In 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court determined in its 8-1 decision in Flast v. Cohen that a citizen can have standing against a law he or she believes is unconstitutional merely on the basis of being a taxpayer.

Liberal activist groups have, for years since, attempted to use this narrowly defined provision of standing—largely unsuccessfully—in attempts to get federal courts to overturn state laws they don’t like. Such was the case earlier this year when North Carolina’s religious liberty exemption for magistrate judges who do not wish to perform same-sex “marriages” was heard by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The court once again, however, determined the LGBT activists who filed the lawsuit against that part of Senate Bill 2, otherwise known as the “North Carolina bathroom bill,” which has since become law in the Tar Heel State. The opinion stated:

The outcome here is in no way a comment on same-sex marriage as a matter of social policy. The case before us is far more technical—whether plaintiffs, simply by virtue of their status as state taxpayers, have alleged a personal, particularized injury for the purposes of Article III standing. Based on a century of Supreme Court precedent, we conclude that they have not.

As detailed above, this case presents one of the most problematic terrains for finding standing—either under general rules or the Flast exception. The classic conception of an injury-in-fact is missing. So too are essential ingredients of a Flast claim like a specific legislative appropriation and the subsidy of a sectarian entity.

Article III’s case-or-controversy limitation ensures that federal courts respect “the proper—and properly limited—role of the courts in a democratic society” … “In an era of frequent litigation, class actions, sweeping injunctions with prospective effect and continuing jurisdiction to enforce judicial remedies, courts must be more careful to insist on the formal rules of standing, not less so” … This case is no exception.

While it was not a full-throated endorsement of the magistrates’ religious liberty, the 4th Circuit’s decision did reinforce that federal courts will not delve deeply into state issues without good cause to do so. Liberty Counsel, which represented several of the magistrates in the case, issued the following statement after learning of the court’s decision:

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals handed North Carolina magistrates a huge victory by ruling that the plaintiffs who opposed their religious liberty opt out of same-sex “marriage” lacked standing to challenge the law.

Liberty Counsel represented, among others, Magistrate Brenda Bumgarner, who has an excellent record during her 10 years of service as a magistrate, and who sought a religious opt out of performing “marriages” for same-sex couples. Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief that argued that SB 2 is not only constitutionally permissible but actually required for magistrates and judges. SB 2 states: “Every magistrate has the right to recuse from performing all lawful marriages under this Chapter based upon any sincerely held religious objection.”

In 2015, Liberty Counsel filed suit on behalf of magistrates seeking accommodation for their religious convictions regarding same-sex “marriage.” The state house and senate passed SB 2 granting an accommodation, and both houses later overrode the governor’s veto. Liberty Counsel dismissed its suit, but then the new law was challenged by those who want to force magistrates to violate their religious convictions and consciences.

“We celebrate this victory for North Carolina magistrates who have the constitutional right to follow their conscience and rights to free exercise without fear of punishment,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “The LGBT agenda seeks to steamroll over the conscience of everyone, including those who serve in the court system who believe in natural marriage. We were proud to defend Magistrate Brenda Bumgarner and others in this case as it sets a precedent and has an effect on all judges and their sincerely held religious beliefs,” said Staver.

It is unlikely the Supreme Court will take up the activists’ case, given the high hurdle they would have to climb to prove the circuit court erred in its decision. {eoa}

In this message, we will show you how people will gravitate toward a location where there is a true anointing and power to set men free and bring liberty and freedom. We will share with you about the three groups of people that became David’s army and how you and I are qualified, regardless of our dysfunction. For the entire message, watch the video below:

{eoa}

Ricky Scaparo is a former pastor and founder of the international ministry End Time Headlines. This ministry has exploded over the past few years, attracting hundreds of thousands of followers and subscribers via the website () and social media streams. Ricky provides resources to equip believers and to inform the discerning of the signs and seasons in which we live. His mission is to inform his readers and viewers of prophetic events and how they are unfolding before our very eyes through news and headlines presented from a prophetic perspective in light of the holy Bible. This ministry is also an outreach ministry that presents the gospel to the lost through preaching and teaching of the Word of God.

This article originally appeared at .

They appeared to be angelic beings with metal detectors searching for treasure on the beaches of the earth. What seemed to be washed up upon the shores of life through storms and spiritual shipwrecks, disregarded by many, was now in great demand in heaven.

Much treasure was buried in the sands of beaches upon the earth. As angels began to dig deeper in the sand, an outline began to form of what appeared to be a large treasure: a form in the image and likeness of God appeared just beneath the sand—a human being!

Angels began reporting to heaven that many who were made in the very image of God had actually buried themselves and had died spiritually, trying to find rest and relaxation in the pleasures of the shifting quicksands of life. But Jesus now appeared, walking on the waters along these shorelines of the nations. The waters were being anointed.

‘Kings and Queens of the Earth Were Meant to Live in Castles’

As these “angelic beachcombers” continued to dig many of these lost treasures free, the grains of sands beneath them began to cry out the sweetest word ever heard upon this earth: “Repent!”

The grains of sand seemed to speak this word with so much love, as no human voice had ever spoken to these treasures before. In fact, one angel wrote with its finger across the beaches the word “repent,” and then built a heart-shaped sandcastle around it as heaven proclaimed, “Kings and queens of the earth were meant to live in castles. Return to Me!”

True “R & R” was coming to these worn, broken lives as they began being kissed by the Son of Righteousness rising upon them with healing in His wings. Sweet repentance and restoration was invading the beaches and shorelines of nations! Lost wedding rings were being restored to fingers. Great financial needs began to be met supernaturally from the mouth of a fish. Jonahs began to get up one more time from when they had fallen down and began to shake the sandman from their sleep!

‘Comb the Beaches, Mountains, Valleys, Cities … and My Own House’

I then heard the Father commanding these angelic beachcombers, “Begin on the beaches of the earth and then begin to move inland, combing the mountains and the valleys, the cities; and don’t miss combing through My own house to search and bring forth many of My treasures who have buried themselves in their own church traditions and are locked up inside those church walls. Compel them to go out now into the highways, the byways, the cities and the beaches and pick up the spoil that lies waiting.”

I’ll see you at the beach. {eoa}

Bill Yount has been a member of Bridge of Life in Hagerstown, Maryland, for the past 36 years where he is now an elder and a home missionary. He is currently an adviser-at-large for Aglow International. Bill faithfully served in prison ministry at Mount Hope for 23 years and now travels full-time, both in the U.S. and internationally, ministering in churches and Aglow circles. “Humility and humor” characterize his ministry as he brings forth a fresh word that is “in season,” proclaiming the word of the Lord. The shofar (or ram’s horn) is often used in his meetings, breaking the powers of darkness over regions, churches and households. The shofar represents God’s breath blowing into the nostrils of His people, reviving them and awakening the lost. Many of God’s messages, which Bill ministers prophetically, come out of his everyday life with his family and friends. Please visit Bill’s website at .

Francis Chan is known for his authentic vulnerability.

And that’s exactly what he gave Facebook employees when speaking to them recently. The author and former megachurch pastor was at the headquarters preaching about how to get to heaven from Silicon Valley.

“Please God, please can we experience you?” Chan prays over audience members, some with their heads bowed and others restless.

Immediately, Chan opened with an impression from the Holy Spirit.

“This is going to be really weird, but I feel like I’m supposed to read this letter in my Bible,” Chan says. “And maybe it’s for one of you.” 

Chan’s daughter penned the note, which tells the preacher and author he’s done well.

It was the catalyst for a profound gospel message.

“I came here today going, ‘God, OK, I don’t want to come with arrogance. I want to come like a child,'” Chan says he prayed before speaking with them.

“I’m not going to come as an order, but just to tell you there’s a God out there. There’s someone who determines whether we walk out of this room. Does that do anything to you? Does that humble you at all?”

He continues: “For some of you, man, there’s a status working here. You’re cooler than your friends. There’s something there. You know you’ve felt it. There’s something about it that’s harder … it’s like you’re at a disadvantage. You know, that’s why when that rich man, you know, Jesus is walking with that rich young ruler, and Jesus says, ‘Just sell everything and give it to the poor,’ and the guy goes away sad, and Jesus goes, ‘Oooh, It is so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven,” Chan tells the employees, whose average salary hovers just over $140,000 annually. “It was just like Jesus feeling sorry for the guy.”

Watch the video to see it in full. {eoa}

Former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has never been the biggest cheerleader for President Donald Trump, that is until this past weekend.

With Democrats, their accomplices in the liberal mainstream media and weak-kneed Republicans wringing their hands over the president’s latest controversial tweet, the founder of the GOP’s “liberty movement” shared an article Sunday written by Chris Rossini of the Ron Paul Liberty Report. In it, the author has some pretty simple advice for the president: Keep tweeting.

Rossini wrote, in part:

For a little more than 100 years, all aspects of the political establishment have crafted a he-man known as the American president. He wears a nice suit and tie, is well-spoken, kisses babies, talks about compassion. He looks and acts very “presidential” …

And now Donald Trump comes along as president and starts firing off one tweet after another. The new president is completely off-script!

Trump’s speech, demeanor, attitude and persona are nothing like the deified president that the political classes have created for America.

Unfortunately, Trump’s not contributing to liberty from a policy perspective. His policies have been pure establishment, but we’ll take the tweets nevertheless.

Trump is showing the world that the American president is really just a human being after all. He appeals to and acts like the man on the street.

Is the illusion of the presidency broken?

Probably not. Beliefs take a while to change.

But keep tweeting, President Trump.

Keep smashing the government religion. {eoa}

Click here to read the entire article. {eoa}

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a week-long “trial run” Sunday, allowing members of Knesset (MKs) to ascend the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This reverses an October 2015 decision made during a wave of stabbing attacks against Israelis and was intended to prevent Arab riots in response to Jewish visits to the Mount.

Sunday’s decision followed a petition to the High Court of Justice by MK Yehuda Glick, a longtime activist fighting for Jewish prayer rights at the site, to have the decision reversed. On Sunday, Glick called the latest move “correct and praiseworthy” but expressed sorrow that it took a court case to force Netanyahu’s hand.

“We will continue to wish that the Mount will fill its purpose to become a world center for peace and reconciliation,” Glick stated.

Glick also called on MKs to avoid politicizing the Mount. “I call on all MKs to visit the Temple Mount and to give honor to the site in a dignified way. (We must) leave our disagreements and our agenda,” he said in a statement.

Notably, Arab MKs had routinely ignored the ban on Israeli lawmakers.

“Our entry into the al-Aqsa Mosque as Arab MKs and as Muslims was never, and will never be, dependent on a decision of the Israeli government or the Prime Minister of Israel,” said Knesset members representing the Islamic Movement in Israel in a statement. “Al-Aqsa Mosque is our holy space, as Muslims, and we are the only ones who have the right to visit the site and to pray there.”

“[The Temple Mount] is occupied Palestinian territory. The Israeli government must leave the area. We will continue to exercise our rights to enter and pray at al-Aqsa, without waiting for an OK from the prime minister of Israel,” they added.

Glick, executive director of Haliba, the initiative for Jewish freedom on the Temple Mount, and chairman of the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation, was shot in the chest almost three years ago after delivering a speech at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, advocating equal rights for Jews on Judaism’s holiest site. He survived the assassination attempt, albeit after multiple surgeries and weeks of hospital care.

Several months later, in the wake of a traffic accident that killed eight Israeli Bedouin women traveling to the Mount, Glick called for a joint Jewish-Muslim prayer session on the site.

Netanyahu announced at the end of March that he would reconsider the ban after the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and four-day Eid al-Fitr holiday, which ended last week. The trial period will run July 23-28.

The Temple Mount is Judaism’s holiest site and third-holiest to Muslims. {eoa}

This article originally appeared at .

Every 20 seconds, a child somewhere across the globe prays to put his or her faith in Jesus while participating in The Greatest Journey, a global children’s discipleship program that is spreading like wildfire. In a time when roughly six in 10 church leaders in the U.S. feel that churches are not discipling well, The Greatest Journey is providing a model for effectively helping children become faithful followers of Jesus.

“We are witnessing astounding results as children learn to tell their families and communities about God’s love. More than 70 percent of children who graduate from the program are actively praying and sharing their faith with others,” said Randy Riddle, domestic director of Operation Christmas Child.

Since 2010, more than 11 million children have participated in The Greatest Journey, which is offered by local church groups around the world to children who receive Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.

Each year, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, distributes shoebox gifts filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys to children in need in more than 100 countries. At shoebox outreach events, local Christians share the Gospel, inviting children to trust in Jesus. Then boys and girls receive a surprise that may be their first gift ever—a tangible expression of God’s love. After they receive shoebox gifts, many children also participate in The Greatest Journey, a 12-lesson discipleship program offered through the local church. Through this course, which includes Bible stories and Scripture memorization, they learn how to follow Christ in their daily lives as they share Him with friends and family.

Melvin, age 11, was one of 30 children who enrolled in the program after receiving a shoebox gift on the island of Vanua Levu in Fiji. During lesson one, the pastor spoke about the creation of the world, highlighting that man was made in God’s image. Melvin was so moved by the teaching that he accepted Jesus Christ at the end of that lesson.

“My life changed completely,” said Melvin, who immediately began to tell his family and friends what he was learning during the program. He drew pictures on pages of The Greatest Journey and posted them on the wall in his home for his grandparents and siblings to see.

During the course of the Bible study, Melvin’s grandfather, a witch doctor, became sick and was unable to leave his room for a month. He asked Melvin to call his pastor to come and pray for him, and said, “Just tell him to bring that Jesus with him. I want to know that Jesus.”

Word quickly spread through the village that the witch doctor had become a Christian and was completely healed. Parents and siblings of The Greatest Journey students wanted to learn about Jesus, too, so they sat in on the class. When the course ended, villagers asked the pastor to continue his six-hour walks to their village every week to teach them. He agreed, and a Bible study formed when Melvin’s grandmother and three other members of the community became believers.

Today, more than 80 villagers regularly attend services in their new church building. The children continue to share their faith with others, and five additional churches have been started in surrounding villages.

“Operation Christmas Child is about so much more than a shoebox. It is a tangible expression of God’s love that starts children on a journey to understanding the greatest gift of all: Jesus,” said Riddle. “Once a child becomes a Christian, discipleship is essential for learning how to trust God, serve Him and tell others about Jesus.

“There is huge potential for exponential gospel impact through The Greatest Journey, and we have seen entire communities like Melvin’s be changed. One of the 12 lessons encourages children to share the gospel with at least three friends. If every child who has enrolled in the program did this, more than 33 million children would have heard the Good News!”

To find out more about Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey discipleship program, visit . {eoa}

President Donald Trump stepped into the controversy surrounding the treatment of British infant Charlie Gard by suggesting in a tweet Monday morning he supports bringing the child to the U.S. to receive potentially life-saving treatment not available in his home country.

“If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so,” he tweeted.

Charlie suffers from a rare and typically fatal degenerative brain disease, Infantile Onset Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome. His parents have raised $1.6 million to bring him to the U.S., where he could receive an experimental treatment. The UK’s National Health System, however, has been determined to prevent them from doing so, even going so far as to order his life support cut off.

Last week, the European Court of Human Rights determined the NHS was correct to do so.

The Vatican originally sided with the government, but later Pope Francis issued his own countermanding statement:

“The Holy Father is following with affection and emotion the situation of Charlie Gard and expresses his closeness to the parents. He prays for them, wishing that their desire to accompany and care for their own child to the end will be respected.”

So far, the U.K. government has not changed its position on banning Charlie and his family from leaving the country. The entire situation, however, is a tragic reminder of what is at stake in the current debate in Congress over health care and health insurance.

Under a single-payer system as has been implemented in the U.K. and advocated in the U.S. by the likes of Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., cases like Charlie’s will sadly become much more common in our own country. {eoa}

Joy Behar may not understand the ins and outs of the legal battles surrounding gay wedding cakes, but she certainly claimed to know how Jesus would handle such situations.

On Friday, the co-hosts of The View welcomed Colorado baker Jack Phillips and Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner to discuss their case, which the Supreme Court will hear next term.

When Charles Craig and David Mullins sought to purchase a custom cake for their wedding, Phillips respectfully declined to bake it. In addition to not baking Halloween, adult-themed or anti-American creations, the faithful Christian also made it a personal policy to avoid baking for gay weddings. That conscientious decision landed him in hot water.

For the attorneys representing the gay couple, discrimination stands at the center of the case. But as Waggoner told the ladies of The View, freedom of expression is the real issue at stake.

“The same laws that force Jack to design custom expression will force you to speak messages that you don’t want to speak,” Waggoner told Behar.

That argument didn’t really sink in. When several hosts continued to press the point of “judgment,” Phillips explained himself.

“I’m not judging these two gay men that came in,” he clarified. “I’m just trying to preserve my right as an artist to decide which artistic endeavors I’m going to do and which ones I’m not.”

“Did you ever ask yourself what would Jesus do in this particular situation?” Paula Faris asked Phillips. “Instead of denying them, do you think maybe Jesus would have said I don’t accept this but I’m going to love you anyways?”

When the baker responded that he did not think Jesus would have made the cake because it contradicted his teaching, Behar cut in: “You don’t? Oh come on. Jesus would have made the cake.”

As Phillips tried to explain himself, Behar continued to insist loudly: “Jesus, that’s a deal-breaker. Jesus is going to make the cake.”

Even while facing a barrage of other questions from the co-hosts, the soft-spoken baker stuck to his message.

“I serve everybody all the time,” he stressed. “But I don’t make every cake for every event.”

Waggoner tried to put the case in perspective, using the language of “dignity.”

“Have Jack talk about what it means for him to bake that cake and to violate his conscience and the dignity harm he has had to sustain as a result,” she challenged. “As well as what he goes through when he makes the cake. It’s a canvas he’s painting on. His heart and soul is going into that.”

If the government can mandate artistic expression, Waggoner stressed, “the state could crush every single one of us.” That applies to the fashion designers who have stated they will not dress the Trump family, as well as the florists, photographers and bakers like Phillips who have conscientiously declined to lend their services to gay weddings. {eoa}

This article originally appeared on .

Megan Johnson received a heart transplant at the age of 23. The next year, she married a Christian musician named Nathan Johnson and moved to Nashville.

Last week, she gave birth to a girl named Eilee Kate. She and her husband were ecstatic, posting pictures of their baby online. Later that morning, Megan died. The cause of her death has not yet been determined.

Josh Wilson, leader of the Christian band in which Nathan plays, told reporters: “We have grieved in hope, but we believe Meg is with Jesus, and one day we will be too, so that is how we grieve with hope.” He started a GoFundMe account to help Nathan with expenses and give him some time at home.

As of this morning, the fund has raised $401,500.

On the eve of our nation’s Independence Day, there are many reasons why I am thankful for the United States of America. Our historic commitment to religious liberty, our passion for individual freedom and our natural beauty and resources are gifts to Americans and the world.

But I am especially grateful for the benevolence of our people.

On the World Giving Index, the U.S. ranks only behind Myanmar in generosity. Americans gave $373 billion to charity in 2015, the highest amount in world history. Such generosity is the consistent teaching of Scripture:

•    “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay what he has given” (Prov. 19:17).
•    “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7b).
•    “He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor” (Prov. 22:9).
•    “A good man shows generous favor, and lends; he will guide his affairs with justice” (Ps. 112:5).
•    “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none. And he who has food, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11).
•    “Therefore, everything you would like men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).

Generosity is the best way to express our continued belief that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

There are many ways to celebrate our nation; parades and flag-waving, parties and fireworks will be on display in communities large and small. But your next act of kindness will endure long after the parades are over and the flags are stored.

Theodore Roosevelt noted, “This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” After we sing “God Bless America,” let’s bless Americans to the glory of God. {eoa}