Interesting Voice From Former Gay.

 https://www.christiantoday.com/article/an.ex.gay.on.how.christians.can.engage.effectively.with.the.lbgt.question/142564.htm

Birdie.

 

Genesis 9:6.

“Whoever sheds human blood,

by humans shall their blood be shed;

for in the image of God
has God made mankind.

I Must Agree.

Sigh.

Christians in Iran face longer prison sentences.

Staff writer  24 January 2025.

Iran is cracking down on Christians with harsher prison sentences, Christian groups have warned. 

It reveals that the length of prison sentences increased sixfold in 2024 compared to 2023, with 96 Christians being sentenced to a total of 263 years. CT.

Deep State.

What is the 'deep state' and should we be worried?

Heather Tomlinson  19 January 2025.

We live in a time when conspiracy theories abound. Two words often used in these narratives are the 'deep state', a powerful, unelected and unaccountable group of government officials. But unlike many conspiracies, it is widely acknowledged that it does exist. What varies is whether it is considered to exist for the good of a country, or for ill.

Definitions of the term vary. It can mean anything from officious, controlling civil servants such as those portrayed in the ever relevant British comedy 'Yes Minister', to sinister networks controlling governments against the wishes of the people.

The secretive nature of the latter means that an ordinary person cannot know the extent to which they exist in real life or just in the imagination of conspiracy theorists.

In the US there is about to be a president who believes that the bureaucracy seeks to work against him, and that it should go. Donald Trump has said that he plans to "dismantle the deep state and reclaim our democracy from Washington corruption" using a series of measures that will allow him to fire civil servants and supposedly improve accountability of intelligence services.

"Faceless bureaucrats will never again be able to persecute conservatives, Christians or the left's political enemies," he said.  CT.

Pastor Lorenzo Freed.

Pastor Lorenzo: Free! On 17 January 2025, Pastor Lorenzo was released from prison! This incredible news came as the result of negotiations to release 553 political prisoners between Cuba, the Vatican and the administration of US President Joe Biden. We were fortunate enough to receive a video from Pastor Lorenzo’s family of the exact moment he stepped out of the prison gates and was reunited with his wife, daughter and son. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of sustained advocacy and prayer, which we all have been undertaking since his arrest in July 2021. You signed petitions, wrote letters to Members of Parliament, and protested with us outside the Cuban Embassy in London. Countless prayers were prayed and words of encouragement were sent to the family throughout that time. Thank you!

Prayer Please.

 Please pray for: David and Sue, Pat, Pat, Steve and family, Sylvia, Brenda, Ray, Daniel, Paul, Jamie-Lee, Peter, Charlotte and friend, Margaret and daughter, the family of Chris who went to be with the Lord this week, Lesley, Steve, Janet, Janet and Sue.

Many thanks. Blessings.

Murder in Colombia.

Colombian Christians call for government action after church leader assassinated.

David Goodwin  20 January 2025 | 8:44 AM

(Photo: Getty/iStock)

The assassination of a Protestant Christian leader in northern Colombia on 8 January has reignited demands for the Colombian government to reverse its controversial 2023 amendment of security legislation that stripped protections from religious leaders.

The drive-by shooting of 28-year-old Iván García, a church leader and preacher, as he and six other people—including his 14-year-old stepdaughter—walked along a rural, unlit road, occurred after they had left a spiritual celebration at the People of God Christian Vision Church where his wife, Pastor Karen Nierles, had been leading a Bible study.

Two gunmen on a motorcycle pulled up beside the group, dismounting to open fire on García, hitting him six times, including twice in the head. The gunmen then fled the scene on their bike, leaving behind an injured woman with a bullet in her arm.

Pastor Nierles, García's wife of six months, said that his active involvement in their church, the New Rebirth in Christ Church in the village of Garital, had helped drive its rapid growth, which took its congregation from seven to thirty committed members.

Speaking to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a human rights organisation working to defend freedom of religion and belief, Pastor Nierles said García had renounced violence after leaving behind his life as a member of an illegal armed group to return to his Christian faith.

Pastor Yimys Peñalosa, leader of the denomination Pastor Nierles' church belongs to, told CSW that around a month ago the couple heard two gunshots as they were leaving Mr García's place of work, but didn't believe the act was specifically aimed at them. Saying her husband had never mentioned receiving any threats or warnings in the lead-up to the attack, she revealed that he had instead shared how unafraid he was to serve God.

"A few days ago, he told me that he was not afraid to teach the Bible, that he had a new life," she said. "He told me 'For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain'."

The Director of Advocacy for CSW, Anna Lee Stangl, said this killing was the second premeditated assassination of a Protestant Christian leader in northern Colombia in the space of two weeks, raising concerns that religious leaders are being deliberately targeted.

"CSW grieves with the family and church community of Iván García," she said.

"Mr García had made a decision, despite the risks, to separate himself from an illegal armed group because of his religious beliefs and it is unacceptable that he might have been made to pay for that choice with his life."

Ms Stangl said there were disturbing similarities to a 29 December attack, when gunmen opened fire on Pastor Marlon Lora, his wife Yurlay Rincon, son Santiago, and his adult daughter Ángela as they sat eating lunch in a restaurant after a Sunday morning church service in Aguachica, Cesar Department. The only one not killed at the scene was Santiago, but he was left in a critical condition and died in hospital a few days later.

"The nature of the attack on Mr García, like the massacre two weeks ago of Pastor Marlon Lora and his entire family, indicate that these are premeditated, targeted assassinations," said Ms Stangl.

She blames the Colombian government's decision to amend Decree 1066, a legal instrument governing the security measures that high-risk individuals, communities, and organisations are entitled to. Removing religious leaders as a protected category has left them vulnerable to violence targeting them over religious activities carried out as part of their positions," she said.

"Religious leaders have long been a target of illegal armed and criminal groups for many reasons, including the role many of them take up as peacemakers and their willingness to use their influence in their communities to encourage others to reject participation in violent and criminal activities," Ms Stangl said.

"A full investigation into both sets of murders must take place and those responsible must be held to account."

Birdie.

 

The Long Road To War.

 This two-parter is an astonishing revelation of the truth about World War One and how it all began. I recommend watching it asap. It can often be found on PBS.                

Countless leftist historians have falsified what brought about The Great War and in so doing shifted a tremendous amount of the merited blame away from Germany and Austria who had planned it from as far back as the 19th Century. It was all about the Kaiser's plans for substantial imperial gains. It relied on pillorying the individual Balkan nations later known as Yugoslavia.

All involved knew the truth at the time but by the early 1920s the revisionism had already begun.

I remember being indoctrinated as a teenager by 'A' level ENGLISH teachers into the 'Oh What A Lovely War' view that this war was 'almost accidental' and was because of the nation state. 

Majoring on the poetry of Sassoon and cronies, many lies were entertained. Not the least of these was that WW1 British Generals - from chateaux 40 miles behind the lines - military incompetents were wickedly shedding young blood for the fun of it.

The fact that England lost 78 Generals killed on the front lines gives the lie to this.

Shifting the blame from Germany was perhaps one reason why the allies did not react when Hitler began rearming Germany - largely forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Another reason was that The League of Nations was dripping wet and utterly incompetent.

Weakness was one of the prime factors of why WW2 came about.

This documentary is straight down the line and tells the whole truth. We need the truth - otherwise, hard left manipulators sell us a pup - and a pretty dangerous one at that.

Yes.

 

When Democratically Elected Governments Then Ignore The People - This Is The Inevitable, Worrying Outcome.

 Gen Z doubts about democracy laid bare in ‘worrying’ survey.

Most young people are in favour of turning the UK into a dictatorship, according to a “deeply worrying” study, which has revealed an acceptance of authoritarianism and radicalism among Generation Z. Fifty-two per cent of Gen Z — people aged between 13 and 27 — said they thought “the UK would be a better place if a...

Gen Z doubts about democracy laid bare in ‘worrying’ survey Alex Farber, Media Correspondent More than half believe the UK should be a dictatorship and there’s a stark gender divide over equality, research...

Times.

Now THERE'S A Question!

 The number of illegal immigrants could be way more than the recently reported figures. According to the doctor’s union – the British Medical Association – there are 63.7million patients registered with GPs in England alone.

But the most recent ONS estimate of England’s population is just 57.1 million. 

So who are the extra
6.6 million patients?

GPs get paid on average £165 per patient, so that’s over £1 billion extra cost 

to the NHS & taxpayers.

This of course doesn’t include the enormous cost of the drugs and treatments

 that they receive free. There are only two plausible explanations for this 

discrepancy in the numbers. Either there is a huge amount of fraud taking 

place or the level of illegal immigration is far higher than estimated. I know

 which my money is on.

The number of illegal immigrants could be way more than the recently 

reported figures. According to the doctor’s union – the British Medical 

Association – there are 63.7million patients registered with GPs in England

 alone.

But the most recent ONS estimate of England’s population is just 57.1 million.

 So who are the extra 6.6 million patients?

GPs get paid on average £165 per patient, so that’s over £1 billion

 extra cost to the NHS & taxpayers.

This of course doesn’t include the enormous cost of the drugs 

and treatments that they receive free. There are only two plausible 

explanations for this discrepancy in the numbers. Either there is a 

huge amount of fraud taking place or the level of illegal immigration

is far higher than estimated. I know which my money is on.

Express.

Goliath's Height.

But just how big was this biblical giant in reality?

Although it might seem strange, scientists say there was nothing supernatural about Goliath's towering stature.

Archaeologists have found the remains of other 'giants' dating back as far as 2700 BC. DM.

Labour's Knife Plan Is Doomed To Fail!

 Okay. Stopping the sale of swords, kukris etc would make some minute difference but Labour are not even doing a fraction of what is needed. How many people do not have sharp knives in their kitchen drawers?

Every person carrying a 'stabbing knife' on their person must receive a guaranteed term in custody - right down to the age twelve. It is called deterrence and is a good plan.

My solution would be to turn the clock back and take a much cheaper option and reintroduce corporal punishment such as in virtually crime-free nations like Singapore!

A great way to empty expensive gaols.

How come liberals view this as being worse than stabbings on the streets? It makes no logical sense.

As a nation, we have opted for murders and mutilations as being preferable to punishments sufficiently threatening to be effective.

Are we insane?

Vibe Shift? Huh?

What is the 'vibe shift' – and what does it mean for the Church?

Heather Tomlinson  25 January 2025.

(Photo: Getty/iStock)

There is much talk about a significant change in the culture of the West that is happening at present, dubbed a 'vibe shift', which could become very significant for the church and for Christians in the months and years to come.

For many years, the echelons of power of the West have seemed to be firmly set in the same ideology – secular, liberal, and increasingly left wing – and opposed to Christianity. This has permeated all the mainstream media, political and government organisations, academia, and other parts of the establishment. They are perceived to be hostile to people who have more socially conservative positions – witness for example, the ostracisation of author JK Rowling for expressing a 'gender critical' opinion – which is the belief that biological sex matters, and that women's spaces must be reserved for those with XX chromosomes. Many university campuses and other powerful organisations

But there are some signs that this ideology, often called 'woke', may be on the wane, and with it the associated beliefs that encourage hostile battles between demographic groups, and progressive ideas about sex, family and gender.

Evidence of a swing to the 'right' both politically, and towards Christianity, come from many sources – though increasingly the terms 'right' and 'left' are deemed insufficient to describe our turbulent and confusing public politics.

The strongest evidence of a political shift is the resounding triumph for Trump in the US elections, despite the years of outright hysteria and hatred that were directed towards the property tycoon via all means of establishment power such as academia and the media. There is also more support for 'populist' right wing parties in Europe.

Evidence of a change in stance towards the Christian faith includes the public conversion of former Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali and other influential commentators such as ex-Navy Seal and podcaster Shawn Ryan, controversial commentator Russell Brand, and the wife and daughter of Jordan Peterson, if not the man himself just yet. Reading between the lines of the work of other high profile commentators, there are other converts who are not yet discussing their beliefs publicly.

The strongest evidence of a political shift is the resounding triumph for Trump in the US elections, despite the years of outright hysteria and hatred that were directed towards the property tycoon via all means of establishment power such as academia and the media. There is also more support for 'populist' right wing parties in Europe.

Evidence of a change in stance towards the Christian faith includes the public conversion of former Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali and other influential commentators such as ex-Navy Seal and podcaster Shawn Ryan, controversial commentator Russell Brand, and the wife and daughter of Jordan Peterson, if not the man himself just yet. Reading between the lines of the work of other high profile commentators, there are other converts who are not yet discussing their beliefs publicly.

But the latter appears to be becoming more socially acceptable. In his last inauguration ceremony, organisers struggled to find an artist who would perform. The fact that singer Carrie Underwood agreed to sing "America the Beautiful" this year was described as a "total vibe shift" by The Free Press.

Further evidence of a rejection of "woke" ideas includes the recent announcement by Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg that his many social media companies – including Facebook and Instagram – will stop censoring posts about "topics like immigration and gender" that are "out of touch with mainstream discourse".

"It's a trip to hear Zuckerberg use the term 'legacy media'," said conservative Christian commentator Megan Basham on X. "If that's not evidence that the vibe shift is not just political but cultural, nothing is."

Implications for the Church.

If this 'vibe shift' is real and long-lasting, it will lead to a considerable change for the Church, which has long struggled to adjust to living in a hostile culture. It has become used to an establishment that criticises its traditional teaching on marriage and abortion, and openly seeks to celebrate promiscuity, multiple sexualities and genders, among other things.

Many churches have responded to this so-called 'progressive' environment by either adopting these beliefs themselves, or by restricting their discussion of these subjects in order not to offend or deter people from the Church. Members of these congregations might become very confused if the public's ideological stance changes – and may even cling on to liberalism as the 'inclusive' or 'non-judgemental' option for a Christian.

Churches that have held to more conservative and traditional ethics might initially celebrate this 'vibe shift' that is more in line with their beliefs, at least on the surface. But Jesus is not just someone who teaches strict sexual morals, nor is he just a tradition to be upheld. He teaches radical love, generosity, forgiveness, and the complete surrender of self to God and his purposes through the transforming power and love of his resurrection. This is radically different to both progressive 'wokism' and traditional political conservatism. A 'vibe shift' is only spiritually good if it helps people to find genuine surrender, love, trust and faith in Christ.

Heather Tomlinson is a freelance Christian writer.   CT.

Birdie.

 

Do Have A Cheerful Heart.

 

St Mary's, Marylebone.

 https://www.christiantoday.com/article/young.people.explore.vocations.through.innovative.scheme/142587.htm

Where Are All The Similar Marches in The UK.

To GOP: Planned Parenthood is not your friend. Defund it now.  CP.

From Our Serbian Friends.

JANUARY 2025

Dear Friends and Partners, Warm greetings from Serbia. Hope you are enjoying the beginning of this New Year and God’s goodness. Thank you so much for your prayers for us and for all your gifts, donation and regular support. It makes a massive difference in our ministry to shine the Light of the Gospel in central Serbia, in Serbia as a whole and in the Balkan region. Our heart beats for this very unevangelised  area of Europe to be transformed and saved. LOGM Special Offering Day We would love for you to get involved in the Special Offering Day on Sunday 16th February 2025 for the Light of the Gospel Ministries in your churches and for individuals, so that we can build and advance Kingdom of God in this massive mission field.  Why 16th February? Because 15th February is Serbian Statehood Day.  We would love you to take part as churches by taking a special offering for LOGM on that Sunday and as individuals you can donate what you’re able to - £10, £20, £50… It all helps us enormously with Lidija’s scholarship in Missio Dei Bible College, with our work and ministry and reaching out to help the poor and needy. In anticipation of your generosity, thank you very much for everything. God bless you. Sasha & Sara

I Fear That Anti-Semitism (ie RESPECTABLE Racism) Is Back!

Never again? No — again and again.

The Auschwitz commemorations themselves provoked the oldest hatred. Who knew?

Melanie Phillips Jan 28 ∙ Preview

It is now clear beyond doubt that, for a shocking number of people in the west, Jewish suffering has to be airbrushed out of existence while they demonise and punish Jews defending themselves against slaughter.

At yesterday’s events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp, a number of dignitaries made moving and appropriate remarks.

The double standards, however, were nauseating. For some of these leaders, who were voicing heartfelt obsequies about the Jewish victims of the Nazis, are pursuing policies to punish and demonise the Jewish victims of today’s Islamo-Nazis in the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranian regime.

Obscenely, some of the commentary about the day even airbrushed the Jews out of their tragedy in the Holocaust. Worse still was the Auschwitz event in Dublin ,where a Jewish protester was actually dragged out of the meeting because she had turned her back on the Irish president who was using the event not just to politicise the Holocaust but also to demonise the Jews of Israel with a sly but unmistakeable antisemitic trope...

We Shall Now Lose Our Worldwide Reputation Because of This Insanity!

Leading UK Universities Look to Expand Use of Open-Book Exams to Help Grades of Minority Students.

Andrew Holt/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images

Kurt Zindulka

26 Jan 2025

Leading British universities are preparing to lower test standards in a bid to help improve the grades of ethnic minorities and poorer students in a major DEI initiative.

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge are among those preparing to implement “inclusive assessments” such as open-book exams and take-home essays rather than monitored in-person testing in the hopes of cutting the gaps between groups of students, The Telegraph reported.