CHRISTIAN NEWS FROM RAY
A free service of Jesus Christ is Lord Ministries
News selected and edited by Ray Mossholder
Sunday, January 3, 2014
DO YOU THINK YOU GET THE STRAIGHT SCOOP FROM
MOST NEWS SOURCES?
Did you see the news story about the Russian ship stuck in the ice in Antarctica? The news reports began telling us about the stranded “tourists” or “passengers” who were on the ship. Slowly we learned there were some scientists aboard. However these were very specific scientists sent there for a reason. In fact, they were a team of global warming scientists. Back in November the news made a big fanfare about them going on this expedition to gather proof of the affect on global warming on the Antarctic Ice Shelf and its “dire” consequences for weather in Australia. But unlike the Artic Ice Cap, the Antarctic Ice Cap has not shrunk. These scientist’s ship got stuck in the ice they were going down to prove wasn’t there.
THE FEBRUARY OLYMPICS - A MAJOR TARGET FOR TERRORISTS
A suicide bomb exploded at a bus station this morning in the Russian city of Volgograd. It’s the second blast in two days in the city just 400 miles from the site of the Winter Olympics. The station is a key hub for transportation in the region.
Officials say a suicide bomber blew himself up on a trolleybus, killing at least 17 people and wounding nearly 30 others.
The bomb went off just after noon on a peak travel day in Russia. Russian authorities say the two bombings are related and no doubt an act of terrorism.
Recently a terrorist leader called for attacks against civilian targets in Russia, including at the winter olympics. The attacks have raised security fears for the safety of travelers headed to the games in Sochi in February.
Volgograd is an important train link from Moscow to Sochi. Both cities are located near the unstable North Caucasus region where Islamic terrorists have been fighting a brutal rebellion for the past two decades.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has deployed tens of thousands of soldiers, police and other security personnel for the games. Russian President Putin promises the safest Olympics in history despite the recent attacks.
ISRAELI SOLDIERS ORDERED TO AVOID CONTACT WITH MESSIANIC JEWS
The citizens of Israel woke up this week to a special early morning announcement by the Israeli Army on news broadcasts all across the country: The Ministry of Defense has ordered that all soldiers staying in Jerusalem over the Sabbath are not allowed to have any contact with members of the sect of Jews who preach faith in Yeshua (Jesus).
Israel is facing a host of challenges in this new year. From the Iranian nuclear threat to negotiations with the Palestinians — the pressure is ramping up.
JIHADISTS WASHING THEIR HANDS WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS
Atrocities by Syrian jihadist rebels have reached sensational new levels, according to a revered nun working with persecuted Christians and an explosive new video report.
Sister Hatune Dogan told WND in a Skype interview that members of the Syrian opposition are draining the blood of Christians they behead and selling vials to Islamic radicals for $100,000 a piece.
The Syrian Orthodox nun explained that the blood is used in a ritual washing of hands in the belief the act atones for sins and provides privileged access to heaven.
Sister Dogan is a member of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church under the Holy See of Antioch. Reporters have written that she has done more life-threatening firsthand rescues than any other human in the Mideast. Her righteous deeds, of course, receive the vociferous wrath of the jihadists.” The nun says she gets “18 death threats daily in seven languages.”
Al QAEDA KILLING THEIR CHILDREN TO MURDER “UNBELIEVERS”
United Nation’s Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the Syrian conflict has deteriorated “beyond all imagination” this year.
Now Human Rights reports are surfacing that al Qaeda rebels in the Syrian opposition are using children as young as ten to carry out attacks.
The music on a recently released video is chilling and so is the strategy. The soundtrack — a sad melody in Arabic — tells the children’s mothers not to be saddened at the loss of their children because they are fighting “for the sake of defeating the Jews.”
NEW ALTERNATIVES FOR FORMER BOY SCOUTS
The Boy Scouts of America is kicking off their new policy allowing openly gay scouts. The organization made that decision last May, but it just took effect January 1st. The ban on gay adult leaders remains intact.
Meanwhile, Christians unsettled by the new policy are offering alternative organizations in many churches.
“Trail Life USA” is just getting started with 425 troops pre-chartered. The group’s board chairman John Stemberger says he and other former Boy Scout leaders are concerned the policy could lead to some gay scouts abusing younger boys.
The “Royal Rangers” program is another alternative. The Assemblies of God has offered that option for more than 50 years.
FREE APP TO TEACH GOD’S WORD TO CHILDREN
The creators of YouVersion, the popular free Bible app, have just released another free app geared at kids ages 4 through 10.
The new app has already been downloaded a million times since it was made available Thanksgiving Day.
The app was developed in collaboration with the international ministry OneHope, which produces age specific and customized functional Scripture programs based on research for young people around the world
OneHope’s president Bob Hoskins says, “With translations in other languages besides English in the works, the app will also make it possible to reach children worldwide. Even in countries where evangelism is difficult, smart phones are prevalent,” Hoskins said.
Bobby Gruenewald, Innovation Pastor at LifeChurch.tv, which created YouVersion, said he believes the app is a generational game changer. “Just like we’ve seen the Bible App transform how our generation is engaging with Scripture, we believe the Bible App for Kids will change how the next generation discovers the grand narrative of the Bible.”
Gruenewald said new features allowing parents to interact with their kids by connecting their YouVersion accounts are in production.
The Bible App for Kids can be downloaded on Apple, Android, and some Kindle mobile devices for free at www.bible.com/kids.
GOLD BEGINNING TO RUST?
Stocks shot up nearly 30 percent in 2013, based on the S&P 500 Index. The best gain since the mid 1990′s.
The outlook isn’t the same with gold. It had its worst price drop in 32 years in 2013 after 12 consecutive years of gains.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The poorest human in the world is the one who’s only wealth is money
Sunday, January 3, 2014