Drivel And Verbal Diahorrea.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5788581/Feminist-Germaine-Greer-rape-just-bad-sex-not-violent-crime-Hay-Festival.html

If 'Diversity' Supercedes Excellence - Standards Will Inevitably Fall.

London's leading universities fall in the world rankings, Oxford slips down to fifth place and Cambridge holds on to its number four spot as the top 100 institutions are announced

Four respected London universities have slipped down a global league table following rows over executive pay, sub-par teaching and 'safe space' censorship. Mail.

God's Natural Attributes.

Fisheries No-Brainer - It's Yet Another Reason We Voted LEAVE!

Fishing communities 'MUST reap benefits of leaving EU Fisheries Policy after Brexit'. Express.

Any economic benefits that come from leaving the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) under Brexit must be felt in the communities that depend on the sector, according to a report. The latest publication, part of a project by The UK in a Changing Europe, has called for an assessment of how fishing communities will be affected by leaving the EU.

The recommendation is one of 15 in the report, which looks at the lessons that can be learned by a post-Brexit UK from other non-EU coastal states - namely Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands.

It found that Brexit creates "opportunities" for the UK Government and the devolved administrations to develop their own approaches to fisheries management, but notes it also brings "challenges" linked to the devolution set-up and the complexity of the sector.

The report, compiled by researchers at the University of the West of Scotland, states that withdrawing from the EU and the CFP means the UK will become an independent coastal state with decision-making over fisheries policy returning to the UK.

"Despite some perceived advantages of leaving the CFP, the UK's withdrawal from the EU presents significant challenges for the future governance of fisheries," it states.

Butterfly.

Drinking Straws and The EU.

https://euobserver.com/environment/141927

CSW Requests Prayer For North Korea.

Our God is sovereign above all earthly powers: he brings about his Kingdom on earth through the rulers he has appointed. What God asks of us is to pray earnestly for his justice and mercy to prevail. This week, please pray with us for what could be a turning point for North Korea.

On 12 June a truly historic meeting will take place: US President Donald Trump will meet the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, in Singapore. It’s just the latest in a series of steps towards peace on the Korean peninsula – a peace that’s been decades in coming. 

Yet when we look at the horrific situation in North Korea it can be hard to retain our optimism. The UN describes the human rights situation as ‘without parallel in the contemporary world’. At least 100,000 people are held in prison camps, regularly experiencing slave labour and torture.
There’s absolutely no open expression of religious faith, and if you’re caught with a Bible you could face execution, or a life sentence in a prison camp. Oppression and tyranny are a regular feature of daily life.

This is why human rights must be kept on the agenda of any discussion with the North Korean regime. So it’s our prayer that President Trump will raise these violations when he meets with Kim Jong Un next month; and that it will be clear that if there is ever peace in Korea, it will only be when the prison camps are closed, and when human dignity and freedom are respected.

Spain: More Moves To The Right?

Spain undecided and divided ahead of Sunday's election.

• Spain's traditional two-party system has given way to a political spectrum with now five parties fighting over voters. Here Unidos Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias (l) and PSOE prime minister Pedro Sanchez (r). (Photo: Podemos)

By HELENA SPONGENBERG

BARCELONA, TODAY, 10:54

Spain will head for the ballot boxes this Sunday (28 April) to elect a new government, in an election that is seen as the country's most fragmented and unclear vote.

Fragmented, because Spain's traditional two-party system has given way to a political spectrum with now five parties fighting over voters. And unclear, because around 40 percent of voters are still undecided on who to vote for.

• It is the third general election in just four years in Spain. (Photo: Helena Spongenberg)

Plus, it is the third general election in just four years in Spain - the fourth biggest economy in the Eurozone.

According to the polls, the social democrats (PSOE) led by the current prime minister Pedro Sanchez, is expected to win around 30 percent of the vote, and increase its seat count, but without enough votes for an outright majority.

Sanchez came to power ten months ago after a multi-party motion of no-confidence took down Mariano Rajoy's conservative Partido Popular (PP) government, over corruption in his party.

The PP and its new leader Pablo Casado, on the other hand, are expected to lose several seats, getting around 20 percent of the votes, compared to 33 percent in the last election. Some of the party's hardline conservative supporters are opting for far-right party Vox, expected to get around 11 percent of the vote.

Spain is therefore set to join the list of European countries with a far-right party gaining more that one seat in the legislative arena, for the first time since the country's peaceful transition into a democracy from a fascist dictatorship in the late 1970s.

Centre-right Ciudadanos and the leftist Podemos tie, on around 14 percent of the votes, according to the polls, and slightly lower than the last election in 2016.

Vote first, negotiate after

But without a majority for any parties, the hard work seems to come after the election, when whoever wins the most votes, must start negotiations to find support for a government.

If it does fall on Sanchez, he would need to govern in a minority, or form a coalition, which is still uncharted territory for a Spanish national government.

If he would go for a leftist alliance he would need support from Unidos Podemos led by Pablo Iglesias, and probably also from the nationalist parties in the Basque and Catalan regions.

It was in fact the lack of support from the Catalan nationalist parties for the 2019 budget that led to the early calls for elections back in February.

Sanchez could also go for a more left-centre government with the Ciudadanos, but its leader Albert Rivera has already stated that his party will not form a coalition with the socialists.

Alternatively, the three parties on the right of the centre, PP, Ciudadanos and Vox, could get together, mirroring the recent regional election outcome in Andalucia, where PP and Ciudadanos formed a government with the support of Vox, and ending four decades of socialist rule.

In 2015, the political parties were unable to agree on forming a government, leading to fresh elections in 2016.

"It is a very open scenario," says Xavier Casals, a historian at the Blanquerna University in Barcelona. "Especially with the whole political spectre in fragmentation, and with the high level of voters who might only decide on who to vote for on the very day of the election."

"The only prediction in this election, is that no predictions can be made," he tells EUobserver.

Butterfly.

Why I Shall NOT Be Using Aviva.

Father-of-three, 40, is refused £65,000 payout by health insurer Aviva because he had a cardiac arrest and not a heart attack - despite paying £22 a month for 16 years.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/news/article-5784565/Father-three-finds-hes-not-eligible-65K-insurance-payout.html

Amen.

Pentagon.

I had two jobs for Pentagon to do on my car which they insisted would be done in a single day.

In the end this took nearly three months allowing for administrative incompetence, inefficiency sorting out a mechanical problem, knock on effects from the work done etc. I lost count of the times I had to keep returning my vehicle.

The final straw was when I was due for a test drive. I arrived early and having been told that my available time would be short.

NOBODY CAME; NO APOLOGY AFTER I HAD LEFT and when I complained - a business manager with the kind of lame apology that forces you choose to never deal with their firm ever again.

I would have to be very desperate indeed!)

Four Evangelical Tribes?

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/how-michael-currys-sermon-revealed-the-4-tribes-of-evangelicals/129431.htm

One World Beliefs Based On A Profoundly Flawed Premise.

One-worlders believe that if we move to a world government - there would be less reason to have wars.

If you think of all the nations, tribes, ethnic groups who would be subsumed into this mighty structure - who could possibly believe that they would happily relinquish their independence?

No? - Then all you would have is a recipe for even greater conflicts.

(Don't believe me? - The look at that mess which is the United Nations - and indeed, its wretched predecessor The League of Nations which allowed World War Two to happen!)

March For Life (From Before Irish Vote).

http://www.christianconcern.com/media/clare-mccullough-speaks-at-march-for-life-uk-2018

Wisdom.

Pro-Life Debate Gaining Momentum?

http://www.christianconcern.com/our-issues/abortion/bbc-newsnight-is-the-uk-pro-life-movement-gaining-momentum

Butterfly.

Circadian Rhythms.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5780489/How-sleep-better-live-longer-just-setting-body-clock.html

He Is MY God.

Sad Tale Of The Wesley Marriage.

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/the-sad-story-of-methodist-founder-john-wesleys-marriage/129376.htm

Pray That IDS Is Right.

There is real fear in EU that Britain will BEAT them' IDS DESTROYS Brussels bully tactics.

IAIN Duncan Smith has blasted the "childish bullying" of the European Union, which he said was evidence that "there is fear" in Brussels that post-Brexit Britain could triumph over the EU.

By OLI SMITH, Express.

Insanity In The Police: There Is Already Too Much Unjustified Fast-Tracking.

Being a graduate should not be the key aim of Police recruitment.

Published May 15, 2018

Proposals that all recruits to the Police Force should be graduates have come under fire from the UKIP Home Affairs spokesman, Dave Moreland, himself a former police officer.

"This suggestion from Alex Marshall, the Chief Constable of the Police College is a retrograde step and will do nothing to either improve policing or improve the police's failing relationship with the communities they serve".

 

"Of course, police officers want to get the recognition for the training and experience they gain whilst working in the force, and specific degree level recognition os a good approach to satisfy, and recognise those achievements. The suggestion of Police Constable degree apprenticeships has its merits, but should not be compulsory.

 

"It is absurd to suggest that to operate computers or conduct online investigations requires degree level training, as anybody who understands the modern world and young people today would understand.

 

"My concern is that Graduates will be interested in one thing and one thing only, promotion, rather than the unglamorous but vital vocation that is at the heart of policing and protecting local communities.

 

"Currently under 40% of officers have degrees, in step with the population at large, but throwing up barriers to entry, which will undoubtedly lead to even greater recruitment problems amongst poorer and more ethnically diverse groups is no way forward. It will likewise impact on the recruitment of former servicemen and women, who bring many of the skills needed for policing with them, but without the unnecessary garland of a degree."

Butterfly.

Avoiding Dementia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-40655566?intc_type=singletheme&intc_location=news&intc_campaign=dementiaactionweek&intc_linkname=article_reducedementiarisk_contentcard4

Finding God.

Irish Abortion Vote.

God will not be mocked. 
In the UK millions of individuals have made personal choices to butcher their unborn children - not because of rape nor incest nor 'in the interests of the child' - and very rarely out of concern for the health of the mother.
No. Well, well, well over 99.5% are out of personal convenience.
However, this was not a corporate decision by the nation as a whole - but an atrocity set in motion by the liberal, largely anti-God left of the mid 60s - a decision which has now inveigled itself into our society and become an abomination now posing as being 'quite normal'.
The difference with the Irish is that theirs has come out of a majority vote. Their allegedly Catholic nation has spat in the very face of both God and their Church.
The UK will be punished but I fear that even worse awaits the people of Ireland.
I repeat - GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED.

It is incredible that there is a majority happy to see the wholesale slaughter of the unborn who blithely ignore this verse and pretend that 'turning the other cheek' (by the individual) somehow cancels this principle. What is more, God's reasoning is explained!

The verse surely puts an end to any validity claimed for abortion AND, furthermore, it tells societies to execute murderers.

Strange how so many of those who will not allow a death penalty for the guilty are so ecstatic to see one imposed on the innocent. Innit?

First Test Lost By 9 Wickets.

Okay - I was wrong. The test did just about manage to creep into Day Four, after all.
Four wickets collapsed in as many overs this morning leaving Pakistan a trivial total to chase down.
Time for this England team to be gutted - and new blood introduced.

England must now reduce the numbers of left-handed batsmen in the side. (Currently six out of eleven.)
Right-handed bowlers' footmarks make it very tough for left-handers later in the game as the pitch wears and deteriorates.

Surely there must be players in the counties who can do better than this crew which is now seemingly frittering away test matches for fun: batsmen, bowlers, captain and fielders alike!
Furthermore, the next test, starting on Friday, needs to be Joe Root's very last chance.
DO please remember that on Day One - he WON the toss and decided to bat on the kind of pitch where this was either an act of lunacy or decidedly misplaced faith in some kind of unnatural supernatural intervention.
The test was lost on that basis alone!

Prayer Needed.

Many of you will already know the story of Leah Sharibu, a 15-year-old girl who in February was taken from her school in Nigeria by the Islamist terror group Boko Haram. Of the 110 girls seized that night, only Leah remains in captivity: because she refuses to renounce her faith.

Leah’s father, Nathan, said to Nigerian media, “I am very sad... but I'm also jubilating too because my daughter did not denounce Christ." Her mother, who is still in deep shock, later added: "Even if they shoot Leah there, we believe that she will be with Christ Jesus."

Sign a petition here to campaign for Leah’s release.

Join us to pray for Leah
This weekend we’re headed to Big Church Day Out, a festival for Christians of all ages and denominations to gather, pray and listen to music. We’re sure Leah would love it, like any teenager; and we’re going to be praying for her all weekend. Wouldn’t it be amazing if she was released during an outpouring of prayer from Big Church Day Out and beyond?

P.S. BREAKING NEWS: We’ve just heard that Donald Trump has cancelled his meeting with Kim Jong-Un, the North Korean leader, which was due to take place next month. Last week we asked you to pray that human rights would be prioritised during this meeting; the cancellation is really disappointing news. Please pray that this would not derail the steps that have been made so far towards peace on the Korean peninsula, and that God would continue to work in his sovereign power for the people of North Korea.

In summary, please pray:

• For Leah Sharibu to be released soon
• For God to comfort her and give her strength in this ordeal
• That God would also comfort her family as they campaign and pray for her return
• For heavenly peace and justice to reign in North Korea.. CSW.

Preacher Battles With Depression.

James Macintyre 

It's not every day that you find yourself talking to an evangelical preacher who confesses to daily mental suffering. But Mark Meynell has the air of a true grown-up. Having struggled for many years with depression, a word he says does not do justice to what he has felt at times, this uniquely honest minister has just produced a powerful and timely memoir, When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend (IVP).

Meynell is director for Langham Preaching and Langham Partnership, with responsibility for Europe and the Caribbean, and for nine years he worked on the senior ministry team at All Souls Langham Place, London. Previously he had taught biblical studies at a seminary in Kampala, Uganda.

The book begins with a dramatic description of his being in Uganda on the verge of returning back to the UK in 2005 when, to the horror of Meynell and his wife Rachel, the London terrorist attack of '7/7' unfolded – an event that would help lead to Meynell being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Since then, he has battled with what Churchill famously called his 'black dog,' a term Meynell relates to because 'it's like there is a presence'. 'Depression', he says, is inadequate: 'I think because it's in such common parlance. You can't regulate how language is used, so you say "I'm feeling a bit depressed because I missed my train" – and that's fine, but what that means, is it renders it useless for describing genuine ill-health. So my quest if you like, has been to find vaguely adequate language and metaphors tend to be the primary means for doing that.'

Today, he says, he's 'OK' – though the thought of his condition being out there for everyone is daunting. 

'I think the actual emergence of the book is not straightforward because up until now it's all been people I already know who've been reading bits.

'So suddenly when it's out there, that's a whole different ball game. But I'm absolutely certain it's the right thing to do. I think the thing I'm most nervous of is becoming the depression go-to guy. I can't do that. I just can't do that.'

Though on the other hand, writing has itself been a help to him. 'The prompting for doing it was more therapeutic, and the need to find my own language to describe stuff. And just because of the way I operate for whatever reason I find it easier to put stuff down on paper.'There is so much out there for those in the midst of it is actually counter-productive and unhelpful.'Which brings us straight onto what Meynell thinks about those evangelicals, particularly in the US, who believe there is something wrong with you if you suffer as he does.

'It's a very important question and people have come to me to talk about their experience of that kind of thing. I think we need to be clear about what we're talking about here – that is a form of prosperity gospel. And I think if you're going to say that mental ill-health is a sign of a lack of faith and even something to bar you from ministry then you need to go through history and fire a lot of people, not least several contributors to the Bible and – perhaps this is stretching it a little bit – maybe even the Lord Jesus himself. And some of the greats: Spurgeon, Luther, Calvin – well, you are a brave person to say they are ruled out.'

When he mentions Jesus, he's not just referring to the agony at Gethsemane and on the cross, but to 'the mental and emotional anguish that he experienced at various points, like grieving over Lazarus. That's the one of the extraordinary things – even though he knew he was about to raise him, there was an agony there. There was a grief and a pain.

'So I think a lot of the time we're fighting against reductionism and being simplistic. And it may be that there is an unconfessed sin or a lack of faith – of course that may be. But to be categorical and emphatic about a "this, therefore that" approach in all circumstances is pastorally inept if not dangerous.'

He goes on: 'If you are assuming that if you follow Jesus he has rolled out the red carpet and life is going to be straightforward, and then suddenly it isn't, then you're going to blame God and not the person who told you that claim. And you're going to stumble and fall, because it's just not true. But if you have built into your discipleship a sense of being broken, in a broken world, and that we are waiting for a lot of the things that God promises, and you have begun to live within the New Testament tension of now and not yet, and the not yet includes full healing, then you're certainly not enjoying it, but you're a bit more prepared for that tension, so it doesn't catch you out.

'Now, that's not to say there aren't days when it doesn't hit you like a freight train. But as you reflect on freight train days, they are not completely outside the box because you know that you don't expect an easy life. And I think that people in ministry have a lot of responsibility for helping people with that. I think one of the things we need to try and do is help people to do failure and sin and flaws well. That doesn't mean encouraging sin or failure or flaws; it means saying, "Hey, this is reality; now what do we do?" And actually a mark of maturity is what you do with those things in a constructive and Godly way. Many of them will never have mental health problems, thankfully, but there'll be something else.'

Meynell has never asked, 'Why me?' Instead, he avoids introspection by looking outwards and upwards to God, partly through leaning on the Psalms, which he describes as providing 'a liturgy for your doubt'. And doubt is an essential grounded faith.

'I love the gospels. And I love preaching the gospels. I love the humanity of the gospels, so it's not as if they are unimportant. [But] I think what you get from the Psalms – almost unlike anywhere else in scripture – is just rawness, raw reality, expressed back to God.'

Psalm 88, for instance, is 'one of acute doubt and darkness'. 'It is sanctioned, but the important thing is that it is sanctioned to say this back to me, so here is a liturgy for your doubt. I mean that's a special kind of God, that allows for that. That discovery in itself was a lightbulb moment – God says it's OK to say this and to say this back to him.

'It confirmed what I had been taught about God but here was direct evidence of an incredible generosity.'

On one edition of the book's cover, there is the question: 'How do you preach a ministry of light through the darkness of depression?' What is his answer?

'One [way] is realism, so you're not pretending and pulling wool over eyes. One is actually faithfulness to the Bible because the Bible helps us live with the complexities of life, ironically. The Bible isn't a system; it's a story that we live in. I think we ultimately preach Christ, and that's the wonderful thing, because we're not preaching a system, or a framework, or propositions, or truths, although actually all of those things play their part; we're preaching a person, and we're saying hey, come and meet this amazing guy I've met, and he has been there. And the astonishing thing is it doesn't matter who it is you introduce him to, or what agonies they have endured; he's been there, and that means there is hope for everybody. So there is nothing more wonderful and astonishing that being able to introduce people to him.'

Does he relate to those who find it hard to have what many evangelicals call a personal relationship with Jesus? 'Totally' is the immediate answer.

And to those who feel unworthy of God's love, he says: 'I really relate to that, because I think that's one of the narratives that depression feeds. I think that's why people latch onto an image like the black dog, because it's like there's a presence.

'In terms of the worthiness for Christ, I think there is a smidgen of rightness about that, that we truly aren't, it's true, we're not [worthy], but I think that the reality of the gospel is that nothing about us surprises him and he still wants us on the team. And I think this is where the gospel speaks to shame in a way that is even more profoundly powerful than the way it speaks to guilt. Because the shamed person feels intrinsically unworthy and therefore withdraws, and the gospel says to the shamed person, "Come in."'

Here he refers passionately to George Herbert's 'beautiful' poem, Love (III). And he produces on his mobile phone an image of a stunning painting in St Mary's episcopalian cathedral in Edinburgh by A E Borthwick, The Presence. The painting shows Christ by a lone figure kneeling at the back of the cathedral itself, where communion is being distributed to the faithful in the distance at the high altar.

St Mary's Cathedral, Ediburgh / cathedral.netThe Presence, by A E Borthwick.

'Here's this figure at the back and Jesus is with that one. And he's coming to do business with this guy. And that's what I'm talking about.'

Meynell, who became a Christian at 18, has clearly been gifted with a strong, lifelong faith despite his struggles. How does he maintain it? 'I don't know,' he says, laughing. 'There is an old Sunday school definition of faith, which is that faith is trust in God to keep his promises. Which is, actually, a far richer statement than it sounds. And the reason that's important is because there are many times in life when it looks as though God is not coming through on his promises. But it's not wishful thinking, it's not groping in the dark and latching on to the nearest thing; it's saying: well, he's made some promises so the issue is, will he come through? The answer to that depends on his character. And so one is always being thrust back onto his character. But it is on the basis of that that the psalmist's frequent refrain is, "How long?" You only ask how long, if you have a sense that it should be other than it is.

'You know if there is no God and we live in a closed and silent universe, then it's horrible but you have no right or means to ask questions or to complain. Actually, the fact that we have questions about God's character, is precisely what makes it difficult, because you think, you're like this and life is like this and it shouldn't be like that.

'But the wonder of the Psalms is they say, "You're right, it shouldn't be like this." The book of Job says "You're right, it shouldn't be like this." But in the midst of that gloom is the question, Is God trustworthy?

'Now, sometimes, it is as simple and mundane as going back in my head rehearsing, well can I really trust Jesus? Did he really die? And the crucifixion, and what that means, that is the bedrock. So it is a question of clinging to that. But sometimes in my darkest moments I can't cling to anything, and I probably just need to go to bed, and not try and push it.'

'When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend' is published by IVP. For more information or to buy the book, click here.

To watch a short video featuring Mark Meynell, click here.

The Left HATE Economic Reality!

In a system of free trade and free markets poor countries - and poor people - are not poor because others are rich. Indeed, if others became less rich the poor would in all probability become still poorer.

Butterfly.

Should Christians Smoke?

https://www.premierchristianity.com/Past-Issues/2018/May-2018/Why-Christians-need-to-lighten-up-about-smoking

So Hard To Do - But Surely The Best Advice Ever!

Disaster For Karius: Triumph For Bale.

Two mighty bloopers by their keeper, Karius, along with the terrible loss of leading scorer, Salah, conspired to ensure that Liverpool met inevitable defeat in Kiev in the Champions League Final.
What was disaster for Karius was joy for Gareth Bale with an excellent strike as well as one of the greatest goals ever seen on a TV screen. His overhead kick was stunning - if you haven't seen it yet - make sure that you do!
Real Madrid (my former team when I lived right on their doorstep) 3, Scousers 0.

EIGHT Consecutive Sessions Lost By England At Lords.

I write as England plummet towards ignominious defeat - six down and 68 runs behind.
This has been nothing less than a huge disgrace.
England have lost every session played and this game will surely end on Day Three.
The England batsmen have been pathetic.
The experienced bowlers have bowled like a pub team.
The fielding has been poor.
Intelligence has been lacking on every level.
The captaincy has not been up to the expected standards.
Apart from these five trivial items - everything else has been fine!

PATHETIC! Embarrassing. 

End of play: BUT - well done to Bess and Buttler for putting on a stand of 125 and giving England an improbable reprieve from defeat by an innings.
The situation still leaves England in a losing position - but warm thoughts burst through as two batsmen showed some discipline.
Sadly, I suspect that the new ball will find out the batsmen 7 & 8 tomorrow!
(Finally, England win a session.)

Note Well: GOD WILL NOT OVERLOOK UNFORGIVEN SIN!

God doesn't want us to feel better about ourselves, but to have a realistic view of how sinful we really are. If we could see how undone and wretched our heart is without Jesus, we would understand the dire circumstances we will face for all eternity. Jesus is coming back soon to judge an unrepentant world. The reason many people don't repent and ask for forgiveness is that they are unaware of their true condition before a Holy God. Unfortunately, many people are being led astray by churches and leaders who are presenting a different Jesus.

The Jesus being presented in many churches today is different because He is not the One we find in the Bible. The popular Jesus being presented is the one who fills churches to the rafters with fans and not disciples. People are following a genie in a bottle that will grant them all of their hopes and dreams. He is a Hallmark card version of Jesus who is willing to overlook sin and just be a good friend to pal around with. He never makes us feel bad or consider ourselves less than number one.

Obviously, the Jesus that is being widely presented isn't the real Jesus, but people are following a counterfeit anyway. Many are being lulled into spiritual apathy by self-esteem seminars masquerading as biblical sermons. So-called worship songs that play upon our felt needs instead of focussing on God are everywhere now.

Many of our modern churches focus on self-improvement instead of dying to self. This is works based nonsense and basically, the same thing practiced among many pseudo-Christian cults including Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormonism. The logic is if you work hard enough and be good enough, you can earn eternal life.

Instead of lovingly warning people about fleeing the wrath to come, we decide we know a better approach. We attempt to woo people into the Christian life by presenting its features and benefits much like a good salesman. This isn't the biblical model of how to present the gospel and it is certainly not the way to make disciples.

If we are to present the real Jesus and the gospel, then we need to stop watering down what He said about Himself and eternity. I understand it might not fill churches or be popular in our seeker-sensitive environment, but presenting the real Jesus will produce fruit and bring God glory.

Some will call this article unloving or fear-mongering. We throw around phrases such as fire & brimstone preaching at anyone who would rock the boat of spiritual apathy and make us feel uncomfortable. In all biblical reality, it is a loving thing to warn people about the holiness of God, coming judgment, and repentance if our motives are pure.

It is a certainty that Jesus is a gentle Shepherd who is merciful, kind, and loving. But it's wrong to put people at ease who are in eternal danger. Getting them plugged into a church, a small group, and fellowship is a good thing. Doing so without preaching the gospel to them is an eternal tragedy waiting to happen.

The local church's main purpose isn't to help people improve their financial planning skills, have a better marriage, or to get them connected into activities galore for the whole family. What people desperately need is to hear the gospel to come to the end of themselves and be truly born again. We don't want to present a different Jesus who is a cosmic genie who caters to our felt needs and desires.

How do we begin to present the real Jesus? We must begin by presenting the need for Him through the gospel. I often engage people about their thoughts on eternity and what they think about life after death. Most people believe they are good enough to go to heaven. When people realize their goodness is worthless before a holy God, some will understand the absolute need for Jesus. John 14:6

Trouble begins when seeker-sensitive hirelings who are not shepherds water down the gospel. They present a different Jesus and this is a deception plaguing many churches today. These preachers may want to improve their image, popularity, or ministry numbers, so they make coming to Jesus about life enhancement, not dying to oneself. Some people will attend these churches for years and think they are fine only to hear Jesus say, "I never knew you, depart from Me."

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

I am just one of a growing number of Bible teachers who see the direction many churches, especially in the West are going. Jesus never promised it would be easy to be a disciple. But the good life is exactly what many teachers are selling. We need to be concerned with quality, not quantity in our soul winning and discipleship. Jesus said many hard things when He preached to crowds and many went away dismayed on multiple occasions. He once asked His disciples, "Do you want to go away as well?" Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:67-69

I feel the uneasy tension when I speak to people about heaven, hell, eternity, sin, and repentance. The Lord never promised it would be easy to be His disciple but he promised to be with us always and give us the words to say when we testify about Him. It's my deep desire and prayer for each of us to renew our commitment to speak the truth, with love as the motive and do it with boldness as the Holy Spirit directs us. While many are compromising and presenting a different Jesus, I pray the faithful remnant will continue to make Him known.

Howard Green leads Concerning The Times, a Bible teaching and evangelistic ministry whose primary focus is proclaiming the gospel to the lost and exhorting believers through End Time Bible prophecy.

Job 1:21.

A Silly Article: Lammy Brings It All On Himself By Rejecting Democracy.

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/what-the-hounding-of-david-lammy-says-about-race-in-the-uk/129374.htm

Healthy Diet?

Dealing With Death.

https://www.christianpost.com/voice/how-to-deal-with-death-of-people-you-love-greg-laurie.html

Where To Find Evil.

Second Day At Lords Not That Much Better Than The First.

England made a dramatic improvement on the second day of the Lords Test - they soared upwards from dire to markedly below average.
With the exception of Ben Stokes, the bowlers lacked penetration and the catching was poor. Pakistan have tackled the simple things well in this match and clearly have already done enough to be worthy of a win.
An eleven with only 45 caps across the entire team have out-played and out-thought England for SIX sessions.
On Day Two, the England bowlers pursued a better length but were still nowhere near as intelligent in their efforts as had been the visiting bowlers on Day One.
It really is little use for England when their best ever pair of strike bowlers waste the new ball in the first innings of every test - something which they have done on a regular basis now over a number of series against a variety of opposition!
If England continue in this fashion, already trailing by 166 on first innings, a humiliating innings defeat could even be on the cards.
Normally, I would be rooting for England to try hard to save the test but, in this match, I want to see Pakistan triumph to teach this bunch of muffins (yet another) lesson!
Why does this young Pakistani outfit seemingly want to win more than do their England counterparts?

Worth a read:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/44260102