CHRISTIAN NEWS FROM RAY
A free service of Jesus Christ is Lord Ministries
News selected and edited by Ray Mossholder
Sunday, January 5, 2014
LIFE-THREATENING FREEZE HITS AMERICA
As much of the country digs out from a powerful winter storm that buried parts of the Northeast, tundra-like temperatures are poised to deliver a rare and potentially dangerous blow to the Midwest, with forecasters predicting a near-record or historic cold outbreak.
The “polar vortex,” as one meteorologist calls it, is expected to send cold air piled up at the North Pole down to the U.S., funneling it as far south as the Gulf Coast and driving temperatures below freezing for most of the nation.
Forecasters expect a weekend warm-up in some areas before temperatures plunge again, sending to temperatures of 50 degrees in areas of North Dakota and Minnesota.
Ken Simosko, a meteorologist from Bismarck, said it would take all of five minutes to get frostbite in minus 50 degree condition. Imagine being in a car wreck under such conditions.
“We usually don’t call something ‘life threatening,’” he told FoxNews.com. “But yes, we want people to know that this is very much a life-threatening event.”
At least 16 deaths were blamed on the storm as it swept across the nation’s eastern half on Friday, including three people who officials said died at least partly because of the extreme cold.
Meanwhile, some cities saw record lows on Friday. In Wisconsin, a record low temperature was set in Green Bay, where the mercury dipped to minus 18. The National Weather Service said that topped the 17-below-zero mark last recorded in 1979.
Sunday’s playoff game in Green Bay could be among one of the coldest NFL games ever played. Temperatures at Lambeau Field are expected to be a frigid minus 2 degrees when the Packers and San Francisco 49ers kick off, and by the fourth quarter it’ll be a bone-chilling minus 7, with wind chills approaching minus 30, according to the weatherman.
FIVE “CHRISTIAN” MOTION PICTURES BEING RELEASED THIS YEAR
Rest assured, Hollywood has not suddenly got religion, but they do know the smell of money and sometimes that works out to a Christian‘s advantage. Reality TV pioneer Mark Burnett and his wife, actress Roma Downey shocked Hollywood and the world last year when their History Channel series The Bible set cable TV records and Duck Dynasty stayed #1 in all television viewing throughout its season. As a direct result of both these things, five new “Biblical” motion pictures will be released in 2014. Georgia and I will try to attend each of the five movies the day it opens in Fort Worth. I will then write a movie critique of each film and include it in that night’s Christian News.
Any of these films could happily amaze or disappoint. The Hollywood moguls are only interested in box office receipts. How many people attend will give Hollywood all it needs to decide whether it should make still more of these kinds of films in the future. Be praying for the effect these movies will have on those who don’t know the Bible. Every time most films of this nature are released there are many who see them and receive Christ afterward. The Holy Spirit can use ANYTHING to get people saved!
“Son of God” | 20th Century Fox (February 2014)
Mark and Roma are at it again. This Christian couple has taken footage from their television series and partnered with 20th Century Fox to create Son of God, a film about Jesus’ life as taken from the Gospels. If you are one of the millions drawn to watch their series on TV with great joy, it’s almost certain that you love the movie.
“Noah” | Regency Enterprises (March 2014)
A flood of publicity has already been created around Noah and its impressive $130 million budget. The cast includes Russell Crowe as Noah, as well as Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Connelly, and Emma Watson. Darren Aronofsky of “Black Swan” fame directed the movie. If the trailer is any indication, it should be visually stunning. (You can find this trailer on reachmorenow.com) Genesis does not tell us about the people in Noah’s time other than that they married and were given in marriage. So much of Noah will be imaginative. We can expect to see the reaction of people who don’t believe Noah at all because when he was building the Ark there, as yet, was no rain.
“Heaven is For Real” | Sony Pictures (April 2014)
Though not technically a biblical movie, Sony Pictures’ “Heaven is For Real” must be mentioned because it most likely will be wonderfully Christian. The film is based on the New York Times bestselling book by the same name (if you haven’t read it, you should) and stars Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilley, and Thomas Haden Church. This story of a little boy’s life-after-death experience is not so coincidentally scheduled to release just before Easter.
“Exodus” | 20th Century Fox (December 2014)
Twentieth Century Fox has kept a tight lid on Ridley Scott’s “Exodus.” All we know is that the film is an adaptation of the biblical story of the ancient Israelite people’s liberation from Egypt. Christian Bale will star as Moses, and Sigourney Weaver will co-star. Critics won’t be able to help themselves from comparing the film to the 1956 movie “The Ten Commandments” starring Charlton Heston. Hollywood will be watching the crowd to know whether this film can duplicate that classic’s box office success.
“Mary, Mother of Christ” | Lionsgate Films (December 2014)
The long awaited prequel to “The Passion of The Christ” is scheduled to arrive before Christmas after a long set of delays. The cast includes the late Peter O’Toole, Sir Ben Kinglsey, Julia Ormond, and 16-year-old Israeli newcomer Odeya Rush as Mary. This hefty cast combined with a serious budget from Lionsgate and the backing of several Christian notables (including mega-church pastor Joel Osteen who gets an executive producer credit) gives this movie serious box office potential. In this way, the film industry is a mirror reflecting what society desires: sex, violence, and great stories with a touch of God in the mix. In 2014, we’ll find out just how much they crave the latter.
ACLU CROSS ABOUT THE CROSS
Two members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have filed a motion to add a cross to the depiction of historic San Gabriel Mission on the emblem that appears on county property. “The current rendering of the Mission on the seal is artistically and architecturally inaccurate,” the motion reads, adding that the cross should be added “in order to accurately reflect the cultural and historical role that the Mission played in the development of the Los Angeles County region in the 1700′s.”
The Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State recently called on the city of DeLand, Fla., to remove a cross from its 131-year-old city seal, arguing that the symbol promotes “Christian theological virtues.”
The ACLU vowed to fight any effort to add a cross to the LA county seal, according to the Los Angeles Times report.
“The county’s greatest strength is its diversity, religious and otherwise,” Mark Rosenbaum, chief counsel of the ACLU of Southern California, told the newspaper. “Placing a cross, the universal symbol ofChristianity, on the seal communicates that L.A. County favors one religion above all others and above the decision not to practice any.”
GLOBAL WARMING SCIENTISTS CAN’T FIND AN ICEBREAKER!
Fifty-two scientists and tourists rescued from a trapped vessel in the Antarctic still can’t get home. On Thursday, a helicopter flew the stranded passengers off the icepack in groups of 10 and 12. Their ship had been trapped in the ice for more than 10 days.
Now, they’re stuck again, this time because the Chinese icebreaker that sent the helicopter fears it could get stuck as well.
The Australian ship meant to carry the passengers home is hanging around in case it’s needed to rescue the Chinese.
As mentioned earlier this week, the team of explorers and scientists trapped by the ice was on an expedition to study the effects of climate change in the South Pole.
Many climate change activists have believed global warming is causing ice to melt at the poles. Their belief is now under a severe challenge.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Feel far from God? Who do you think moved?
Sunday, January 5, 2014