Miracle Helps Mom Find ‘Honest Answers’ to Life’s Toughest Questions

The coronavirus pandemic has left us all with questions, some new, some old. When is it safe to go out? Can we go back to church? How can I keep my family safe?

And of course, it has also spurred many deeper questions: Why did my friend get sick? Why did my loved one die? Are these the last days?

Dr. Ingrid Faro and her co-author, Janelle Alberts, don’t shy away from hard questions. In fact, they’ve written an entire book about them specifically for parents of middle-grade students: Honest Answers: Exploring God Questions With Your Tween.

Faro, a seminary professor, author and speaker, tells host Marti Pieper on this episode of the Hope for Your Marriage series on Charisma News, “Our heart in working on this book was just realizing the difficult questions that we’re all asked as parents as kids become more and more savvy. … And especially with the fear, and even the trauma that I see in a lot of people with the COVID epidemic, and people being sheltered at home and families being squished together … many hadn’t had dinners together for years. And so all of a sudden, there are so many more opportunities for interaction, but also so many more questions about ‘Where is God in all the things that are happening?'”

Faro sees her book with Albers as an opportunity for parents, youth leaders and “anybody who’s interacting with kids” to have a guide for the hard questions kids ask. And she’s no stranger to hard questions in her own parenting. Years ago, her husband took his life after suffering what she says was “excruciating pain” for nine years.

“Our son was just 11,” Faro says. “I know [my husband] was a believer. I know he’s with Jesus. But it was just such a hard thing for both of us, especially our son, who had just seen his dad suffer. And then also, financially, I trusted the wrong person. I was in business at the time and financially, I lost everything. And so everything just crumbled beneath us.”

Faro shares how these events led her son to conclude God was angry with them. He “went as far in rebellion against God as he could,” even dropping out of school and moving out of their home before he turned 17.

A seminary student at the time, Faro found herself searching for answers and crying out to the Lord. “I remember one time when I just started yelling at God: ‘Where are You? You know, You’re a terrible Father. You’re not helping my son. You’re not helping me,'” she said. “And I felt so guilty about it, but I said, ‘You know what I’m thinking anyway, so now I said it.'”

What Faro learned through that trial, she says, was to go to God with her toughest questions. To hear about the miracle God brought into her life as He answered her son’s questions in a supernatural way, listen to this episode of the Family Matters series on Charisma News here. {eoa}



Defiant California Megachurch Refuses to Close Despite $50,000 in Fines

The pastor of a megachurch in California said this week his church will continue holding in-person services amid the coronavirus pandemic despite facing tens of thousands of dollars in fines from the county for each in-person service.

“They’ve ratcheted this thing up,” he said in a video posted to Facebook Tuesday, revealing his church is facing a total of $52,750 in fines.

North Valley is facing financial penalties for holding in-person services on Sunday mornings and evenings and Wednesday nights. The county has issued additional fines for alleged social distancing violations, which Trieber said is a bogus charge.



California Plans to Soften Penalties for LGBT Sex With Minors

The Democrat-led California General Assembly has OK’d legislation that would ease the criminal punishments for LGBT adults who sodomize or perform oral sex on underage teenagers.

S.B. 145 was introduced by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D), who is openly gay, and was approved by the state Senate in a 23-10 vote and passed by the Assembly in a 41-18 vote, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

If signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), which is likely, the legislation will require judges to use discretion in assigning an individual to the sex offender registry if their victim is between the ages of 14 and 17 and the age difference of the offender and victim is no more than 10 years.

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



‘A New Jesus People Movement’: Revival Hits East Coast

Huge gatherings of people stepped into the light of salvation as a move of God swept parts of the northeastern U.S. last weekend.

Worship leader Sean Feucht and Dr. Charles Karuku with International Outreach Church brought outdoor revival meetings to New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts.

Despite the rainy weather, worshippers gathered in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, on Friday, where the faith leaders shared a message of peace and hope.

“We feel like this rain delay is only making us even more hungry and more passionate,” Feucht declared. “This is the stuff worship dreams are made of.”

One attendee carried a sign that said “Worship is Warfare” —a testament to the belief that America is facing an escalating spiritual battle these days.

The praise event continued in New York City on Saturday, where baptisms took place in the public fountains of the iconic Washington Square Park.

“This place is filled with people about to get baptized in the fountains of Washington Square Park,” Feucht said. “Some of them just got saved … some are rededicating.”

In a video shared on Facebook, Dr. Karuku described the occasion as a “move of God” after 29 people were baptized Saturday night in New York City, including a family of five.

“We had people getting born again. We kept on baptizing people,” Karuku added. “We baptized an entire family of five—it was awesome. They all gave their life to Christ, and they came to be baptized.”

Just days earlier, Dr. Karuku was in Kenosha, Wisconsin, leading the “Riots to Revival” movement where baptisms and worship filled the streets after the city was recently rocked by violence and protests.

“A revival is when God begins to tug on the hearts of people and call them back to repentance,” Karuku explained in the video. “When God begins to be the first love of His people, that is the spark of love in the hearts. It is the revival of the hearts.”

Click here to read the rest of this story from our content partners at CBN News. {eoa}



Pat Boone Joins ‘The Return,’ Says God Wants Church’s Attention

COVID-19, racial tension, nightly protests and riots, and a contentious election season are proving America’s need for a grassroots movement already underway, known as “The Return: National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance,” which is attracting the support of evangelical voices like Pat Boone and many others.

“The Return” is set for 40 days before the presidential election, and on the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower, in the days of America’s founding and dedication to God. Surrounding the “The Day of Return” on Sept. 26 at the Washington Mall will be 10 days, known from ancient times as the Days of Awe, to be set as a special time of prayer and repentance from Sept. 18-28.

Pastor Kevin Jessip and New York Times’ bestselling author Jonathan Cahn, co-chairs of “The Return,” have been joined by many Christian leaders as they call America to profound and lasting repentance. Among them is American music icon Pat Boone, who says the tumult of our times may be God’s way of getting the church’s attention.

“I think God is trying to get through to us,” Boone said. “I think the church, that is, the body of those who believe in God as Creator, the one who created all of us equal with certain inalienable rights—this is in the Declaration of Independence, and our government is founded, our country is founded on this. We all are equal in God’s sight, and we have the right to pursue happiness, not the guarantee of it, but the right to pursue happiness equally, and our nation flourished when we were a nation under God.”

Boone suggests the need for repentance is evidenced by the price America is paying in the present era of economic and civil strife.

“Now we can hardly claim to truly be a nation under God, and we’re paying the consequences of that,” Boone said.

Boone isn’t the only American faith leader who sees the nation as slipping away from its historic God-fearing mooring. Pastor Kevin Jessip points to believers east and west who crave America’s turnaround.

“All over this nation, Christians are praying for revival,” Jessip said.

“We have been warned,” Jessip continued. “God in His mercy has afforded us a time of reprieve to turn and repent for our land to be spared from destruction. It’s a Nineveh moment! ‘The Return’ is a chance for America, 40 days prior to our next election, to turn back to God, just like Nineveh. ‘The Return’ is the spark of a movement to gather, fast, pray and repent for our wickedness.”

Co-chairs of “The Return” Jonathan Cahn and Kevin Jessip were both moved by the Lord with a message of repentance for our nation. Cahn has recorded a special video about the event, which already has nearly 2 million views. In addition, online resources are available, including videos and downloads for individuals, pastors and churches. Daily devotionals also encourage personal repentance and consecration.

“The Return” is for all believers who love the Lord from all denominations and backgrounds. Leaders already on board with “The Return” include Jonathan Cahn and Kevin Jessip (co-chairs), Mike Lindell, Michele Bachmann, Pat Boone, Dr. James Dobson, Mark Gonzales, Robert Morris, Marcus Lamb, John Kilpatrick, Pierre Bynum, Gen. William Boykin, Carter Conlon, Bishop Harry Jackson, Alveda King, Anne Graham Lotz, Pat and Gordon Robertson, Kevin and Sam Sorbo, Stephen E. Strang, E. W. Jackson and many more supporters listed at thereturn.org/faith-leaders/.

Coordinated events within “The Return” movement will also take place throughout America’s cities, towns, houses of worship and homes, as well as in multiple countries around the world, as many believe the nation has been given a critical window of opportunity to repent and return to God.

The following Christian organizations are partners of “The Return”:10 Days, All Pro Pastors International, America’s National Prayer Committee, Anne Graham Lotz & Angel Ministries, Assemblies of God, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Bless Every Home, Calvary Chapel and Capitol Hill Prayer Partners.

Many others partners of “The Return” include CBN, Charisma Magazine, Church of God, Collide, CTN, Daystar Television Network, Engage Media Partners, EpicPay, Every Home for Christ, Family Research Council, Family Talk, Gateway Church, Hispanic Prayer Network, House of David Ministries, Inciite Events, Intercessors for America, Jensine Bard Ministries, John Kilpatrick Ministries, National Day of Prayer, Museum of the Bible, MyPillow, National Christian Foundation, Outreach, Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America, World Evangelical Alliance, Pre-Born! and Triple Horse Studios. {eoa}

Visit “The Return” at TheReturn.org or call **pray (**7729) to register and learn more. Follow “The Return” on social media at Facebook: @ReturnEvent2020; Twitter: @2020_Return; and Instagram: @The_Return2020.



What the Abraham Accord Means for Israel

The presence of United Arab Emirates officials earlier this year at the announcement of President Trump’s plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians hinted at a growing collaboration between Israel and the Emirates. The two have now struck a historic deal, dubbed the Abraham Accord, which is perhaps the most significant step ever toward regional peace for the Jewish state. The United Arab Emirates joins the short list of Middle Eastern countries with normalized diplomatic relations with Israel—alongside Jordan and Egypt. However, this agreement also signals a new alliance in the Middle East in response to heightened tensions with Iran.

The peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates will reap significant diplomatic and economic benefits for the two parties as they sign several agreements regarding investment, direct flights, technology, agriculture, security, tourism, the exchange of embassies and robust people-to-people relations. Considering the advancement of both countries within a war-torn, undeveloped Middle East, the deal is expected to bring region-wide economic growth, technological innovation, increased stability and respect for human rights.

Moreover, normalized relations between the two countries are expected to encourage other Gulf countries to follow suit, notably Bahrain and Oman, which could happen as soon as in a few weeks. Even Saudi Arabia is quiet and may be awaiting its turn at the table.

Expansion of Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria

President Trump’s peace deal for Israel and the Palestinians allowed for the expansion of Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Although the United Arab Emirates approved of the deal, there was widespread opposition to the expansion of sovereignty. Consequently, as a part of the peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend expansion efforts, at least for the near future.

When questioned by reporters about reneging on his promise to expand sovereignty, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel promised that expansion is still very much “on the table.” U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman emphasized all parties understand it to be a temporary “suspension” of sovereignty and not a cancellation. He could not say how long this suspension would last but explained it was to allow time to negotiate other peace agreements.

Comparison to Previous International Agreements for Israel

Although this agreement is the third of its kind between Israel and an Arab country, it is an occasion of its own in different respects. Foremost, the deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates did not involve surrendering any land between the two countries—only the “suspension” of Israel’s planned extension of sovereignty. Israel gave up the entire Sinai Peninsula in 1977 to Egypt in exchange for peace and had to negotiate territorial disputes with Jordan in 1994 to normalize relations.

Furthermore, unlike with Egypt and Jordan, Israel has never been at war with the United Arab Emirates. This history void of direct conflict opens up the possibility of warmer people-to-people relations.

Strategically, the deal is larger than itself and is the beginning of an expansion of alliances to the Persian Gulf so as to face a regional foe—Iran.

How the Palestinians Feel About the Deal

Not unexpectedly, the Palestinian leaders are virtually unanimous in their opposition to the peace agreement, or put in the words of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, an act of “treason.” Nonetheless, the United Arab Emirates still possesses a robust relationship with the Palestinian Authority and can thus speak to the Palestinians in ways the United States or Israel cannot.

Undoubtedly, the deal will hinder the Palestinians’ ability to leverage the Arab League against Israel in times of conflict or negotiations. Amos Yadlin, former general for the Israeli Air Force, recently asserted on television, “America is sending a clear signal to the Palestinians: ‘You have no veto power; you have no Arab support; don’t miss another opportunity; don’t ignore Trump’s peace plan.'”

What This Means for President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu

Without a shadow of doubt, the success achieved between the countries would not have occurred without the bravery and boldness of U.S. President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates. This is a major foreign policy success for President Trump, who was responsible for brokering the deal between the two countries.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Netanyahu enjoys the accolade of being the first leader of Israel to normalize diplomatic relations with a Gulf country successfully. As this regional alliance takes shape, and should Saudi Arabia come to the table, it will not just be another accomplishment for Netanyahu but another miracle in Israel’s story.

For more about the Abraham Accord and what it means for Israel, click here to listen to an episode of the Greenelines podcast in which Dr. Steve Greene interviews Dr. Susan Michael. {eoa}

Susan Michael is the USA director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, creator of Israel Answers and the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) network.



Night at the Movies: AMC Theatres Reopening With 15-Cent Tickets

Remember all the way back in January, when we were still going to the movies? Well, it looks like we’re finally getting back to the silver screen.

The country’s largest movie theater chain, AMC Theatres, is poised to reopen its doors Aug. 20, when more than 100 of the brand’s cinemas will begin showing movies once again.

To encourage cinephiles to fill the socially distanced seats, AMC Theatres is offering patrons 15-cent tickets on opening day, a retro-styled initiative the popular brand has dubbed “Movies in 2020 at 1920 Prices.”

AMC Theatres was founded in 1920 with a single-screen theater on the corner of 12th Street and Grand Boulevard in Kansas City, according to KETK-TV. The chain will be offering customers throwback showings of movies like Inception, Black Panther, Back to the Future, Grease and Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back.

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



Family Education Expert: Keep Calm and Homeschool On

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust moms and dads across the country and around the world into roles they might never have otherwise chosen: that of homeschool parents. Whether teaching their children directly or supervising school assignments in the absence of an outside classroom setting, more and more families are preparing to homeschool in some way during the 2020-2021 school year.

Certified teacher, author, conference speaker and education expert Erin Weidemann offers her top advice to parents who may be struggling with homeschool challenges in this episode of the Family Matters podcast series on Charisma News. “I think the biggest thing is just that that you don’t need to panic. This is a time to stay calm and understand,” says the creator of the “Heroic Homeschooler” six-week mentorship series, available at truthbecomesher.com/homeschool.

“Probably the best thing you could do early on in this journey is to just let go of your own preconceived notions for how the school day, the traditional school day, is supposed to go,” she tells host Marti Pieper. “Your job as their parent in this season is not to try to replicate their bell schedule, or all the different things that they’re used to doing. But really, I tell parents to just sit down with each of their kids and talk out what this season is going to look like and find out the way that your kids are going to work best with you.

“Remember, they’re not used to having you in this education role, necessarily. You’ve taught them many things over the course of their lives, but you sent them off to school to learn from somebody else,” Weidemann says. “So this is really a time to pull the reins back and get everybody into a meeting and just say, ‘OK, here’s what our family is facing. Let’s talk through it together.’ … You can really invite your kids into a conversation where you honor the way that they want to learn, that will help them think through the best way to get their work done. And just to work together as a team. I think that’s what it’s really all about.”

For these and more practical tips on how to confront the challenges of homeschooling with faith and not fear, whether for the short term or the long haul, listen to the entire podcast here. {eoa}



Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz: ‘Churches Might Be One of the Biggest Propagators of Racist Ideology’

Carl Lentz, lead pastor of Hillsong East Coast, said recently he believes the Christian church may be “one of the biggest propagators of racist ideology in our country.”

“There’s a difference between your principle and your practical,” explained Lentz during the latest episode of his podcast Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man. “So if my principle at Hillsong, New York City, is ‘we value all people,’ practically speaking, you should be able to see that.”

Lentz was talking with former NFL linebacker and ESPN sports analyst Emmanuel Acho, who said “the most powerful person in America is a religious white man.”

Acho pointed out that, though segregation legally ended in the 1960s, Sunday mornings have remained ethnically separated.

“It’s hard to listen to a preacher preach if you know that that preacher believes in systems that are hurting people,” said Lentz. “So it’s safer sometimes to go to a black church … [because] I don’t know if I can trust somebody who claims to love Jesus and professes to teach me about this man, yet you’re silent on issues that hurt my people.”

As for why more churches—predominantly white preachers—don’t speak out about the issue of racism, Lentz suggested it’s just “too much work.”

“The moment you start looking into this, you realize, ‘Oh, wow, this goes all the way to the top. This is in our church choir. This is in our church administration. This is in the way we’ve taught the Bible. And there are a lot of Christians who set out to clean house until they find out how close to home it might come.'”

He went on to argue Christian leaders in the U.S. have been ignoring race “for decades.”

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



Todd White Makes Dramatic Shift in Preaching, Moves Away From Prosperity Gospel

Todd White’s faith has changed quite radically in just a matter of months.

In May, the Christian evangelist was speaking out against a documentary series that condemned the prosperity gospel and his preaching of it. At the time, he rebuked the show, American Gospel: Christ Alone, as “demonically inspired.” And he was quick to reject the suggestion he was “a heretic.”

But just a few months later, White—a protege of fellow preacher Benny Hinn, who last year walked back some of his own teachings—seems to have had a radical change of heart, a shift he said is the result of conviction.

“I am not perfect, but I am strongly convicted,” White said Sunday. “I feel like I just met Jesus again! There’s just this rekindled thing inside of me. This has been the hardest season of my life. I’m like, ‘Lord, what are you doing?’ He said, ‘I’m pruning every branch that you have.’ I’m like, ‘It’s not OK. It hurts.’ And He said, ‘If you were dead, it wouldn’t hurt.'”

At another point early on in his sermon, White talked about evangelism and how people come to accept Christ.

“When you come into the gospel because you came in for a better life,” he explained, “you’ve come in for the wrong gospel. When you come to Jesus because He’s gonna give you this and He’s gonna give you that, you really didn’t surrender. See, what you’re saying is, ‘I’ve come to get this.’ What you’ve done is a taste test to see if it’s true. It’s the same thing as getting a buzz: ‘Well, I’ll try this Jesus thing. Maybe there’s a buzz in it.’ That’s not Jesus.”

He went on to preach, “Your goal as a Christian is to be conformed to His image, is to be transformed into His image, into His likeness, and to actually walk like Christ walked. Jesus didn’t despise sinners, but He hated sin, and He addressed it all the time.”

White told the congregation he has been spending time recently poring over the words of New Zealand-born minister Ray Comfort and 19th-century theologian Charles Spurgeon.

Read the rest of this story from our content partners at Faithwire. {eoa}