https://www.christiantoday.com/news/400-girls-missing-thanks-to-sex-selective-abortions
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
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Well Done Franklin.
Franklin Graham accuses Dem lawmakers of selling their souls, bashes support for males in women's sports.
hampionships at Blodgett Pool on February 19, 2022, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. | Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
Evangelist Franklin Graham has accused Democrats in Washington of selling their souls for power, speaking out against lawmakers who urged the U.S. Supreme Court to allow male trans-identified athletes to participate in sports designated for females.
On Monday, Graham, the son of late evangelist Billy Graham and head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, posted on social media in response to 130 Democratic members of Congress (including nine senators) joining an amicus brief in the cases of Little vs. Hecox and West Virginia vs. BPJ cases.
The Democrats argued that state policies, such as those in West Virginia and Idaho, that categorically prohibit male trans-identified individuals from competing in female-only athletic contests “are the improper tool to address participation in youth sports teams,” citing concerns related to “privacy, safety, health and rights of the American people.”
“If you believe men should be allowed in women’s bathrooms and to undress in your daughter’s or granddaughter’s locker room, then you should vote Democrat,” Graham wrote in his Monday Facebook post, referencing the November brief. “Over 130 Democrats in the House and Senate signed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to support biological males in women’s sports. This is sick. If it turns your stomach, beware.”
Graham, who also heads the Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse and offered prayers at both of President Donald Trump’s inaugurations, said that although he doesn’t identify as a Republican, it appears “most Democrats in Washington are buying into these lies.”
“With many, it’s not about what is right or wrong, it’s about power — and they will sell their souls for power,” Graham wrote. “I’m not a Republican or a Democrat — no party has my loyalty. I’m going to vote for the platform that best supports American and Biblical values.”
“Men in women’s sports and restrooms is perverted,” Graham, 73, continued. “Pray that God will guide the hearts of the Supreme Court justices to do the right thing as they deliberate this issue in just a couple of weeks.”
In July, justices from the nation’s highest court agreed to hear oral arguments centered on legal challenges to laws passed in Idaho and West Virginia. Both laws were blocked by federal appeals courts.
Around two dozen states have enacted laws and policies in recent years that prohibit male athletes who self-identify as female from competing in girls' scholastic sports, citing concerns over fairness.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls stated in an August 2024 report that as of March 2024, "over 600 female athletes in more than 400 competitions have lost more than 890 medals in 29 different sports" because of males competing in women's sports.
Since returning to the White House in January, the Trump administration has taken steps to demand public schools and systems designate sports participation based on biological sex rather than gender self-identification.
Amid government pressure, the National Collegiate Athletics Association enacted a new policy in February that bars trans-identified male athletes from competing in women's sports.
The policy change comes after the NCAA had allowed male trans-identified athletes to compete in some sanctioned competitions. University of Pennsylvania swimmer Will (Lia) Thomas gained significant media attention when competing on the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team after three seasons on the men's team. Thomas won the national championship in the 500-meter freestyle in March 2022.
In July, the U.S. Department of Education reached an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania after accusing the school of violating Title IX non-discrimination policies by allowing Thomas to compete as a woman. As part of the agreement, the school will strip Thomas of his medals and apologize to female swimmers forced to compete against him.
In October, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act and discriminated against a trans-identified athlete by not letting him compete in its women's division. The organization contends that it didn’t discriminate because the athlete went through puberty as a male.
"According to unrebutted scientific research, males have up to a 64 percent strength advantage in powerlifting, and suppressing testosterone only reduces the advantage by about 10 percent," Larry Maile, past president of USA Powerlifting, wrote in a statement responding to the ruling. "The difference in outcomes makes it fundamentally unfair for a male-to-female transgender powerlifter to compete in the women's division." CP.
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The Symbolism In The Christ's Birth.
7 symbolic details we often miss about Jesus’ birth.
(Photo: Getty/iStock)When we think of Christmas, the nativity scene usually comes to mind. And most of us can picture the scene instantly — Mary and Joseph, a manger, shepherds, angels, and a bright star overhead. Maybe you even played one of the characters as a child. It’s a story we know so well that we sometimes overlook the depth, beauty, and unexpected details woven into it.
Yet the birth of Jesus is full of quiet surprises. Layered beneath the familiar narrative are cultural, historical, and theological details that reveal just how intentional God was in sending His Son into the world.
Here are seven often-missed details in the Nativity story — each one adding new richness to our understanding of Christmas.
1. The First Christmas Was Not Silent or Calm
We all know the beloved carol “Silent Night.” It paints a serene picture of Jesus’ birth — but the reality was far messier. Mary gave birth during a census, in a crowded town, likely surrounded by noise, smells, and feeling exhausted (Luke 2:1-7). It was a scene marked by vulnerability, scarcity, and yet remarkable faith (Luke 1:38; Matthew 1:24). Jesus’ humble entrance into the world foreshadowed the shape of His life and, ultimately, His sacrificial death on the cross (2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6-8; Luke 9:58). More than that, it reveals the way God so often chooses to meet us — not in polished perfection, but right in the middle of our ordinary, chaotic lives.
2. Bethlehem Was More Than a Location — It Was Symbolic
Many people in Jesus’ day expected the Messiah to be born in a place of prominence and power — somewhere like Jerusalem, the centre of worship and kingship. Bethlehem, small and seemingly insignificant, did not match the expectations shaped by their understanding of the promises of the major prophets such as Isaiah (9:6-7) and Jeremiah (23:5).
However, Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem wasn’t chosen at random. It pointed both backward to God’s promises and forward to His mission. The prophecy of being born at Bethlehem was actually mentioned in Micah 5:2 (Matthew 2:4-6). It was also the city of David — the birthplace of the shepherd-king (1 Samuel 17:12; Acts 13:23). So, by being born there, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy and signalled His identity as the true and eternal King from David’s line (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Luke 1:32-33).
Not only that, but Bethlehem also means “House of Bread.” This is an astonishing connection for the One who would later say, “I am the Bread of Life”- the true eternal nourishment, sustenance and redemption that our souls desperately long for (John 6:35, 51).
3. A Manger Was Not a Cute Prop
The manger is often romanticised in nativity sets, but in reality, it was a stone or wooden feeding trough for animals.
Placing Jesus in a manger was far more than an incidental detail in the Nativity story (Luke 2:7, 12, 16). It highlighted His profound humility, for the King of Kings entered the world not in a cradle of gold but in an animal’s feeding trough — a place associated with poverty, simplicity, and vulnerability (2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6-8). It also pointed toward His mission – again, for the One who would later call Himself the Bread of Life was laid in the very spot where creatures came to eat (John 6:35, 51).
In this surprising setting, God was already revealing glimpses of who Jesus was and what He would do (Luke 2:11).
4. Shepherds Weren’t the Cosy Characters We Imagine
In many Christmas plays, shepherds appear as gentle, cosy characters, but in the first century their lives were far less romantic. Shepherds were typically poor, hard-working labourers who spent long hours outdoors, often at night, tending animals in rough conditions. Their work meant they were frequently ceremonially unclean and unable to participate regularly in the religious life of the community.
Although shepherding had honoured roots in Israel’s history — from King David (1 Samuel 16:11) to the imagery of God as a shepherd (Psalm 23:1) — everyday shepherds in Jesus’ time still lived on the edges of society, sometimes carrying stereotypes of being unreliable or rough around the edges.
Yet these were the people God chose as the first witnesses of Christ’s birth. The angel didn’t appear to priests, scholars, or rulers, but to ordinary labourers on a hillside (Luke 2:8-12). Luke’s Gospel emphasises this on purpose: from the very beginning, God reveals that the good news of Jesus is for the humble, the overlooked, and those who rarely find themselves at the centre of society’s attention (Luke 4:18; 1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
5. The Gifts of the Magi: A Portrait of Who Jesus Is
The gifts brought by the Magi (Matthew 2:11) were also rich in meaning, each pointing to a different aspect of Jesus’ identity and mission.
Gold, a gift fit for royalty, acknowledged Jesus as King — not only of Israel, but of all creation (Matthew 2:2; Luke 1:32-33; Revelation 19:16; Colossians 1:15-17).
Frankincense, used in worship and priestly rituals, pointed to Jesus’ priesthood (Exodus 30:34-38; Leviticus 2:1-2). In the Old Testament, priests acted as mediators between God and humanity, and Jesus would become the ultimate High Priest — the true bridge between heaven and earth (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 7:24-27).
The final gift, myrrh, was used in burial preparations, quietly foreshadowing Jesus’ suffering and death (John 19:39-40). Even at His birth, the shadow of the cross was present — yet so was the promise of resurrection.
Taken together, the gifts proclaim Jesus as King, Priest, and Saviour: the One who would reign, intercede, suffer, and ultimately redeem the world (Luke 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:3).
6. The Angels Announced Peace — but Not the Way People Expected
When the angels proclaimed, “peace on earth,” the Jewish people imagined the longed for political peace — freedom from Roman rule (Luke 2:14; Luke 24:1). But the peace Jesus brought was deeper and more transformative.
It was peace between God and humanity, restoring a relationship broken by sin (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:19-20). It was peace within the human heart, bringing comfort, wholeness and freedom from fear (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7). And it was peace that grows through forgiveness and reconciliation, transforming communities and relationships from the inside out (Ephesians 2:14-17; Colossians 3:13-15).
The angels weren’t announcing the end of political tension but proclaiming the beginning of a new kingdom — one that would change the world by transforming hearts first (Luke 17:20-21).
7. The Nativity Scene Is a Collision of Heaven and Earth
We often picture the Nativity as a small, simple moment, but it is actually an extraordinary collision of the divine and the human.
Angels filled the night sky with glory (Luke 2:9, 13-14). Shepherds abandoned their flocks in awe (Luke 2:15-16). Heaven burst into a forgotten corner of the world (Luke 2:8; Micah 5:2) And God Himself took on flesh in the most unlikely circumstances (John 1:14).
The Nativity is far more than a sweet or sentimental scene — it is supernatural, disruptive, and utterly world-changing.
Final Thoughts: Why These Details Matter
When we slow down and pay attention to the details we often overlook, the Nativity becomes even more astonishing.
In it we meet a God who fulfils ancient promises with remarkable precision, chooses humility over grandeur, steps willingly into human vulnerability, reveals His kingdom first to the lowly and open-hearted, and values the overlooked.
Christmas is far more than the story of Jesus’ birth — it is the declaration that God draws near in the most unexpected ways.
So, dear reader, may these details renew your wonder and help you see the Christmas story with fresh eyes this year.
Pastor Stabbed.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/okla-pastor-recovering-from-stab-wounds-after-attack-at-church.html
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Question: What do you do when your pastor embraces gender ideology? - Debra Baty,
Err ... move to a Christian Church!
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This Surprised Me - But I Do Like The Sound of It.
Almost half of UK adults planned to attend church this Christmas, new poll finds.
Festive decorations at Worcester Cathedral's Christmas Tree Festival in 2024. (Photo: Getty/iStock)Churches across the UK are expecting fuller pews this Christmas, as new research suggests a significant rise in the number of people planning to attend services and church-run events over the festive season.
A nationwide poll conducted by Savanta for Christian relief and development agency Tearfund found that 45% of UK adults intend to visit a church for a Christmas service or event. CT.
He First Came At Christmas.
The Coming of Zion’s King:
9) Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Can Western 'Civilisation' Be Salvaged?
https://mail.aol.com/d/list/referrer=newMail&folders=1&accountIds=1&listFilter=NEWMAIL/messages/AABMjWtSNmKBbL4QnMX8kXpZg8O
Monday, December 29, 2025
Please Do Not Forget Leah.
Nigerian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu still captive 7 years later: When will the horrors end?
Relatives of schoolgirl Leah Sharibu abducted by Boko Haram Islamists hold a banner to press for her release during an event to mark her 16th birthday and two years in captivity at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, on May 14, 2019. - Leah Sharibu was among over 100 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Dapchi, northeast Nigeria on February 19, 2018. But while schoolmates had been freed, she was held back for refusing to denounce her religion. | KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images
Later this month, my daughter Veronica turns 14. As she and I debate whether to celebrate with just family or her school friends, my thoughts turn to another girl who was 14 when her world shattered. Her name is Leah Sharibu, and she has now spent more than seven years in captivity, held by the Boko Haram since February 19, 2018.
Leah was kidnapped along with 109 other schoolgirls from their school in Dapchi, Nigeria. While most girls were returned, five were killed. Her captors kept Leah because she refused to renounce her Christian faith, threatening to hold her as a slave for life.
The contrast between my daughter's life and Leah's could not be starker. While Veronica debates birthday celebrations in safety and freedom, Leah has endured unspeakable horrors. As U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom Commissioners Maureen Ferguson and Dr. Asif Mahmood noted in a recent commentary, there are indications that Leah is still alive, though she most certainly has suffered unimaginable abuse. As for her family, “Leah's parents pray daily and light candles on her birthday each year in the hope that she will be reunited with them someday.”
As a mother, I cannot fathom the anguish of Leah's parents. They sent their daughter to school — a normal, hopeful act — and have spent more than 2,600 days not knowing what suffering she endures or if they will ever embrace her again. Every birthday, every holiday, every ordinary day carries the crushing weight of her absence.
Leah's story is tragically not unique. Thousands of Christians have been killed for their faith in Nigeria. In April, more than 200 Christians were massacred in attacks on villages in Plateau and Benue states during Lent and Easter, some as they worshiped. According to Open Doors, “Nigeria is the country with the largest number of faith-related kidnappings in the world.” During the group’s 2024 Watch List reporting period, at least 3,300 people were kidnapped in the country. “Women who are abducted face death, slavery (sexual and physical) and forced marriage.”
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This systematic violence has created a crisis that demands international attention and action. For too long, the persecution of Nigerian Christians existed in the shadows, acknowledged by human rights advocates but largely ignored by those with the power to intervene meaningfully.
That is why President Trump's recent actions represent a powerful turning point. On October 31, 2025, President Trump announced the redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act. And on November 5, he declared: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.” He concluded powerfully: “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
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This designation reverses the Biden administration's 2021 removal of Nigeria from the list and reinstates the designation Trump had issued in December 2020 during his first term. The label identifies nations where governments engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom, potentially leading to targeted U.S. sanctions, aid restrictions, and diplomatic pressure.
Dede Laugesen, president and CEO of Save the Persecuted Christians, has expressed gratitude for President Trump's commitment, noting that her organization has been advocating for Nigerian Christians since 2018. She emphasized: “Christian hostages, like Leah Sharibu, must be rescued.”
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Because we are called to be our brother’s — and sister’s — keeper, we cannot allow partisan divisions to blind us to suffering or prevent us from acknowledging when leaders take courageous stands for the voiceless. Whatever our political differences may be on other matters, we must unite in gratitude when any president becomes a leading voice for persecuted Christians like Leah Sharibu. Our faith demands more than political support, however. It demands prayer — fervent, persistent, sacrificial prayer. The situation in Nigeria and other hot spots of persecution is dire and the need is urgent.
Every parent, especially mothers who understand the fierce love we bear for our children, can make the persecuted Christians of Nigeria a daily intention. When you tuck your children safely into bed, pray for Leah and the thousands still held captive. When you celebrate birthdays, remember the mothers in Nigeria who mark another year of their children's absence or death. When you worry about the ordinary trials of raising teenagers, offer those worries up for parents who face the extraordinary trial of their child’s abduction and enslavement.
And pray that one day soon, Leah Sharibu will be reunited with her family and friends — free to worship as she chooses, free to pursue her dreams, free to celebrate birthdays with those who love her. That is the future she deserves. That is the future we must pray and work for with all our strength.
Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is the Executive Director of the Conscience Project. CP.
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Iran.
A shameful shrug for momentous events in Iran The terrible fact is that 'conscience' in the West has become harnessed to absolute ev...
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Franklin Graham preached in Glasgow, launches new fund to defend religious freedom in the UK. Staff writer Franklin Graham preaching at ...
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8729962/Quango-bosses-double-their-pay.html Good work, 'Dave'!
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