Israel leads the world in technological advances that make the world a better place.

From a device called the “Nano Artificial Nose,” which sniffs out cancer, to technology that gives sight to the blind and a contraption called the “ReWalk” exoskeleton that allows paraplegics to walk again, Israel leads the world in medical innovation. Every day, millions around the world use some kind of medical treatment that came from Israel.

Israeli entrepreneurs and scientists are also pioneers in agriculture and invented techniques that allowed the tiny nation to turn rocky desert landscapes into lush orchards and mosquito-infested swamps into citrus groves. And Israel has exported those techniques to the rest of the world.

In his new book, Thou Shalt Innovate: How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World, Israeli author and Middle East expert Avi Jorisch profiles wondrous Israeli innovations that are changing the lives of billions of people around the globe and explores why Israeli innovators of all faiths feel compelled to make the world better. {eoa}

Copyright The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

On April 28, 2011, Mark Taylor—a recently retired firefighter—woke at 2 a.m. Unable to return to sleep, he turned on his TV. Clicking through channels, he stopped at C-Span. The man on his screen was Donald Trump.

At that moment Mark heard God say, “You are hearing the voice of the next president.” Little did Mark know several dozen video recordings of others documented that they also heard the same message and were equally convinced it came from God.

Years later, while receiving treatments for post-traumatic stress—remnants from his work as a firefighter—Mark’s therapist, Dr. Don Colbert, an expert in the treatment of PTS, asked permission to share Mark’s unusual journal entry with his wife, an international ministry networker, Mary Colbert. Mary immediately recognized the rhythm and cadence of the April 28 journal entry as a message that was very important and special.

After seeking counsel and much prayer, Mary created the Nation Builders prayer network, which grew organically to hundreds of thousands of Christians uniting in prayer for our nation and its leadership.

Mark and Mary eventually co-wrote a book chronicling his remarkable journey from his stressful work as a firefighter, through the evening election night, 2016. Part of that book is the basis for The Trump Prophecy, a film focusing on the power of prayer and the biblical mandate to pray for those in authority over us.

Rick Eldridge, CEO of ReelWorks Studios, is the film’s producer. “I was given the book by a friend who asked me to consider meeting with Mary and Mark to discuss the potential of making this story into a feature film. After I read it, I took the idea to my team and we decided to option Mark’s story,” says Rick.

“Things came together quickly, and our production timeline began to take shape. We shot in Lynchburg, Virginia—working with several faculty and upper-class film students from Liberty University’s film department in a mentoring capacity with our professional film crew. The experience with students shadowing various departments of the production created an energy and learning environment that was unique and rewarding for all involved.”

“As I now share about the film, people are immediately curious about the title,” Rick adds. “I get a lot of passionate responses. As they listen further, they become compelled by Mark’s prophecy and Mary’s call to action. This film is for the Christian audience, but it is also for anyone who believes—even a little bit—in the power of prayer, and the heritage of our great country.”

The Trump Prophecy tells the story of the power of prayer set against the backdrop of the everyday trials facing a simple man of faith—a dedicated career public servant whom God chose to give a special message of hope for our nation. This story encourages all Americans to pray for our country and our leadership as a scriptural mandate.

The film encourages viewers that through the power of prayer, acceptance of biblical principles and adherence to America’s five founding ideals, equality, rights, liberty, opportunity and democracy, that as “one nation under God,” we each can each make a positive impact on the world around us.

“if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

The Trump Prophecy will come to movie theaters nationwide on October 2 and 4 through Fathom Events, the leading event cinema distributor. Tickets will be available on Friday, June 1, 2018 here: thetrumpprophecymovie.com

A Chilean man who suffered clerical sexual abuse has said Pope Francis told him in a private conversation that God had made him gay and loved him that way, according to the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

The Vatican declined to comment on the report but, if confirmed, it would be a striking statement of tolerance towards homosexuality, which the Church has condemned as an immoral disorder if it is actively practiced.

In an interview published on Sunday, abuse victim Juan Carlos Cruz told El Pais that Pope Francis had told him during a meeting this month: “The fact that you are gay does not matter.”

Cruz said Francis had also told him: “God made you this way and loves you this way, and it doesn’t matter to me. The pope loves you this way, you must be happy the way you are.”

Cruz was one of three Chilean victims who were invited by the pope to Rome this month in the wake of a scandal in Chile over priestly sexual abuse and efforts by the Church hierarchy there to hush it up.

After attending a crisis meeting with Francis about the cover-up last week, all of Chile’s bishops offered to resign.

Since his election in 2013, the pope has dramatically shifted the language the Church has used about homosexuality, which was once seen as a taboo subject.

“If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?” he said on his first overseas trip in 2013. In 2016, he said had ministered to people with unfulfilled homosexual tendencies as well as homosexuals who were not able to remain chaste, as the Church asks them to.

“When a person arrives before Jesus, Jesus certainly will not say: ‘Go away because you are homosexual’,” he said.

Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict, wrote in 2005 that homosexuality was “a strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil.” {eoa}

© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.

One of the first people shot during the Las Vegas shooting massacre has reunited with the retired firefighter who saved her.

Las Vegas resident Rosemarie Melanson wouldn’t be alive today had it not been for her the “guardian angel” who got her to safety on October 1 when a gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest music festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

Melanson—a mother of four—was attending the country music festival with two of her daughters. The tickets were a Mother’s Day gift from her eldest daughter, Stephanie Melanson. {eoa}

Click here to read the rest of this story from our content partners at Faithwire.

The news of the day doesn’t have to leave you feeling hopeless and angry. Sign up for the Faithwire Newsletter for encouraging stories delivered right to your inbox.

There is such a parallel between the days of Elijah and our modern day. Israel was governed by Ahab, who was dominated by Jezebel. She was the power behind the throne and the proponent of Baal and Asherah. Idolatry, immorality, murder, hatred and conspiracy reigned in the heart of Israel’s governing duo. The nation, established by Jehovah, was now bowing to the god of Jezebel. The breach between God and His people had reached its greatest divide.

While there seems to be no hope of Israel returning to Jehovah, there arises an “unknown” man. Unknown to Ahab and Jezebel; unknown to the media of that time; unknown to the Israelites, but not unknown to God. Bursting on the scene in the midst of the declination is Elijah, whose name means “My God is Jehovah”. There is no introduction, no warm and friendly politically correct verbiage… just his “right to the point” declaration, “”As the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand, there will not be dew or rain these years except by my word” (1 Kings 17:1b).

Note the words, “Before whom I stand.” We stand before God when we pray. He had lived a life standing before God. It was his secret life of praying that enabled him to be clothed with such power and authority. His position “in front of God” placed him in front of the king. And when he said, “no dew or rain these years,” there was no rain or dew beginning that very day. Elijah had such a burden on his heart to see his nation return to Jehovah that he was willing to stand alone in the gap. He was willing to take a bold stand for God in a day of mediocrity and compromise, even if it cost him his life.

History is repeating itself as we see the same system playing out in our society today. Our government is corrupt; we are serving false gods; our land is filled with bloodshed; idolatry is embraced; our churches have faded into the background taking a neutral position; many Christians are more politically correct than biblically correct; we are calling good evil and evil good; people are doing what is right in their own eyes; we have lost our way because we are in the dark; we have strayed from our Founding Fathers’ standards of upholding the Bible and prayer and declaring Jesus Christ as the Lord over America.

Now is the time for Elijah to arise! Who is Elijah of today? Not one, but a remnant of people who will declare, “As the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand.” This remnant is not afraid to be bold and take a stand against the evil that prevails. This remnant does not care about pleasing the masses but obeying God and fulfilling His commands. This remnant cares so deeply for the nation that its members are willing to be ridiculed and persecuted for the sake of revival.

Let Elijah arise. The time for revival is now! {eoa}

Sharon Bolan Yerby’s evangelistic and prophetic calling has impacted multitudes around the world. Her message emphasizes the kingdom of God, the crucified life and the person and power of the Holy Spirit. With over 17 years in ministry, she continues to herald the uncompromising gospel of Jesus Christ with passionate pursuit through healing crusades, radio and television. The vision for her life and ministry is Philippians 3:10-14.

With pornography use reaching its height during summer months, churches are being called to provide a program to disciple their men on sexual integrity.

Research has shown that early summer brings a peak in porn searches on the internet. While the reason for this is unclear, with 68 percent of men in the church viewing pornography on a regular basis, it is likely that these men are being exposed to more triggers in the summer months. As the weather warms up, people dress in Summer clothing. For someone who struggles with pornography, this can act as a subconscious trigger that leads them into a downward spiral to going online and acting out. Some other possible explanations are that people have more time on their hands or are around family, which could bring up childhood triggers.

We live in a free society where we don’t dictate what people wear, but there are thousands of men in desperate need of accountability and discipleship so that they can respond to these triggers in a healthy way.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul says: “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, and He will not permit you to be tempted above what you can endure, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

If you’ve ever struggled in this area, you’ve probably been looking for that way out and wondering, Why haven’t I found it yet?

Over 500,000 men in over 70 countries have started their journey to freedom through the Conquer Series, a powerful six-DVD cinematic study.

ORDER NOW at

The summer months are typically a time when churches wind down the classes that they offer due to lower attendance, but director of the Conquer Series, Jeremy Wiles, is urging churches to run the Conquer Series as a way for men to find support.

“Men find it hard at the best of times to fight this battle alone. In the summer months, it is impossible, yet that is when most churches have no programs to help men in this area,” says Wiles.

Larry Tormey leads the Conquer Series at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Placid in Florida and will be running it this Summer.

“We have been using the Conquer Series for over a year, showing this to hundreds of men. It has been not only a godsend for these men but for me personally,” says Tormey.

Will you help the men at your church this summer and run the Conquer Series?

Visit to order the Conquer Series today.

{eoa}

Leading clergymen representing 106 congregations across North Central Ohio held a press conference at the Richland County Courthouse calling for a restoration of religious freedom and an end to judicial tyranny.

Standing outside the very courthouse where a poster with the words of the Ten Commandments was ordered taken down by a federal judge in 2001, five pastors stood together on Friday with a 90-pound depiction of the Ten Commandments on prominent display.

The clergymen released an open letter sent to Ohio Congressional members and state lawmakers sounding the alarm over federal court injunctions that silence voters and judicial prejudice directed against citizens of faith.

Reverend J.C. Church, leading pastor of Victory in Truth Ministries and a director with the Family Research Council asked, “Why have a legislature when one elected judge can strike down any law that does not fit his political agenda? Unaccountable judges in the federal court system have suppressed the voices of freedom in our nation- starting with people of religious conviction. Judicial supremacy has ultimately created a culture of dictatorship.”

The clergy letter boldly declared “Absent of any constitutionality, these 600 unelected bureaucrats are silencing voters by establishing their own court opinions as law of the land, and micromanaging public policy against the will of the governed. “

One example the clergy letter cited was a recent case in March 2018 when unelected Federal Court Judge Timothy Black struck down an Ohio law passed by 84 elected state officials prohibiting abortion of unborn babies with Down syndrome. Black stated that the court opinion Roe v. Wade was actually the law of the land and could not be rescinded.

The clergy pointed out that Black should have recused himself since he was a former Director of Planned Parenthood, writing “We do not excuse Judge Black’s conflict of interest, and we believe Judge Black’s politically-biased arguments justifying the taking of life are unbecoming for a federal judge and hold no merit.”

Reverend Aaron Rose of Fusion Community Church called Timothy Black’s opinion “a gross overreach of the judiciary, coming from somebody with obvious political bias.”

Rose shared how he and his wife have raised their 10-year-old son Kaleb, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

“After Kaleb was born, geneticists said our baby would have diminished quality of life and that we would grieve our child as if losing our son; I was shell-shocked that those were the first words that exited his mouth.

“My son will be 11 years old this Christmas, and he is a healthy child. He is here today because he is normal—he will do anything to miss school. Kaleb sings almost every morning at the top of his lungs. He hugs you when you are sad, and he hugs when you are happy. His favorite gift to receive is potato chips and Hershey chocolate. This is what we would have missed if Kaleb had not entered this world.”

Rose went on to say, “No one told us these things because they are not the science of Down syndrome, but they are the truth of Down syndrome. Today, I stand not just for my son but for the voiceless who may never be given a chance to breathe air. Our quality of life as a family has increased ten-fold because of our son. I would not change one thing about my son Kaleb.”

As the clergymen publicly read the correspondence, Reverend John Bouquet of Bethel Baptist, Reverend DeWayne Smith of Main Street Methodist and Reverend El Akuchie of the Richland Community Prayer Network quoted Bible verses from Psalms 94:20-22 about wicked rulers devising evil by law and Isaiah regarding the restoration of righteous judges.

The clergy believe that reliance on the Ten Commandments as a social compact for a multicultural nation can unify the country and reduce the need for a federal judiciary.

Constitutional truths listed in the letter for the legislators to ponder included that federal judges do not serve for life but only during good behavior and only serve “from time to time” as Congress “ordains and establishes.” Also noted was the fact that the term “separation of church and state” does not exist in the Constitution.

Several dignitaries attending the press conference included Judge James DeWeese, County Commissioner Marilyn John, Chief Civil Assistant County Prosecutor Andrew Keller and Tammie Puff, regional director representing Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. {eoa}

Benjamin Mutti is a coordinator with the Richland Community Prayer Network based in Richland County, Ohio and is a faith-based advocate for the advancement of family values within culture.

Evangelists from around the world and various Spirit-empowered denominations and ministries gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa, to launch the Empowered21 Global Evangelist Alliance (GEA), chaired by Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, president and CEO of Christ for All Nations.

“The purpose of this very influential group of evangelists in coming together is key for the success of the movement,” said Dr. Billy Wilson, global co-chair of Empowered21 and president of Oral Roberts University. “Our heart mission is that every person on earth would have an encounter with the Holy Spirit by the year 2033. To do that we must have massive collaboration and integration with evangelists from all sectors of the Spirit-empowered world.”

“The Spirit-empowered community is the fastest growing segment in the Christian faith,” Kolenda stated. “The Global Evangelist Alliance is designed to bring evangelists together to connect, strategize and identify key influencers from this anointed segment of ministry. Together, we can connect with the broader Christian world and reach the lost for Christ”

Kolenda gave a report on the formation of the GEA to the Empowered21 Global Council when it met earlier this week in Johannesburg. He stated that, in order to accomplish the year 2033 goal, “Evangelists will have to be involved in a big, big way … I interact with thousands of evangelists, and they need a platform. Establishment of this alliance places the gifts of the evangelist within the movement.”

On Wednesday, Kolenda met with a group of nearly two dozen evangelists in Johannesburg to officially launch the Alliance. It is one of four initiatives under the covering of Empowered21, including Next Gen, Discipleship and a Scholars Consultation, which also met earlier this week. Progress reports on all four initiatives were presented to the Council.

Attending the Johannesburg gathering were Vlad Agapov, Pulse Movement; Mac Barnes Jr., Precious Pearl, Inc.; Russell Benson, Christ for All Nations; Steven Booysen, Christ for All Nations; Brian Brennt, YWAM Circuit Riders; Andy Byrd, YWAM Circuit Riders; Stephan Christiansen, Jesus Revolution; Ben Fitzgerald, Awakening Europe; Daniella Friedzon-McCabe, Kink of Kings Church, Argentina; Mikel French, Mikel French Ministries; Teo Hayashi, Circuit Riders; Jeri Hill, Steve Hill Ministries; Tim Innes, Luis Palau Association; Daniel King, Soul Winners Alliance; Daniel Kolenda, Christ for All Nations; Michael Koulianos, Jesus Image; Ron and Katie Luce, Teen Mania; Ron Maddux, Assembly of God World Missions; Nathan Morris, Shake the Nations Ministries; Joe Oden, Joe Oden Ministries; Ladonna Osborn, Osborn Ministries International; Christopher Overstreet, Bethel Redding; Ta Ralekholela, Gospel Fire Ministries; Donna Schambach, R.W. Schambach Foundation; Levi Stewart, Christ for All Nations; Jean-Luc Trachsel, Europe Shall Be Saved; Mattheus van der Steen, Mission and Revival; Marina Mariane Vilela, Iris Global and Todd White, Lifestyle Christianity

On Thursday, thousands of delegates from more than a dozen African nations and other countries from around the world took part in the first full day of the 2018 E21 Africa Congress. A morning session featured speakers Fakhry Hanna and Frank Chikane, with a keynote message from Niko Njotorahardjo, senior pastor of the 250,000-member Gereja Bethel Church in Indonesia. George Wood and Cindy Jacobs closed out the second half of the morning session. The afternoon was filled with a variety of track speakers leading sessions on a variety of topics including evangelism, business and children’s ministry. The evening general session featured a keynote message from Daniel Kolenda followed by an extended time of prayer for miracles and healings.

The Department of Justice has asked its inspector general to investigate possible infiltration into Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

The president demanded the investigation because he believes the FBI did more than monitor his staff for possible Russian influence. He wants to know if the Obama administration used the bureau to spy on him and his campaign.

President Trump tweeted up a storm over the weekend, writing, “I hereby demand that the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump campaign for political purposes—and if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama administration.”

The president’s tweets were in response to articles appearing in The Washington Post and The New York Times reporting that the FBI used an informant—a retired American professor living in the United Kingdom—to pass on information he learned while advising the campaign.

Hours later, the Justice Department announced it asked its inspector general to look into the matter. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said if anyone did infiltrate the Trump campaign, the DOJ would need to know about it and then take action.

US Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee, doesn’t believe the FBI had a spy in the Trump campaign:

“This claim by the president and the suggestion by Giuliani that there is a political spy embedded in the Trump campaign is nonsense and you hear it in the same terms that Trump often speaks which is ‘people are saying,’ or ‘I’m hearing,’ or ‘we’re being told,’ he said. “That’s another way of saying, ‘This is patently untrue, but we’d like to spread it anyway.'”

President Trump has criticized the FBI and Department of Justice for months. He commented on Fox News last April saying, “You look at the corruption at the top of the FBI—it’s a disgrace. And our Justice Department which I try to stay away from, but at some point, I won’t.”

On Fox News Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, expressed concerns about fake and unverified information used by the DOJ as evidence to obtain foreign intelligence surveillance warrants.

“I want to make sure that the FBI and the Department of Justice did not try to—in their own way try to change the outcome of the election. Did they use techniques and tactics approved by the court, or did they just make this up themselves?’ Graham asked.

And as President Trump asked for an investigation, one of his lawyers Rudy Guiliani, said Special Counsel Robert Mueller told him he may wrap up the Russian Collusion investigation—at least the president’s part of it by September 1.

All may depend on the president and if he’ll agree to a possible interview with Mueller.{eoa}

Reprinted with permission from . Copyright The Christian Broadcasting Network, all rights reserved.

Maybe it’s a matter of timing. Maybe I’m not giving this a fair shake. But whenever I happen to tune in to CNN, there’s a panel of talking heads discussing President Trump and the porn star. Or President Trump and the Mueller investigation. Or President Trump and whether he’ll be impeached.

As for President Trump and Jerusalem. Or President Trump and Saudi Arabia. Or President Trump and Iran. Or President Trump and North Korea. Or President Trump and the American economy. Or President Trump and pro-life legislation. Or President Trump and national security—or whatever the major topic is – I almost never hear CNN talking about it.

As for CNN talking about a subject that didn’t mention Trump at all, I can’t remember the last time I witnessed that personally.

Now, I want to be totally honest. I watch very little TV news, so my sampling is quite small.

I get almost all my news reading online, and in that regard, my sampling is quite large.

Perhaps, if I sampled Fox News on TV the same way, I would get similarly skewed results, just in a different direction.

Again, I’m asking a question here rather than claiming scientific accuracy.

Still, I have to wonder: Is CNN giving even the slightest pretense to being fair and balanced? Is there even a modicum of desire to say, “We are not just here to slam the president”?

The fact is, although my sampling is small, it’s somewhat representative. That’s because the TVs in our home are programmed to start with CNN. (I’m not sure who set it up like that, but we’ve never changed it.)

So, when I want to watch some sports (perhaps while eating dinner at night when Nancy is not with me, or while winding down a little between writing projects), the first thing I see and hear is CNN.

The times of day can vary. The days of the week can vary. But one thing never varies.

I mean day after day. Week after week. Broadcast after broadcast. CNN anchor or talking head panel.

They’re breathlessly discussing President Trump and the latest alleged scandal. They’re examining the newest dirt in fine detail. They’re talking about chaos and upheaval and crisis. They’re talking about Trump melting down. Things are really bad, and they’re getting worse by the moment.

Watching CNN, you’re surprised when you hear the president under a single sane word. I thought he was out of his mind!

Watching CNN, you’re shocked to see that his administration survived another day. And you can hardly believe that Trump and Melania are still together.

Through the lens of CNN, the White House sky seems to be falling multiple times a day, as crisis after crisis comes crashing down. At least that’s how CNN’s reporting sounds in my ears.

So, again I ask, is it just me? Are my impressions simply the result of my poorly-timed, too-short, random sampling?

I don’t watch much TV in general, so maybe that’s the problem. Maybe I’m not giving CNN a fair shake.

On the other hand, what are the chances of my random sampling being so skewed?

As for CNN reporting on Trump’s major accomplishments, those can only be reported in the negative. He acted hastily. It was all for political gain. This is about Trump, not helping others. He’s making a total mess of things.

There is nothing good about the man or his administration. Nothing praiseworthy. Nothing positive. Not one thing.

And every day, aside from a major news headline—like another tragic school shooting—the big news is not the world news. The big news is the latest scandalous accusation against the president. At least that’s the big news according to CNN.

So is it just me? Am I tuning in at the wrong times or not watching for long enough periods? Or does CNN suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome?