Source: ASSIST News Service
An Argentina Prison Full Of Christians!
= newest article, or still important and in need of prayers.