Barna Research in USA: "Majority of Millenials believe in Cohabitation"

Barna Research writes:

"Cohabitation is the new norm. Shifting gender roles and expectations, the delay of marriage, and a secularizing culture are leading more American adults to believe that moving in together before tying the knot is a good idea. A recent Barna study asked Americans their views on cohabitation: the pros, cons, motivations, and effects of living together prior to marriage. Though its acceptance is widespread in American culture, there are still large pockets of resistance to this changing ethic among religious communities and those who adhere to more traditional values and premarital expectations." Read it all.

Barna Research: Bible Engagement in the New World

Barna Research identified three trends that make Biblical engagement with our society increasingly difficult: 1. increasing skepticism; 2. self-fulfillment as the new 'moral good'; and 3. explosion of digital tools at the same time as a decline in relational discipleship.

Read it all.

Christian University in Canada in Court over its Moral Convictions regarding Marriage

The law societies of Ontario and British Columbia voted not to admit lawyers trained at Trinity Western University to its ranks because the university has a code of conduct that favors marriage between one man and one woman.

The CTV article reads, "At the core of the dispute is Trinity Western's "community covenant" or code of conduct, which the Evangelical Christian institution requires all students to agree to. It includes requiring students to abstain from gossip, obscene language, prejudice, harassment, lying, cheating, stealing, pornography, drunkenness and sexual intimacy "that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman."

The university notes, however, that it does not ban admission to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students or faculty, and said its community offers "an environment in which sexual minorities are supported, loved and respected."

Read it all.

Christianity - what if it disappears from Europe? What would be lost? - The Guardian

A telling editorial in The Guardian examines changes in Britain. More and more people classify themselves as "no religion". In England and Wales the number of Christians is dropping quickly. For every person who becomes either "Catholic" or "Anglican", ten people leave those churches.

This raises the question: If Christianity disappears from Europe, what will be lost?

(Note: Attentive readers will note that the editor of The Guardian shows no clue about the growth of the Christian faith in the countries of the "south", Central and South America, Africa and Asia.)

Read it all.

32 Trillion dollars in Off Shore (mostly tax free) accounts. What to say about this?

Two years ago, amazing details began to seep out about wealthy individuals and their "off shore accounts". Recently, the "Panama Papers" provided a treasury of information about the mostly "tax free" accounts.

For every $1.00 that the West sends in aid to poor countries, $10.00 is sent to these off-shore accounts. More than $32 trillion appears to be beyond the reach of tax authorities.

The Micah Statement on the Panama Papers has this quote ... and much more.

"Compare the $50 to $80 billion a year that flows as overseas development ‘aid’ to poor countries with the $500 billion to $800 billion that the World Bank estimates is being sent illegally out of these same poor countries. For every $1 given across the table, the West has been receiving $10 back under the table ... We call on world leaders to have the political courage, the moral integrity and a genuine concern for the poor to act and stop this theft! This will require the adoption of fair policies and transparent governance practices that can be scrutinised by all. The pledge by 6 countries to at the London Summit on Corruption (12th May 2016) to use a public register of beneficial ownership is a small step in the right direction. We call on our leaders, national, regional and local, our business leaders and our church leaders, to lead by example and ensure that all citizens are treated equally before the law, not allowing the tax burden to be transferred from the richest to the poorest."

Read it all.

"A Confession of Liberal Intolerance" - and reactions against his wanting to hear all voices - NYT

On May 7, 2016, Nicholas Kristof wrote a critique of the prejudice that Liberals on universities have towards "conservative thinking".

Read it all.

What Kristof wasn't prepared for was the immense push-back received for his attempts to show the "blind spot" that exists: "I wondered aloud whether universities stigmatize conservatives and undermine intellectual diversity. The scornful reaction from my fellow liberals proved the point."

And another quote from the NYT article: "Yancey, the black sociologist, who now teaches at the University of North Texas,  conducted a survey in which up to 30 percent of academics said that they would be less likely to support a job seeker if they knew that the person was a Republican.

The discrimination becomes worse if the applicant is an evangelical Christian. According to Yancey’s study, 59 percent of anthropologists and 53 percent of English professors would be less likely to hire someone they found out was an evangelical.

“Of course there are biases against evangelicals on campuses,” notes Jonathan L. Walton, the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard. Walton, a black evangelical, adds that the condescension toward evangelicals echoes the patronizing attitude toward racial minorities: “The same arguments I hear people make about evangelicals sound so familiar to the ways people often describe folk of color, i.e. politically unsophisticated, lacking education, angry, bitter, emotional, poor.”

What is the connection between Canada's Universal Health Care system and the Evangelical church?

Perhaps people are surprised at this, but there is a close connection between Canada's Universal Health Care system and the evangelical churches of the 1930's. What kind of philosophical foundation lay beneath the rise of a medical system that is today one of the country's most fundamental values?

This is spelled out in this article: Read it all.

"The Kasich Conundrum" - Christianity Today

Christianity Today examines a real Conundrum. Of the three last Republicans running, Kasich was the one most evangelicals admired, on one poll at least, yet because of these characteristics he was left out in the cold. Why?

Here's one quote from the article. "At a time when incivility is perceived as courage, and a lack of anger equated to a lack of understanding, Kasich is the odd man out."

Read it all.

China exporting railroads to Kenya and five more countries in East Africa. Amazing.

The video that has been taken as the new Kenya Railway reaches 60% of its completion is an indication that China is winning over the hearts of East Africans at an amazing rate.

Watch the video - and be amazed.

Become an encourager for your life-long mate

Become an awesome encourager: Developing a Habit of affirming your mate.
By David and Claudia Arp

Every day we make choices either to feel threatened by or to benefit from our partner’s strengths. Do you encourage and appreciate the strengths your partner brings to your marriage partnership? If so, it will help you through the hard times. When you’re willing to affirm each other’s strengths, you may find that some of your roughest times become some of the best times in your marriage. Here are two practical tips that will help you develop the habit of affirming your spouse. Read it all.

"Chinese Millionaire Kids in Vancouver - The Golden Generation" - The New Yorker

The second generation of Chinese kids - how they love Vancouver and all it offers. This article shows what is happening as wealth flows from their parents on the mainland of China to the offspring in North America's largest cities.

It is an unprecedented display of fashion ... at times bringing out jealousy in those can no longer afford to live in Vancouver, where a small house with a tiny lot recently sold for $2.3 million, $150,000 above the asking price.

Read it all.

"The Church in the West is Sick. What's the Cure?" - Christianity Today.

Painting from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

In town after town and city after city across England, church buildings are closed, or converted into other uses: cafes, apartments or shops.

In this article, Simon Posonby, of St. Aldates, Oxford, speaks of the need to be different, to lead a holy life.

In fact that's the name of his excellent new book.

Read it all.

New Jersey: They stopped a mosque from being built. Now they are facing a law suit.

Citizens of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, west of NY city were able to stall and then cancel plans for the construction of a mosque. Now they are facing a law suit.

Read more from New York Times.

What does Jesus have to do with ISIS? From "Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward"

What Does Jesus Have to Do With ISIS? by Nabeel Qureshi, from Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward

Since Christians will live forever, they are told not to fear in the face of death. Paul says, Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? — 1 Corinthians 15:55 Since we know we will be with God forever, there is no more fear of death for the Christian of true faith. In fact, death is even beneficial to a Christian, because it sends him to God, with whom he is longing to be. Paul writes, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. — Philippians 1:21 The security of salvation is what liberates Christians to follow difficult teachings of Jesus and to self-sacrificially love one’s enemies, even being ready to die for them. That is why some Christians have been willing to go to tumultuous Muslim contexts and serve those who could do nothing for them, even in the face of death. Ronnie Smith was a Texan science teacher who decided to move his family to Benghazi when the Libyan revolution was underway. For a few years, he taught chemistry to high school students in the war-torn country, bringing them hope when they had little. He wanted to serve people just as Jesus had, and just as people killed Jesus, so a group of radical Muslims killed Ronnie Smith. A short time before his death, Ronnie Smith answered a survey indicating that the gospel is what encouraged him to serve people despite the risk of death. He knew his life was in danger before moving to Libya, but Jesus enabled him to answer jihad with compassion. Through the message of the gospel, Jesus made Ronnie Smith invincible. He was able to love without fear. In February 2015, ISIS beheaded twenty-one Christians on a beach in Libya. In a video the men are seen moments before their execution, calling out to Jesus and mouthing prayers. Most of them were migrant laborers working in Libya to provide for their families in Egypt. Although ISIS slaughtered the men to shock the world with terror, the response of their families sent an altogether different message. In an interview with VICE News, the mother of twenty-four-year-old Abanoub Ayiad said, “May God forgive ISIS,... [but because of them] I gave the best gift to God: my son.” The mother of twenty-five-year-old Malak Ibrahim said, “I’m proud of my son. He did not change his faith till the last moment of death. I thank God... He is taking care of him.” The mother of twenty-nine- year-old Samuel Abraham said, “We thank ISIS. Now more people believe in Christianity because of them. ISIS showed what Christianity is.” The wife of twenty-six-year-old Milad Makin said, “ISIS thought they would break our hearts. They did not. Milad is a hero now and an inspiration for the whole world.” As with Ronnie Smith, these twenty-one men had been transformed by the gospel, as had their families. They were able to live and die with confidence, and their families were able to rejoice in their deaths because they are now truly alive. Bishop Felobous, himself related to five of the slain men, even expressed sadness upon hearing that the Egyptian military was retaliating against ISIS. “I was very sad when I heard the news of the air strikes led by the Egyptian military against ISIS. God asked us to even love our enemies.” Even after they had slaughtered five of his relatives, Bishop Felobous was able to answer jihad with compassion. According to numerous reports, one of the men on the beach in Libya was not an Egyptian Christian, but a citizen of Chad. It was not until he saw the faith of the men around him that he was moved to trust in Christ. When the time came to make his decision, asked whether he would denounce Christianity and live or proclaim the gospel and die, he said, “Their God is my God.” He chose to live for one minute as a Christian rather than for the rest of his life after having denied Jesus. In Christianity, Jesus shows Christians how to answer persecution with love. Although this suggestion might seem impossible to some and ridiculous to others, Jesus’ teachings were always radical, and they are only possible to follow if the gospel message is true. If we will live eternally with God in bliss, then we can lay down this life to love even our enemies. In the face of jihad, the Christian Jesus teaches His followers to respond with love. Excerpted with permission Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward by Nabeel Qureshi, copyright Nabeel Qureshi. Published by Zondervan.

Which nation is about to become the "most Christian"? Who would have believed this in 1949?

In 1949, all Christian workers were expelled from China as a communist revolution swept away all vestiges of former power and centuries of Chinese government.

And who would have believed that since 1984 the number of believers there would grow so dramatically?

Read more.

Mother Teresa Retirement Home in Yemen - attacked by radicals - 16 killed

A shameful action on the part of radicals, taking elderly people and nuns and deliberately killing each one in Yemen.

Read more.

The Myth of Trump's 'Evangelical voters': From the Institute for Pschological Studies

How many evangelicals are supporting Trump in his quest to the White House? Some interesting stats came out after Super Tuesday.

Read more.

Architecture - some of the world's most unusual buildings. Is the world going crazy?

Amazing, eye-popping buildings are being built in many places.

Read more.

Bolivia: Morales is set to lose his referendum for a Fourth Term in Office

Major changes were brought to Bolivia by President Evo Morales during many years in power.

But it appears that things just might be turning against him. Under his leadership, the average income of many Bolivians rose, but his appeal, using many arguments from the left of the political spectrum, are coming up against changes all over South America, where socialist ideas are currently unsuccessful.

Read more.

Christian training in Lebanon: Arab speaking students draw attention from around the world.

"In order to increase accessibility to our training, we launched a new online program in Arabic, a Certificate in Ministry. The purpose of this program is to enrol students who cannot come to Lebanon for their studies and who would not be able to acquire training otherwise. Our online students in this Arabic program today come from Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

"Our English degree continues to draw attention from around the world. The degree is a Masters of Religion in Middle Eastern and North African Studies. This is a unique and innovative multidisciplinary program that provides a strong theoretical understanding of the Middle East and North Africa and the issues that they face, combined with an emphasis on developing applied skills needed to work in or with the region. It is a flexible distance-learning program that enables students to study while they continue their work or ministry. Students currently enrolled in this program come from the United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, South Korea, Australia, Egypt, and Lebanon.

"The theme for the 2016 Middle East Consultation will focus on 'The Refugee Crisis and the Body of Christ: Exploring the Nature of the Crisis and Our Understanding of the Church" Opposing reactions are taking place: some refuse to help refugees while others welcome them in the name of Christ.

"From a theological, emotional and sociological perspective, to what extent should non-Christian refugees be incorporated into the life of a Christian community, for example in educational and health programs?

"How might a biblical expression of "church" - including new believers from non-Christian backgrounds - be fostered in such a way as to flourish in a non-Christian environment?"