Do you recall amidst the tragedy of George Floyd’s death in 2020 watching rioting break out in cities across America almost overnight?

Slogans like “Black Lives Matter,” “Defund the Police” and “No Justice—No Peace” instantly came out of the word work.

Days after the unprovoked, horrendous Hamas attack on Israel that slaughtered 1,600 civilians, wounded over 14,000 and resulted in 200 hostages taken, the same thing occurred spontaneously on American campuses and in multitudes of cities.

Where do these well-organized and carefully orchestrated eruptions come from? Similar slogans and cookie-cutter signs mysteriously appear amidst the angry activists all at the same time!

• Gas the Jews!
• Stop genocide in Gaza!
• Free Palestine from the land to the sea!

These almost overnight eruptions are reminiscent of the apostle Paul’s experience in Ephesus where a “pop-up” mob “cried out one thing, and some another, and most of them did not know why they had come together” (Acts 19:32).

After the initial gasp and sympathetic show of support for Israel, we experienced whiplash as we saw footage of pro-Palestinian protests and angry anti-Israel demonstrators demanding the Jewish state refrain from military action, embrace a cease-fire and listen to the United Nations Secretary General branding Israel an “occupier” while the Turkish president called Hamas a “liberation group.”

Leftist leaning and taxpayer-supported NPR’s senior correspondent stated, “Israel forces have killed over 6,000 Palestinians, including 2,700 children!”

The well-oiled, anti-Israel propaganda machine quickly spun out the story that Israel callously blew up a hospital, taking 500 lives and the New York Times, Associated Press, CNN, MSNBC and the like heralded the 100% false story.

By the way, two weeks after the damage was done, the New York Times admitted their error.

Is there an enemy within who is the mastermind behind the manipulation and coordination that demonizes Israel?

Enemy Within

In both the UK and the US, there were similar dramatic series called “The Enemy Within” dealing with undercover activists plotting death and destruction. One featured a CIA Deputy Director targeted by a top terrorist who threatened to kill her daughter unless she revealed the names of four top agents.

She “caved,” was incarcerated, then later joined in exposing the terrorists.

If you are a “watchman on the wall” who is perceptive to the tactics of our archenemy, I invite you to unite with God’s “secret agents” for a similar assignment to reveal pernicious people at this precarious time.

Similar Situation

First Samuel 30 records when David and his men were away in Ziklag (near Gaza). Amalekites, after catching them “sleeping,” took women and children as captives, leaving David and his men weeping and petitioning God for what to do. With all due respect to the Pope and Hollywood celebrities demanding a cease fire today, David mobilized hundreds of Israeli defense forces who fought the enemies “from twilight until the evening of the next day, and no man escaped except some young men who fled on camels” ().

This was not revenge but retribution justice and is historically sanctioned as a “just war.”

No appeasement here. They vanquished the enemy, recovered all the women and children hostages plus recovered all the plunder. They sent the terrorists the message that Israel embraced “peace through strength!”

These Amalekites were like today’s terrorists. The Bible records that Ishmael was a “wild man” (Gen. 16:12) and his descendants “lived in hostility” (Gen. 25:18) but God has a special enmity for Amalek and his descendants, saying, “the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation” (). They were similar to jihadists today waiting for an unexpected sneak attack and weakness like when they pounced on the “tired and weary” Jews right after Israel escaped Pharaoh at the Red Sea (Deut. 25:17-18; -16).

Think about this as we look at Biden’s catastrophic open border that allows in 8 million illegal immigrants where we know intuitively that disguised terrorists have slipped in and plugged into secret terrorist “sleeper” cells scattered throughout this nation, readying for a coordinated repeat of what happened on 9/11. It’s not a matter of if but when. The enemy is within.

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Gaza in the Bible

Acts 8:26 tells us that an angel spoke to Philip the evangelist and directed him to go to Gaza. On the way he had a “divine appointment” with an Ethiopian man and was able to lead him to Christ then baptize him. Philip then continued on his journey to bring the gospel to transform lives; the same mission we have with all mankind, including Arabs.

Decades ago, Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians and has supplied free electricity, water, employment opportunities and millions in humanitarian assistance. The radical jihadist terrorist group Hamas moved in and established government control and exploits it as a terrorist base camp to annihilate the Jews.

God loves the Palestinians and has his “secret agent” Messianic believers moving in their midst at the risk of their lives. Palestinians are used as human shields and are captives in the machinery of the maniacal extremists who must be removed like roaches embedded in a home. Then there can come true Palestinian liberation through the gospel coupled with already existent Jewish care.

In 2009, President Barack Obama gave a glowing speech, “A New Beginning,” in Cairo where he hailed Muslim history and accomplishments. He called for commitment to partnership with Muslims whom he portrayed as peace-loving and desired the partnership.

He has called for welcoming Iran and giving financial assistance (which Biden continues) while they develop their nuclear weapons. Iran is the number one supporter of terrorism worldwide and trained Hamas for this recent attack (Wall Street Journal – 10/25/23).

The enemy is within.

Here’s the Deal: Hamas has infiltrated America. According to a George Washington University “Program on Extremism” (Oct. 23) and a special report by best-selling author, Mark Levin (Oct. 22), the Muslim Brotherhood and the Palestine Committee have met (going back to 1992) to “liberate the land from the abomination and defilement of the children of the Jews. … It is a jihad martyrdom.”

Twenty Muslim extremist leaders met for three days in Philadelphia over 20 years ago and now have a presence on over 300 campuses as they prepare “for a curriculum in schools to counter ideas of a peace accord with Jews.”

A war in the Middle East is underway; antisemitism normalizing; 270,000 illegal immigrants entered the United States in September (a new record); half the Harvard students believe Hamas was justified attacking Israel; and, anti-Israel events keep “spontaneously” surfacing.

We had better be fervent in intercession and faithful in standing with Israel in her hour of need as we take seriously that the enemy is within. {eoa}

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Deliverance minister Vlad Savchuk says, as human beings, it is extremely possible that we can be deceived by our feelings.

The concept is explained well in Deuteronomy 4:19, which reads, “And beware, lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, you are led astray and worship them, and serve them, that which the Lord your God has allotted to all nations under the whole heaven; the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.”

“When we direct our focus from the Creator to the creation, we can find ourselves being driven—feeling driven—to do certain things that are actually not from the Lord,” Savchuk said in a recent video. “The Bible says it is possible to be driven by your feelings and feel a sense of urge, an impulse, a sense of drive, a sense of ‘man, I feel like this is what I need to do.’ And those things might not be from the Lord. In fact, they could be contrary to the Lord.”

Savchuk says that feelings are important to God and He created them and He can use them and our emotions and thoughts to communicate. But, they could also be a channel by which the enemy can draw you into sin and disobedience.

God, he says, speaks to us through four main ways—the Bible, through His Holy Spirit, through godly counsel and through our circumstances.

“My friend, David Diga Hernandez, would say that hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit is not a skill to be acquired; it is a sense to be sharpened. The Bible says that sheep hear His voice. Therefore, hearing God comes natural if we are born-again Christians, but we can sharpen the sense of discerning His voice.”

So, Savchuk says, here are eight things we can pay attention to so that we can distinguish your thoughts and emotions from the voice of the Holy Spirit:

1. The Holy Spirit’s voice aligns with Scripture. Emotions many times contradict the Scriptures. We have to be very careful not to lift one verse out of context and use chance verse, like flipping open the Bible and whatever it opens it, that’s what God is speaking to you. When the Holy Spirit speaks, He speaks in alignment with the Scripture, the whole Scripture, not one pulled out of context. Don’t trust in your ability to hear the Holy Spirit. Trust in is ability to communicate with you.

2. The Holy Spirit’s voice is divine. Emotions are natural reactions to stimuli, and they can be influenced by things like hormone levels, past traumas or present circumstances. The origins of your emotions are not always divine. The origin of God’s voice, on the other hand, and God’s guidance has a divine source. It’s not based on human circumstances or psychological reactions, but on the eternal truths and God’s will.

3. The Holy Spirit’s voice is consistent. Whereas emotions fluctuate and are based on our moods, they are not consistent. Sometimes we feel happy. Sometimes we feel connected to God and sometimes we don’t feel connected to God. But you cannot take emotional cues always, by saying, “Oh, this must be God speaking.” And so how you distinguish is that God’s voice, the voice of the Holy Spirit, is consistent. There’s stability involved in that.

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4. The voice of the Holy Spirit guides us according to God’s will. Our emotions reflect our internal state. The Bible says, “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). God’s voice, the voice of the Holy Spirit, will always strike to guide you into God’s perfect will.

5. The Holy Spirit’s voice is reliable, trustworthy. Your emotions can be very deceptive and be tricked by the enemy, by your circumstances and by your own flesh. The Bible makes that very clear in Jeremiah 17:9. The Holy Spirit doesn’t contradict the Word of God. The Holy Spirit’s voice does not pull Scripture out of context.

6. Responding to the Holy Spirit’s voice requires faith, managing your emotions and demands self-awareness. When the Holy Spirit speaks, faith is required. When your emotions are raging, you have to become self-aware and you have to regulate them.

7. The Holy Spirit’s voice has God’s backing or support. “My emotions lack supernatural providence. What I mean by that is the Bible says in John 12:4: When a shepherd leads the sheep, he doesn’t just speak to them through earphones. He actually is with them, guiding them. I love that. That means when God’s Spirit speaks, a lot of times you will sense His guidance, the circumstantial providence of God.”

8. The Holy Spirit usually whispers. “Emotions can be very loud and impulsive. If I could say it another way, Holy Spirit has impressions. Emotions tend to be impulsive; very strong, pushy. The Bible says in 1 Kings 19:12 that after the earthquake was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. But after the fire, it was a still small voice.”

Are you catching the vast differences? If your thoughts and emotions don’t line up with Scripture, it’s best to steer yourself away from them when making decisions for your life.

Remember, the Holy Spirit has your back. {eoa}

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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.

Most Bible believers are familiar with the ninth plague that fell on Egypt right before Israel’s exodus. God commanded Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt,” (Exod. 10:21). It happened! The darkness was so intense, the Egyptians never left their homes.

That storyline parallels something similar that happens globally every year: three consecutive days of spiritual darkness and deception that settle over the world disguised as religious holidays (holy days).

HALLOWEEN (OCTOBER 31)

Masquerading in costumes and children “Trick-or-Treating” door-to-door looks innocent, but this day hides a sinister past. Originally, an ancient pagan celebration called Samhain (pronounced sow-in), it was a dreadful night full of occult rituals performed by Druid priests as the darkness of winter approached. It included wearing costumes (often animal skins and heads), not for fun but to ward off evil ghosts. Witches and wiccans to this day believe it is a day when communication with the dead is most advantageous. Supposedly, the “veil” between the natural and spiritual realms is at its thinnest, most penetrable point.

Halloween is the high “unholy” day of Satanism, when the evil side of the spiritual spectrum is celebrated: a time when gruesome images of skeletons, zombies, gravestones, blood, vampires and spider webs abound. Even jack-o-lantern pumpkins on porches have a dark backstory involving a man named Jack who made a pact with the devil for monetary gain. When he died, as the myth goes, God refused him entrance to heaven and Satan refused him entrance into hell, so his ghost was cursed to roam the earth forever. By the way, that light in the pumpkin—it represents a live coal from the fires of hell that Satan threw at Jack.

Most committed Christians recoil from participation in Halloween since evil is so blatantly enshrined. However, few realize the two days that follow it are filled with just as much darkness and deception.

ALL SAINTS DAY (NOVEMBER 1)

The term Halloween evolved from “All Hallows Eve,” a reference to the night before All Saints Day. (The word ‘hallow’ means holy or saint.) What could be bad about a day set aside to celebrate saints? Isn’t that positive progress? Not if you dig deeper into the doctrine behind it. Pope Gregory III (A.D. 731-741) declared Nov. 1 a day to honor all martyrs and saints. As the concept of saints developed in Catholicism, it became a day when praying to the saints was emphasized. Unfortunately, this is merely the forbidden practice of necromancy veiled in biblical terminology.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 commands, “There must not be found among you anyone . . . who uses divination, or uses witchcraft . . . or a spiritualist, or an occultist, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord.” (A necromancer, like a spiritualist, is someone who attempts to contact the dead. The word ‘abomination’ means revolting and detestable.)

God was not denying His people a legitimate spiritual experience; He was protecting them from demonic deception. Yet Catholics insist that appealing to departed saints to intercede and intervene in their behalf is right. This tradition is both theologically and logically erroneous. All Saints Day could be compared to a global séance with millions of participants. Saul went to the witch of Endor hoping to contact the prophet Samuel who had died. That didn’t go so well, did it?

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There are two more reasons this practice is wrong. First, all believers are saints, not just those who have shown exceptional holiness (check out Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:2). Second, logistically, it is impossible. There are approximately 1.3 billion Catholics in the world. Suppose half of them pray to Peter on All Saints Days. That’s about 450 people every minute. Can you imagine trying to intelligently process 450 conversations at once? To handle such a tsunami of requests, Peter would have to be omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (existing everywhere), because he would have to be involved in 450 situations and locations at once. Yet these are attributes ascribed only to God. Moreover, there is only “one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” (1 Tim. 2:5).

ALL SOULS DAY (NOVEMBER 2)

What could be wrong with setting aside a day to remember all souls who have gone beyond the veil of death? Nothing, if it ended there. However, in Catholicism, All Souls Day is especially a time to pray for loved ones in Purgatory. In that imagined realm, Catholics not holy enough to enter heaven at death are purportedly perfected over a period of even thousands of years. Such a doctrine robs the cross of its glory and grace of its power. The go-to Scripture Catholics use to support the idea of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:10-15: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

Clearly, Paul was not talking about a protracted process, but a single day of revelation when Jesus will return “in flaming fire and all His holy angels,” (2 Thess. 1:8). In that blazing moment, the Savior will ascertain whether the works of His people earn an eternal reward or if they were futile, non-scriptural, religious pursuits.

So, there you have it: three days, back-to-back, equally filled with religious darkness and deception. No wonder those who are sensitive spiritually can “feel” this darkness. {eoa}

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Mike Shreve was saved during the Jesus Revolution and has traveled evangelistically over 50 years, with an emphasis on healing and the prophetic. He has written 17 books; three have been Charisma House #1 bestsellers on Amazon. He has two podcasts with Charisma Podcast Network. His comparative religion website () has received four million hits and seekers from over 100 nations have downloaded the free book on his testimony. Another website () is part of an outreach to Catholics based on his new book, The Beliefs of the Catholic Church.

Data for the study was gathered online through a survey of 2,016 U.S. adults, conducted from Nov. 12–19, 2021. An additional online survey of 516 U.S. Protestant senior pastors was also conducted from March 25–April 5, 2022.

The study shows that while millennials and Gen Z adults are great when it comes to giving their time to churches, some 51% of pastors say they’re “very concerned” about them not financially supporting the church, while another 43% are “somewhat concerned.”

“The fact is financial giving is a driving force of a church’s efforts,” the study says.

Pastors’ concerns may stem from a pragmatic reality: The future of the church depends in large part on generosity. And that generosity will soon hinge on a generation who presently exhibit less financial security and lower levels of Christian affiliation, church attendance and charitable giving than their elders,” Barna researchers noted.

“A proactive response might start with building on a shared conviction among pastors and young parishioners: that churches have a responsibility to guide the next generation into a life of greater generosity.”

While they are worried about the financial giving of younger adults, some 57% of pastors surveyed for the study said they’re “not concerned” about the giving of older generations. One in three, or 34% of pastors reported that older congregants at their church are “extremely” effective in showing their generosity, while only 5% said the same about their younger congregants. A majority, 56%, of pastors described their younger congregants as only “somewhat” effective when it comes to being generous.

In a 2022 study called “The Generation Gap: Evangelical Giving Preferences,” which was based on input from more than 1,000 American Evangelical Protestants, researchers found that when it comes to giving, younger donors have a more “global mindset” and a broader range of causes they want to support with their dollars.

“While there are many differences among younger evangelical donors, what stands out even more is how different younger donors are from older donors,” researchers wrote in the report.

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“Younger donors are far less given to focusing on their local area or even domestic work in general. At least regarding charitable giving among evangelicals, it appears to be true that the younger generations have a much more global mindset than their parents or grandparents,” researchers added. “This spells significant opportunity for international organizations, but also potential long-term concern for local/domestic charities.”

Mark Dreistadt, the founder and president of Infinity Concepts, painted younger evangelical donors as far different from other generations.

“Younger donors have a much more international focus,” he said. “They seek variety in their giving. They’re less trusting but do less planning or research. Unlike older donors, younger donors are a mix of perspectives rather than a strong common voice. Not only that, but they feel less strongly about their perspectives than do older donors.”

Grey Matter Research President Ron Sellers said many ministries and charities looking to survive in the current donor climate might need to provide more diversity in their programming.

“What leaders need to realize is that they can’t effectively reach the 35-year-old donor with the same strategy they used to reach their 65-year-old donors,” Sellers said. “Organizations may need to provide more variety in programs and messaging to retain these donors.”

The challenges facing churches with the younger generation’s financial support are clear. While these younger adults are generous with their time and have a global mindset in their giving, they are not contributing to their local churches as much as older generations.

This shift in giving patterns raises concerns about the future financial stability of churches. As churches adapt to this changing landscape, it becomes crucial to find innovative ways to engage younger generations in supporting their local communities of faith. {eoa}

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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.

Most Bible believers are familiar with the ninth plague that fell on Egypt right before Israel’s exodus. God commanded Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt,” (Exod. 10:21). It happened! The darkness was so intense, the Egyptians never left their homes.

That storyline parallels something similar that happens globally every year: three consecutive days of spiritual darkness and deception that settle over the world disguised as religious holidays (holy days).

HALLOWEEN (OCTOBER 31)

Masquerading in costumes and children “Trick-or-Treating” door-to-door looks innocent, but this day hides a sinister past. Originally, an ancient pagan celebration called Samhain (pronounced sow-in), it was a dreadful night full of occult rituals performed by Druid priests as the darkness of winter approached. It included wearing costumes (often animal skins and heads), not for fun but to ward off evil ghosts. Witches and wiccans to this day believe it is a day when communication with the dead is most advantageous. Supposedly, the “veil” between the natural and spiritual realms is at its thinnest, most penetrable point.

Halloween is the high “unholy” day of Satanism, when the evil side of the spiritual spectrum is celebrated: a time when gruesome images of skeletons, zombies, gravestones, blood, vampires and spider webs abound. Even jack-o-lantern pumpkins on porches have a dark backstory involving a man named Jack who made a pact with the devil for monetary gain. When he died, as the myth goes, God refused him entrance to heaven and Satan refused him entrance into hell, so his ghost was cursed to roam the earth forever. By the way, that light in the pumpkin—it represents a live coal from the fires of hell that Satan threw at Jack.

Most committed Christians recoil from participation in Halloween since evil is so blatantly enshrined. However, few realize the two days that follow it are filled with just as much darkness and deception.

ALL SAINTS DAY (NOVEMBER 1)

The term Halloween evolved from “All Hallows Eve,” a reference to the night before All Saints Day. (The word ‘hallow’ means holy or saint.) What could be bad about a day set aside to celebrate saints? Isn’t that positive progress? Not if you dig deeper into the doctrine behind it. Pope Gregory III (A.D. 731-741) declared Nov. 1 a day to honor all martyrs and saints. As the concept of saints developed in Catholicism, it became a day when praying to the saints was emphasized. Unfortunately, this is merely the forbidden practice of necromancy veiled in biblical terminology.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 commands, “There must not be found among you anyone . . . who uses divination, or uses witchcraft . . . or a spiritualist, or an occultist, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord.” (A necromancer, like a spiritualist, is someone who attempts to contact the dead. The word ‘abomination’ means revolting and detestable.)

God was not denying His people a legitimate spiritual experience; He was protecting them from demonic deception. Yet Catholics insist that appealing to departed saints to intercede and intervene in their behalf is right. This tradition is both theologically and logically erroneous. All Saints Day could be compared to a global séance with millions of participants. Saul went to the witch of Endor hoping to contact the prophet Samuel who had died. That didn’t go so well, did it?

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There are two more reasons this practice is wrong. First, all believers are saints, not just those who have shown exceptional holiness (check out Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:2). Second, logistically, it is impossible. There are approximately 1.3 billion Catholics in the world. Suppose half of them pray to Peter on All Saints Days. That’s about 450 people every minute. Can you imagine trying to intelligently process 450 conversations at once? To handle such a tsunami of requests, Peter would have to be omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (existing everywhere), because he would have to be involved in 450 situations and locations at once. Yet these are attributes ascribed only to God. Moreover, there is only “one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” (1 Tim. 2:5).

ALL SOULS DAY (NOVEMBER 2)

What could be wrong with setting aside a day to remember all souls who have gone beyond the veil of death? Nothing, if it ended there. However, in Catholicism, All Souls Day is especially a time to pray for loved ones in Purgatory. In that imagined realm, Catholics not holy enough to enter heaven at death are purportedly perfected over a period of even thousands of years. Such a doctrine robs the cross of its glory and grace of its power. The go-to Scripture Catholics use to support the idea of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:10-15: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

Clearly, Paul was not talking about a protracted process, but a single day of revelation when Jesus will return “in flaming fire and all His holy angels,” (2 Thess. 1:8). In that blazing moment, the Savior will ascertain whether the works of His people earn an eternal reward or if they were futile, non-scriptural, religious pursuits.

So, there you have it: three days, back-to-back, equally filled with religious darkness and deception. No wonder those who are sensitive spiritually can “feel” this darkness.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

Mike Shreve was saved during the Jesus Revolution and has traveled evangelistically over 50 years, with an emphasis on healing and the prophetic. He has written 17 books; three have been Charisma House #1 bestsellers on Amazon. He has two podcasts with Charisma Podcast Network. His comparative religion website () has received four million hits and seekers from over 100 nations have downloaded the free book on his testimony. Another website () is part of an outreach to Catholics based on his new book, The Beliefs of the Catholic Church.

In an effort to engage Christians in the political process, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, a California megachurch, is encouraging churches across the country to host ballot collection initiatives ahead of the 2024 election. With Americans showing an increasing willingness to cast their votes before Election Day, these efforts aim to bolster Christian participation in the electoral process.

Under the banner of its Real Impact ministry, founded by Pastor Jack Hibbs, the church seeks to empower other churches to “stand for righteousness in the public square.” The ministry’s leader, Gina Gleason, revealed that their involvement in ballot collecting began after changes in California’s election laws.

The transformation in legislation, which allowed for the practice known as “ballot harvesting,” was passed into California law in 2016 and implemented during the 2018 election. This resulted in significant wins for Democrats and progressive candidates. In response, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills decided to engage in similar activities when they became legal.

Under the updated California law, individuals can turn in ballots for others, regardless of whether they are family members or reside in the same household. There is no limit to the number of ballots a person can collect and submit.

Gleason emphasized that the church collected thousands of ballots during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, and they plan to continue these efforts in the future. The church’s involvement in ballot collecting has gained popularity, with people from all over Southern California delivering their ballots to the church.

Real Impact’s activities are not limited to California. Gleason mentioned that there are 17 states where churches can engage in ballot collection, and these efforts have the potential to increase voter turnout among Christians.

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While some conservatives prefer to vote on Election Day and have criticized “ballot harvesting,” national leaders stress the importance of taking advantage of early voting and mail-in ballot laws. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, urged attendees to use these opportunities for voting, citing examples where early voting made a significant impact.

Despite the debate on the best voting methods, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills is facilitating and simplifying the voting process for Christians. In addition to ballot collecting, they conduct voter registration drives every Sunday and create voter guides for school board and city council races.

Gleason emphasized the importance of remaining nonpartisan when engaging in ballot collection efforts. Churches that collect ballots should not inquire about party affiliations or candidate preferences. This nonpartisan approach ensures that churches maintain their tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.

Calvary Chapel Chino Hills’ commitment to encouraging Christian engagement in the political process goes beyond ballot collection. They believe in the power of Christians participating in elections to shape policy and protect cherished principles.

With varying ballot collection laws across different states, not every church can engage in these efforts to the same extent. Gleason identified the states where it is feasible for churches to collect ballots, highlighting the unique legal landscape in each state.

By promoting early voting and maintaining a nonpartisan stance, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills aims to make the voting process more accessible for Christians and enhance their impact on elections. Their dedication to civic engagement extends to voter registration drives and educational resources, offering a comprehensive approach to Christian involvement in the political arena.

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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

Actress Goldie Hawn recently shared what she believes was a UFO encounter while she was in her twenties, likening it to being “touched by God.”

On an Apple Fitness+ audio experience, a Time to Walk, Hawn said that she heard a high frequency pitch which was accompanied by an encounter with three aliens that she said touched her.

“It was the most benevolent, loving feeling. This was powerful. It was filled with light,” Hawn said.

Unfortunately, we know that the alien hoax is part of a great end times deception to lead people away from the truth of the gospel. Remember, even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light to trick and deceive people away from Jesus.

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In an exclusive interview with Charisma News, Nephilim expert L.A. Marzulli provided the warning about how aliens would be used to try to deceive away even the elect if possible.

“What is the truth? The truth is this: in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God,” Marzulli said. “We either believe that, which is the we believe the fallacy of a Darwinian paradigm which says that over billions of years that somehow the complexity of life and the unbelievable genetic code of the DNA molecular structure just somehow happened.”

Marzulli acknowledges that our culture’s recent fascination with aliens is part of a strong delusion.

“We are seeing the beginnings of that strong delusion, and the strong delusion is, ‘Well, there is no God,'” Marzulli said.

The reality is regardless of whether or not celebrities or others try to convince us otherwise of the goodness of aliens, as Christians we must stick close to the truth of Scripture and what it highlights to us about the end times. {eoa}

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Abby Trivett is a marketing copywriter and coordinator for Charisma Media.

Matthew Perry died way too young. The beloved actor who played Chandler Bing on the hit sit-com “Friends” for 10 seasons—from 1994 to 2004—was found dead in a hot tub in his Los Angeles home last weekend. So far investigators haven’t determined the cause of his death. He was 54.

Perry was a really funny guy, and it seemed he was born to play the role of Chandler—the insecure, quick-witted data analyst who becomes friends with Ross, Monica, Rachel, Phoebe and his goofy roommate, Joey Tribianni. Chandler had a fear of commitment, lots of insecurities and a secret addiction to cigarettes, but by the end of Season 7 he marries Monica and they eventually adopt twins.

“Friends” was one of the most successful TV shows of all time, and Perry was worth an estimated $120 million at the time of his death. But his popularity and wealth didn’t translate into happiness. He battled depression and a serious addiction to opioids and alcohol—and he reportedly spent at least $7 million trying to overcome his substance abuse.

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times last April, Perry was honest about the emptiness of his life.

“Nobody wanted to be famous more than me,” Perry said. “I was convinced it was the answer. I was 25, it was the second year of “Friends,” and eight months into it, I realized the American dream is not making me happy, not filling the holes in my life. I couldn’t get enough attention. … Fame does not do what you think it’s going to do. It was all a trick.”

After his parents divorced when he was a baby, Perry got his start in show business as a child actor. “Friends” gave him his big break, turning him and every other member of the cast into stars. But in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry admitted that he had been addicted to alcohol since his first drink at age 14. His addiction battle got worse, and it almost killed him in 2018 when he suffered a ruptured colon.

Just like the character he played, Chandler Bing—who hid his cigarettes from his wife and lied when she asked if he’d been smoking—Perry did a pretty good job hiding his drinking problem. The actor said in a BBC Radio interview that he couldn’t remember three years of filming the hit show because he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. But he continued to smile and crack jokes, and he won numerous Emmy nominations in spite of his struggle.

When I heard about Perry’s death, I was reminded of Proverbs 14:13: “Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief.” Just because someone is smiling doesn’t mean they aren’t facing the worst battle of their lives. Just because someone is a jokester doesn’t mean they haven’t contemplated suicide recently. Just because someone is as funny as Chandler Bing doesn’t mean they don’t need a shoulder to cry on and a big dose of encouragement.

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A record number of people today are on the verge of a serious mental health breakdown. We need to be more vigilant to check on each other, ask questions, use discernment and stage interventions when a friend is struggling.

We also need to be ready to share the hope of Jesus with people who are drowning in their own addictions, or searching for the real meaning of life. You may have a friend like Matthew Perry—someone who seems to have it all together but who is actually falling apart inside. Don’t focus on the outward appearance. Look at the heart, and pray that you will have the right words to say.

There are some hopeful signs that Perry may have actually surrendered his life to the Lord before his death. In his memoir he recounted a moment of spiritual surrender: “I started to cry. I mean I really started to cry—that shoulder shaking kind of uncontrollable weeping. I wasn’t crying because I was sad. I was crying because for the first time in my life, I felt OK. I felt safe, taken care of, decades of struggling with God and wresting with life and sadness—all was being washed away. Like a river of pain, gone into oblivion.”

Perry continued by saying that he was certain he had been in the presence of God and that “everything was different” because of that encounter.

“Eventually the weeping subsided,” Perry wrote. “I stayed sober for two years based solely on that moment. God had shown me a sliver of what life could be. He’d saved that day, and for all days, no matter what. He had turned me into a seeker, not only of sobriety and truth, but also of Him.”

After Perry’s memoir was published, he told atheist Bill Maher that he believed in God. And he added: “I have a very close relationship with Him that’s helped me a lot.”

Those are some serious words from a comedian. I hope Perry found salvation after so many years of struggle. And I hope the tragedy that ended his life will help us be more sensitive to the people around us who are quietly drowning in their secret pain.

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In a heartwarming testament to faith and divine intervention, Pastor Frederick Virtucio, alongside his wife Margie, experienced a miraculous event that reaffirmed their unwavering trust in God.

Their journey from entrepreneurship to pastoral ministry took an unexpected turn, culminating in a momentous night on Aug. 19, 2023.

For more than two decades, the Virtucios dedicated their lives to building assisted living programs in Virginia Beach. Despite their close collaboration with Pastor Tessie Casaul at Freedom Church Assembly of God, the couple had never considered leaving the business world for a pastoral role.

It was only after tragedy befell the Casauls that Pastor Casaul approached Frederick Virtucio about leading the congregation upon their departure. To equip himself for this spiritual calling, Virtucio enrolled in a spiritual formation class at Regent University. It was during this journey that he received a prophecy, drawing parallels between him and the biblical figure Nehemiah, tasked with rebuilding what was broken.

After keeping this revelation quiet from his wife, Margie, until he had more clarity, Virtucio sought her guidance. Her unwavering trust in him marked the beginning of their journey into pastoral ministry.

In January 2018, two years after their initial meeting with Pastor Casaul, the Virtucios officially assumed leadership at Freedom Church.

As their ministry grew, Frederick Virtucio became part of the Filipino American (Fil-Am) Assemblies of God Ethnic Fellowship. Under the guidance of Dennis Rivera, director of Ethnic Relations, this fellowship boasts more than 90 affiliated churches across the nation.

However, nothing could have prepared the Virtucios for that remarkable August night.

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During a regional conference on the East Coast, Pastor Virtucio was attending the Fil-Am’s event without his wife and children, who remained behind to assist their youngest son’s dorm move. As the evening service commenced, a powerful move of God during the praise and worship segment prompted the guest speaker to shift the agenda.

He sensed a spirit of death among the congregation and fervently encouraged everyone to intercede for those facing life-threatening situations. Virtucio began by praying for his own family, unaware of what was happening in Virginia Beach.

Amid the prayers, his daughter called, frantically reporting that their car had been struck. She sent photos depicting the accident, showing a vehicle had gone airborne and hit the passenger side of their car. Remarkably, his family had escaped serious injuries.

Pastor Virtucio, realizing the time stamp on the photos coincided with his prayers, was overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion. His wife, describing the accident, mentioned the car moving miraculously, as if guided by an unseen force.

The incident, now referred to as a time-stamped miracle, serves as a powerful reminder of being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, even when circumstances seem perplexing.

The Virtucios firmly believe that their experience reaffirms the age-old saying: “The will of God will not lead you to a place where His grace cannot sustain you.” This miraculous event is a testament to their faith, unwavering trust in God and the power of prayer. {eoa}

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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

For Angela Harders, one phone call of faith completely changed and altered her life, saving her daughter and would pave the way for her to someday launch Pax Ministries.

Sharing her story with Fox News, Harders says that after she became pregnant through sexual assault, making the decision to keep the child dramatically altered the course of her life. As a Christian, she had always believed in the right to life. However, this pivotal moment made her seriously consider getting an abortion.

“You can imagine my horror when I, the girl who had never dated before, the good Christian girl, found myself pregnant,” Harders said.

Because her father was the vice president of her local pregnancy center, Harders didn’t believe she could call any of the centers nearby. So, instead, she decided to reach out to a crisis pregnancy center in New York. While she never knew the name of the woman on the other end of the phone line, she credits the stranger for providing her with the comfort and the peace she needed to stay strong and go forward with her pregnancy.

The stranger on the other end of the line reminded her that God is the one who provides children, and for some reason, He had chosen her to become this baby’s mother.

“For some reason, God is choosing to give you a life out of this terrible circumstance,” Harders recounted.

When Harders canceled her appointment at Planned Parenthood, however, the person there decided to use Harders’ Christian faith as a way to lure her into getting an abortion.

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“She knew that I was a Christian because it was something that I shared with her when I booked the appointment in the first place,” Harders said. “She said, ‘Angela, you know that if you go through with this you will never be able to travel again or be a missionary or be any of those other things you said that you wanted to do. We can take care of this problem for you so you can live your life and fulfill all the dreams that God has given you.'”

Harders decided that instead of limiting what God is capable of, she would press into Him and fulfill her calling while also becoming a mother. Today, she is a co-founder of Pax Ministries as she advocates for homeschooling and for biblical womanhood.

While Harders saw her daughter as a blessing and not a hindrance to the plans and purposes that God had for her, there is little question that today many women feel pressured to go through with abortions, whether procedural or chemically induced. Dr. Ingrid Skop shared with Charisma News that human traffickers and abusers are frequently the ones to provide women with abortion pills to keep their charades of darkness.

“We know that sex traffickers are getting these pills, incestuous abusers, coercive boyfriends, we know there’s already an epidemic of unwanted abortions in our country,” Skop said.

In a world where abortion has even been normalized even by the church, it’s stories like Harders’ that provide hope that God created people to do great things for His glory, and that families and children are included in this plan. {eoa}

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Abby Trivett is a marketing copywriter and coordinator for Charisma Media.