United Nations Resolution Against Blasphemy Aimed at Protecting Islam

Pakistan and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which presently includes 57 nations, introduced a resolution to the United Nations on “Combating the Defamation of Religion.”  The measure first passed in 1999, and now the United Nations wants to make the non-binding resolution binding for all member states.  While the resolution was amended to include religions other than Islam, the United Nations seems to have become much more sympathetic to Islam, citing ” . . . the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minoritieis in the aftermath of 11 September 2001.”

In short, such a resolution, would make it illegal in the United States to speak against Islam (and presumably other religions) in any way that could offend the sensitivities of practitioners. 

Opponents say that this would trump the United States’ Constitution by violating our First Amendment right to free speech.  Under this resolution, discussing the connection between international terorrism and Islam could become a crime.

The binding resolution could be introduced as early as March.

Click here to read the full story.  Click here to watch the most recent discussion by news commentator and radio host, Lou Dobbs.

Everyones Apostolic to start charging Subscription Fee

The popular Apostolic social networking website, everyonesapostolic.com, will soon start charging a subscription fee for anything but the most basic  membership. EA is still continuing explosive growth, adding more than 3,000 members each month. The rise in popularity of Everyones Apostolic began less than a year ago when Everyones Connected changed names, and eventually closed completely. Everyones Apostolic now has over 43,000 members. Time will tell if this will have a significant impact on their membership numbers.

From their website:

“Due to the ever increasing demand of our available resources we must begin charging a nominal subscription fee to help fund our continued efforts. We thank you for your support. This new program will go into effect beginning March 3rd 2009. Those that upgrade before March 3rd will receive a 50% early bird discount.”

The new plans are as follows:

Member — $0/year

• Add New Pictures
• Add New Videos
• Add New Music
• Edit Page Theme
• Add New Discussions
• Add New Blogs
• Add New Events
• Add New Groups
• Add New Classifieds

Ministry Partner — $10/year

• Add New Pictures
• Add New Videos
• Add New Music
• Edit Page Theme
• Add New Discussions
• Add New Blogs
• Add New Events
• Add New Groups
• Add New Classifieds

Ministry Partner Plus — $20/year

• Add New Pictures
• Add New Videos
• Add New Music
• Edit Page Theme
• Add New Discussions
• Add New Blogs
• Add New Events
• Add New Groups
• Add New Classifieds

Ministry Partner Premium — $30/year

• Add New Pictures
• Add New Videos
• Add New Music
• Edit Page Theme
• Add New Discussions
• Add New Blogs
• Add New Events
• Add New Groups
• Add New Classifieds

What do you think? Are you going to pay and help support this website? Leave a comment below…

ClearlyU Bible Lets Kids Choose Their Own Bible Design

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 24 Zonderkidz(tm), the children’s division of Zondervan, today announces the brand new ClearlyU Bible for kids. This new compact Bible with a fun and durable see-through cover material encourages kids ages 9-12 to express their faith and personality with their choice of cover inserts. Each compact Bible includes four inserts.

The ClearlyU Bible features the full text of the bestselling NIV translation-today’s most read, most trusted Bible translation. All three versions of the new ClearlyU Bible-Clear, Green and Pink Sparkle-will be available at retailers nationwide in March 2009.

The ClearlyU Bible covers are easy to change with three simple steps:

1.Remove the two-sided insert designs included with the Bible. 

2.Choose a favorite design.

3.Reinsert the design of choice into the cover sleeve.

Beginning in March 2009, kids will be available to visit www.ClearlyUBible.com to print out additional inserts or to download a template and create their own unique design.

"Today’s product trends are all about personalization, so we’re taking that same idea to get kids excited about God’s word with the NIV ClearlyU Bibles," says Alicia Mey, Vice President of Marketing for Zonderkidz. "Kids will be able to add photos, stickers, and their own designs in their favorite colors to the see-through covers. Even though our target age for the product is 9-12, we think teenagers and even some adults will want to buy this innovative new Bible."

Full Story Here

Which Kind Of Christian Are You?

By Ken Gurley

Lately, I’ve been thinking about a report I read a year or so ago.  The report was based on a national survey sponsored by Christianity Today International and Zondervan Publishers and found in the Leadership magazine.  The report said that there were five kinds of Christians in America.

Rather than grouping these folks by their individual denominations, the survey groups them by their overall beliefs.  The five types of Christians are:

Full Story Here

Billy Graham association plans layoffs

CHARLOTTE – The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will lay off 10 percent of its workforce, or 55 employees. Ken Barun Sr., vice president of communications and development at the Charlotte-based BGEA, said most of the cuts will come in areas such as grounds keeping and food service, important areas but not essential to the core mission of evangelism.

The layoffs will affect six employees at The Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove in Swannanoa.

Barun said about a year and a half ago BGEA President Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son, “asked us to see how we could do a much more efficient job of proclaiming the word of Jesus Christ around the world.”

The layoffs are particularly painful because the employees are “family and friends,” Barun said. He noted that most of the jobs will be outsourced, and BGEA employees will have a good chance of working for those companies.

The laid-off employees will be given 30 days of notice with pay, plus a severance package based on years of service. They also will receive outplacement and spiritual counseling, Barun said.

Barun said probably 75-85 percent of the BGEA’s funding comes from donations, which have remained flat this year. Barun said he expects donations to increase as people realize the BGEA is focusing even more intently on its main mission of evangelism.

Full Story Here

Band of Backsliders Stakes Out International Territory

The Kings of Leon have enjoyed great popularity in the UK and Europe, but they now seem to be penetrating the US market.  The band, which consists of  brothers Nathan, Caleb, and Jared Followill, along with first cousin, Matthew Followill, have a Pentecostal past.  The brothers’ father, Leon, was a UPCI evangelist, and the family grew up travelling and singing.  Their father and grandfather bore the name Leon.

Today, they have taken their musical gift well outside the walls o the Church.  Some of their songs “Sex on Fire” and “Holy Roller Novocaine” demonstrate their distance from their Apostolic heritage.  Telling lyrics of the latter song are:  “Lord’s gonna get us back, I know, I know.”  A recent album was entitled “Because of the Times,” named for the annual ministers’ conference in Alexandria, Louisiana. 

In December, the group were nominated for three Grammy awards.  Please remember these young men in prayer.

Click here to read the full story.

Internet Evangelism Day Blog

A new blog has been launched to promote “Internet Evangelism Day.” It aims to promote the potential of the web and digital media  in outreach, and to raise issues for discussion and reflection. Internet Evangelism Day for 2009 is April 26th.

The website provides free downloads to enable you to create your own web evangelism awareness day for your church or Christian group. You can learn more about this campaign by visiting the links below.

Main Site
http://www.internetevangelismday.com/

New Blog
http://www.internetevangelismday.com/blog/

Apostolic Minister and Spouse Celebrate 50 Years Together

Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Cannon, of Diboll, TX, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 6, 2008. Their children surprised them with a party honoring their marriage at JR’s Barn in Diboll on Saturday, December 6. Their children are Jody Cannon of Diboll, Jubal and Tracie Cannon of Lufkin, Jeff and Lori Cannon of Diboll, and Jon Cannon of Diboll. In attendance were numerous guests, including Rev. Cannon’s brother, Jack Cannon, his wife, Margie, and their son, Mike, who drove from Milton, Florida, to surprise and honor them.

Other guests came from Arcadia, Florida, Lake City, Florida, LaGrange, Texas, as well as many friends from this local area. Rev, and Mrs. Cannon moved to Diboll over two years ago. They previously lived in Arcadia, Florida, where they were the pastor of the First United Pentecostal Church for 26 years. They have also been pastor of churches in Okeechobee, Florida, as well as LaGrange, Texas. Rev, and Mrs. Cannon are well-loved by their family and friends, and by anyone who makes their acquaintance. In addition to their four sons, they have a daughter who lives in Cape Coral, Florida, and they are blessed with thirteen grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Original Story

Secretary threatened after daughter mentions Jesus

A school secretary whose daughter mentioned Jesus to a classmate now is facing discipline, including the possibility of dismissal from her position, for having sent an e-mail to friends from her home computer asking for prayer about the issue.

The case is developing, according to a report in the London Daily Mail, for Jennie Cain, a receptionist at Landscore Primary School in Crediton, Devon.

Her daughter, Jasmine, age 5, attends the school and recently was scolded by a teacher for talking about God and her faith, the report said. She was in tears after the discipline, the paper said.

Cain, who has worked at the school part-time since 2006, said after her work shift was completed – as a parent – she went to talk with teacher Sharon Gottelier about the situation. She then was summoned to the office of Principal Gary Read the next morning, where she was told “how he wasn’t happy about her making statements about her faith,” Cain told the paper.

After meeting with Read, Cain went home and e-mailed a prayer request about the situation to some friends at her church, and soon she was notified of the pending discipline for her statements in the e-mail.

“I felt embarrassed that a private prayer e-mail was read by the school – it felt like someone had gone through my personal prayer diary,” she told the paper. “I feel my beliefs are so central to who I am, are such a part of my children’s life.

“I do feel our beliefs haven’t been respected and I don’t feel I have been treated fairly. I don’t know what I am supposed to have done wrong,’ she said. She reported she doesn’t know how the school got a copy of her e-mail.

Full Story Here

House narrowly passes bill to allow guns in church

LITTLE ROCK — The state House on Wednesday narrowly passed a bill to allow concealed weapons permit holders to bring their guns to church. Its fate will now rest with the Senate.

The Senate Wednesday approved measures that would prohibit drivers from texting, ban cell phone use by drivers under 18, and require drivers 18 to 20 to use only a hands-free cell phone while driving.

House Bill 1237, the church-guns bill, won approval on a 57-42 vote. The bill by Rep. Beverly Pyle, R-Cedarville, would amend state law to remove churches and other places of worship from the list of places where people with permits are not allowed to carry guns.

“Due to many shootings that have happened in our churches across our nation, it is time we changed our concealed handgun law to allow law-abiding citizens of the state of Arkansas the right to defend themselves and others should a situation happen in one of our churches,” Pyle told House members.

If the bill becomes law, churches could decide whether to allow guns, Pyle said.

Full Story Here

Less than half of Americans believe in evolution

A new poll released by The Gallup Survey found that 39 percent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution, 25 percent do not believe in evolution, and 36 percent have no opinion either way.

The data also showed religious practice is the greatest predictor of belief in evolution.  Only 24 percent of weekly church-goers believe in evolution, while 41 percent of this group do not believe it, and 35 percent have no opinion.  Among those that seldom or never attend church, 55 percent believe in evolution, 11 percent do not believe it, and 34 percent have no opinion.

The survey also measured belief in evolution by age and education level.  In general, younger people with higher levels of education tend to believe in evolution at higher rates.

Interestingly the survey also found that over 55 percent of Americans were not able to associate Charles Darwin with evolution.  The survey was performed on the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth.  The research group concluded that many scientists would likely be dismayed to discover that after 200 years of the popularization of evolution theory less than half of Americans believe it or can even identify it’s primary founder.

Read The Gallup Survey results HERE.

Read an article about the survey on FoxNews.com HERE.

New Website Features Audio Interviews of Prominent Apostolics

A new apostolic website and call-in talk show has been launched.

According to the talk show host,  J. T. Wheeler, NO MORE WALLS is an apostolic effort to emphasize unity among the Body of Christ as a whole regardless of organizational or fellowship association. 

The show features interviews of prominent men and women of God with proven ministries that are effectively advancing the Kingdom of God. Past guests include Dr. David K. Bernard (UPCI), Bishop Robert Martin, General Superintendent (ALJC), Pastor Jeff W. Arnold (UPCI).

NO MORE WALLS is a call in conference call with a talk show format. Listeners are able to call in during the interview and participate in the interview along with J. T. Wheeler and his guest. By featuring ministers with national and international reputations the broadcast offers people and other ministers a forum wherewith to connect with those actively building Christ’s kingdom, and according to the host, ”hopefully glean from their wisdom and experience. “

Currently, shows are broadcasting LIVE on Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. central time. All shows are recorded, and those who miss the live broadcast can visit the official website for archived shows in the MEDIA tab of the site.

Callers and listeners and participate by calling: Dial: 712-432-3900 ID: 2975058
http://www.nomorewallsonline.com

Texas District UPCI Youth Ministries To Hold Youth Workers Training Event

Youth Workers

The Commune-ity Meeting – Texas
February 20-21, 2009

A youth ministry training event, sponsored by the Texas District Youth Ministries. This event is designed for Youth Pastors and Leaders, Youth Staff, older teens and young adults who are potential leaders.

DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT!!

Register Online Now!!

Location:
Dallas Emanuel Pentecostal Church
Rev. Richard Flowers
1200 Poplar Dr., Mesquite, TX 75149

Apostolic Boy Killed in San Jose; Family Finds Comfort in Faith and Forgiveness

Tuesday, Isaac Young, a 6-year-old member of Light of the World Apostolic Cathedral Church in San Jose, California went to be with the Lord when his family’s minivan was struck by a speeding pickup truck driven by 36-year-old Gary Westover.

The Young family was leaving a weekly prayer service at the church pastored by Isaac’s mother Theodoris and his aunt, Theadra.  Theodoris remains hospitalized with a lacertaed liver.  Christopher Young, the father, has a broken arm, and 8-year-old Aaron sustained only minor bruising.

Gary Westover was arrested at the scene of the accident for driving drunk.  Sis. Marie Price, Isaac’s grandmother, said:  “I don’t hate him [Westover].  Today, I don’t like him.  But no, I don’t hate him.  I pray for his soul.”  This family is given to prayer and praise, and Isaac was a fervent worshipper and an accomplished drummer, placing second in the church’s drum-off competition.  In the service just before his death, Isaac testified, thanking God for his family and asking church members to pray for his father who recently became unemployed.

In their grief, the Youngs believe that they must accept God’s will.  Christopher Young says:  “My faith has not been skahen.  I’m in good spirits.  I’m staying prayerful.”

Please remember this family in prayer.  Condolences may be sent to Light of the World Apostolic Cathedral at 3777 Quimby Rd., San Jose, CA 95148.

Click here to read the full story.

Obama outlines his ‘faith-based’ program

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Thursday he will establish a White House office of faith-based initiatives that will show no favoritism to any religious group and adhere to the strict separation of church and state.

Addressing the National Prayer Breakfast, Obama spoke of how faith has often been a divisive tool, responsible for war and prejudice. But, he said, “there is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being,” and all religions teach people to love and care for one another. That is the common ground underlying his faith-based office, he said.

In personal terms, he talked about the role of faith in his life, from his Muslim-born father and a mother skeptical of organized religion to his own embrace of Christianity as a young man.

 ”In a world that grows smaller by the day, perhaps we can begin to crowd out the destructive forces of zealotry and make room for the healing power of understanding,” Obama told the gathering of lawmakers, dignitaries and world leaders. “This is my hope. This is my prayer.”

Full Story at OneNewsNow