FIRST CLASSICAL CONCERT of 15-year-old Karolina Protsenko: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

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KAROLINA PROTSENKO Greatest Hits full Album - KAROLINA PROTSENKO Best Violin Cover Music 2021

Israel's National Anthem - Hatikvah | Karolina Protsenko & Avelina Kushnir - Violin Duet

Italy: Muslim migrant sets church nativity scene on fire, causing immense damage and destroying 17th century organ

REPUBLISHED, SEE: https://www.jihadwatch.org/2023/12/italy-muslim-migrant-sets-church-nativity-scene-on-fire-causing-immense-damage-and-destroying-17th-century-organ

Celebrate diversity! The new Europe is dawning, and what a beautiful sight it is!

“Parabiago, sets fire to the paper nativity scene in the church: the flames damage a 17th century organ, making the building unusable,” translated from “Parabiago, dà fuoco al presepe di carta nella chiesa: le fiamme danneggiano un organo del ‘600, edificio inagibile,” by Orlando Mastrillo, la Repubblica, December 15, 2023 (thanks to Medforth):

A column of black smoke was seen coming out of the entrance: the inhabitants’ attempts to limit the damage were useless. A North African was stopped, spotted with a burning stick in his hand, wandering around the country

A fire seriously damaged the church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Santa Elisabetta di Villastanza, a hamlet in the municipality of Parabiago, this afternoon, Friday.

The flames apparently started from the nativity scene housed in the religious structure, set by a man of North African origins who then ran away through the streets of the hamlet, stopped shortly afterwards by local police officers as he wandered around in a state of confusion.

As soon as the people present in the square in front noticed the smoke coming out of the main door, the firefighters were called while some citizens living in the area attempted to put out the flames with fire extinguishers, but to no avail.

The paper nativity scene caused high flames and smoke which damaged the wooden parts and also a 17th century organ. It took the Legnano firefighters a while to get under control of the fire.

Several witnesses said they saw a young man leaving the church with a burning stick in his hand and in a short time he was identified and stopped by the local Parabiaghese officers.

Mayor Raffaele Cucchi arrived on site to see what happened with his own eyes and expressed harsh words of condemnation for the gesture: “It is an attack on our traditions, our religion and our culture. The fire caused extensive damage to the seventeenth-century organ and to the entire church which will now not be available to the faithful of Villastanza a few days before Christmas.”

Israeli Children’s Orchestra Records Beautiful, Patriotic Song to Boost Morale

YouTube / Liron Girony
A PJ Media reader named David wrote to alert us to a striking musical performance he came across while watching Israeli TV. The segment featured a beautiful, patriotic composition, "King's Bride" (a reference to the nation of Israel), performed by the ATID Raziel Youth Village Orchestra.

ATID is a schooling non-profit, according to IsraelGives:

The ATID Educational Network operates some 35 schools and educational institutions, including two youth villages – the "David Raziel" youth village and the "Johanna Jabotinsky" youth village, which jointly represent all sectors of Israeli society. Students who come from Israel's geographical and social periphery attend our schools. The unique educational model fostered by the ATID network offers theoretical studies along with technological studies. We believe that students who encounter difficulties in academic studies are capable of excellent technological achievements, so we offer complete engineering programs or post-graduate studies for technician and engineer certification.

Some of our students are new immigrants who came to Israel without their parents. Others hail from low socio-economic sectors and the boarding school fulfills their needs. …

"I came across the music video on an Israeli TV channel — not sure which, I channel-surf all the time," wrote David in his email. "They played the clip and they interviewed the musical director (he conducts in the clip) and three of the kids." He expounded, "The kids interviewed were from Ukraine and St Petersburg — one of them had just arrived in Israel — straight from under Russian bombs! (He plays bass guitar in the clip.) And of course, they all went on to say how much they loved Israel."

Related: Jews Are Watching Fox News Now. Can You Guess Why?

Google translates the Hebrew description at the bottom of the video as: 

A clip to raise national morale, and create unity and brotherhood among the people. With this clip, the Atid Raziel Youth Village wishes to send encouragement and a warm embrace to members of the security and medical forces, as well as to the residents of the south and the people of Israel as a whole. The people of Israel live!

The video intersperses footage of the orchestra with clips that evoke the beauty of both Israel and her people:

David was good enough to send us his own translation of the message in the opening frames as well as the lyrics.

The opening frame reads:

The youth village Atid Raziel sends hope, support, and love
To IDF soldiers, security members, and medical personnel
Our thoughts are with the residents and all the people there

And here are the lyrics:

A new light shines in the blue sky
The wind of the sea rushes through the space
We love you Motherland in peace and in war. 

From the north, the mountains and the Sea of Galilee
We will follow in the way of our fathers
We will build our homeland with a proud heart and a prayer

Despite the enemy and the traitors,
We will remember our heroes
And we will love you, our homeland, forever.

We will praise you in songs and psalms,
Full of glory, a king's bride, the mother of the prophets,
A blossoming garden from the Red Sea to Galilee, 

Despite the enemy and the traitors,
We will remember our heroes
We will love our land
It is holy and it is forever

It's good to see the beleaguered people of Israel keeping their spirits strong and cherishing their heritage. May peace come to the Middle East sooner rather than later!

The Horror At The Israeli Music Festival

SEE: https://www.jihadwatch.org/2023/10/the-horror-at-the-music-festival;

Republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, & research purposes.

Here is one young woman’s account of what happened at the music festival when the Hamas killers arrived. As we now know, at least 260 Israelis were murdered at the site. “Israeli survivors recount terror at the music festival, where Hamas militants killed at least 260,” by Isabel Debre and Michael Biesecker, Associated Press, October 9, 2023:

The night was a getaway. Thousands of young men and women gathered at a vast field in southern Israel near the Gaza border to dance without a care. Old and new friends jumped up and down, reveling in the swirl of the bass-heavy beats.

Maya Alper was standing toward the back of the bar with teams of environmentally conscious volunteers, picking up trash and passing out free vodka shots to party-goers who reused their cups. Just after 6.a.m., as a light-blue dawn broke and the headliner D.J. took the stage, air raid sirens cut through the ethereal trap music. Rockets streaked overhead.

Alper, 25, jumped into her car and raced to the main road. But at the intersection she encountered crowds of stricken festival attendees, shouting at drivers to turn around. Then, a noise. Firecrackers? Panicked men and women staggering down the road just in front of her fell to the ground in pools of blood. Gunshots.

Saturday’s attack on the open-air Tribe of Nova music festival is believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history, with at least 260 dead and a still undetermined number taken hostage. [No: the attack was not just at the music festival, but at two dozen sites all over southern Israel; 1000 Israelis were murdered in what was “the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history.”] Dozens of Hamas militants who had blown through Israel’s heavily fortified separation fence and crossed into the country from Gaza opened fire on about 3,500 young Israelis who had come together for a joyous night of electronic music to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot….

We were hiding and running, hiding and running, in an open field — the worst place you could possibly be in that situation,” said Arik Nani from Tel Aviv, who had gone to the party to celebrate his 26th birthday. “For a country where everyone in these circles knows everyone, this is a trauma like I could never imagine.”

Festival-goers who managed to make it to the road and parking lot where their vehicles were parked found themselves trapped in a traffic jam, with militants stalking the cars and spraying those inside with gunfire. Drone footage of the scene taken after the attack and reviewed by the AP shows chaotic lines of cars where drivers had attempted to flee. Some burned-out vehicles were flipped onto their sides, while others had bullet holes visible in shattered windows.

Nowhere was safe, Alper said. The roar of explosions, hysterical screams, and automatic gunfire felt closer the further she drove. When a man just meters away shouted “God is great!”, Alper and her new companions sprung out of the car and sprinted through open fields toward a mass of bushes.

Alper felt a bullet whiz past her left ear. Aware the gunmen would outrun her, she plunged into a tangle of shrubs. Peering through thorns, she said she saw one of her passengers, the girl who had lost her friend, shriek and collapse as a gunman stood over her limp body, grinning.

“I can’t even explain the energy they (the militants) had. It was so clear they didn’t see us as human beings,” she said. “They looked at us with pure, pure hate.”

Videos show the gunmen executed some of the wounded at point-blank range as they crouched on the ground….

“Every time I thought of anger, or fear or revenge, I breathed it out,” she said. “I tried to think of what I was grateful for — the bush that hid me so well that even birds landed on it, the birds that were still singing, the sky that was so blue.”…

Even in her fear and despair, Maya Alper managed to hold on for more than six hours by thinking about — it’s a line of pure poetry — “the birds that were still singing, the sky that was so blue.”

“This is not just war. This is hell,” Alper said. “But in that hell, I still feel that somehow, we can choose to act out of love, and not just fear.”

Remember this account. Remember the Hamas men moving methodically to mow down everyone — those trying to escape in cars, those who ran across open fields, those who tried to get into shelters, those who tried to play dead and then were dead. Remember the Hamas killer, having just murdered a girl, who was seen by Maya Alper standing over her limp body, grinning.

A Drag Queen Hits #1 on the iTunes Christian Music Charts

A Drag Queen Hits #1 on the iTunes Christian Music Charts
A.-K. D., CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
I’m going to make some of you mad here. But then if I didn’t want to make people mad, I should never have become a columnist. I am not a fan of Contemporary Christian Music. Now, before you start throwing guitar picks and capos at me, hear me out. I admit that I harbor a love of liturgy and the “smells, bells, and yells.” So when it comes to sacred music, I lean toward Gregorian/Eastern Orthodox chants. But I also understand that for some, CCM provides an important element to church, so you do you. It’s all good.

There were several nails in the coffin when it came to CCM for me. Although during my time as an evangelical, I really tried to get on board with the genre. One was a young woman who called K-LOVE to thank the station for its playlist that “saved” her husband. Pardon my skepticism, but if your husband was saved, madam, it was by Jesus. Not the jocks at K-LOVE. Another came when I visited a mega church in Texas and the worship band was so loud that it gave me a brief bout of tinnitus. The church members found that hilarious. Still, another was hammered in when I worked at a Christian radio station. The GM told me that the station did not play CCM since the music was groomed and tuned to mimic whatever the popular sound was at the moment. And that the whole thing was a money grab. For reference, find that episode of “South Park” where the boys realize that they can become a Christian band by taking popular songs and replacing the word “baby” with “Jesus.”

But really, the moment that I began to doubt came when I was at my original church. The earnest young worship leader stood up with his guitar to lead the congregation in a song that I believe was called, “Your Love is Marvelous.” One of the lines went something to the effect of wanting to “smell God in the secret place.” I know what the songwriter was trying to convey. But the truth is, wanting to smell someone “in the secret place” just sounds creepy. I don’t want to smell anybody “in the secret place.” God included.

Sorry if I offend anyone, but CCM could probably use an overhaul.

So with all of that in mind, it should come as no surprise that a drag queen is currently topping the charts in iTunes’ Christian Music. According to the online magazine Them, a drag queen who goes by the name Flamy Grant recorded a song called “Boys Will Be Girls” by Derek Webb. The song is about LGBTQ+ people who have been rejected by their churches. In the video, Grant performs the song in full drag, complete with a blue wig. Here is a sample of the lyrics provided by Them:

I heard Jesus loved and spent his life with those who / were abandoned by proud and fearful men / So if a church won’t celebrate and love you / they’re believing lies that can’t save you or them / ’cause you’re so beautiful by any name.

Grant, who is a former worship leader, is enjoying the ride to the top thanks in part to a feud with Sean Feucht. Feucht’s website refers to him as “a missionary, musician, activist, author, and speaker. He married his high school sweetheart Kate, and together with their four children Keturah, Malachi, Ezra, and Zion, Sean travels the world sharing the life-changing power of the Gospel.”

Feucht took issue with the song and Grant fired back:

That speaks volumes about Grant. But Feucht reportedly served as a worship leader at Bethel Church in Redding, Calif. Bethel has had its own issues with theology over the years.

Be that as it may, there is a spiritual problem with the trans movement that makes it incompatible with Christianity. Yes, there is the sexual component, but that is not what I am referring to. The trans/Pride movement is predicated on drawing attention, accolades, and affirmation for oneself. Not only is there a demand to be accepted, but a demand to be celebrated and a concerted effort to convert others to the lifestyle while condemning anyone who disagrees or who is just not interested. And in Christian terms, the movement wants to remake the church and God in its own image. It wants to dictate the nature of God and force God to become what it wishes Him to be. Aside from self-obsession, this is idolatry in its purest form. As such, it is the worship of the self and not the Divine.

Anyone who has sat through sermons by recent bible school grads has heard dissertations on the woman at the well and the woman condemned to be stoned for adultery. Usually, the focus of the sermon is that Jesus accepted the person in question. While that is true, Jesus did not leave those women as he found them. He left them changed, renewed, and aware of something greater than themselves. The people who followed Jesus allowed themselves to be changed by him, and those that refused were left to go their way.

Related: Sunday Thoughts: Nobody Likes Lukewarm Water

Sin can certainly be sexual. And as a child of a man whose mother tried to trans him, sexual sin can reverberate in ways of which one cannot conceive. But in this case, the sin is indeed pride. The pride that says that the world and God Almighty must bend themselves to one’s own whims and wills. One then chooses to succumb to one’s sins rather than wrestle with them. After all, succumbing to sin can make one happy, at least in the short term. And isn’t that what God wants for us? Well, no. God would prefer that we be holy rather than satiated. And that is admittedly not an easy task for anyone.

And in that respect, Grant is no more guilty than many other Christians. In churches across the nation, people seek to create God in their own image. I was still at my old church when “Duck Dynasty” became a hit. Overnight, people began to see the Louisiana Duck hunting family as the epitome of what it meant to be good Christians. People started wearing camo and at one point, the preacher told the congregation that “Jesus was a redneck.” The problem was that “Duck Dynasty” was a popular show. The Robertsons are vocal Christians. And because of that, millions of Christians began to chase the world. The Robertsons were famous, and so they became who to follow. All of a sudden, the world was dictating what it meant to be Christian. I would hope the Robertsons would be the first to admonish such people. I briefly worked in a Christian bookstore as a side gig, right when the “Duck Dynasty” fad was starting to wane. But the t-shirts, decorations, and books kept rolling in. At times it was next to impossible to find space on the shelves for it all. The world is fickle. God is not.

It does not matter if Grant’s single was propelled to fame by the trans community or by Christians chasing the world and the popularity it promises. In both cases, people are thumbing their noses at God and favoring themselves. Rather than rebuking the Pharisees, they are indulging in Original Sin.

Why are Churches Still Using Bethel and Hillsong Music?!?!?

Despite Controversies, Worship Leaders Keep On Choosing Hillsong and Bethel Songs

BY

SEE: https://protestia.com/2023/07/13/despite-controversies-worship-leaders-keep-on-choosing-hillsong-and-bethel-songs/;

Republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, & research purposes.

Despite the storm of scandals and controversies swirling around the bruised and battered Hillsong Church in Australia and the Bethel Church in California, worship leaders are not shying away from incorporating songs from these two megachurches into their worship sessions. 

recent study unveiled this week shows that worship leaders gravitate towards these songs not because they top the worship charts but because they have a personal connection with them, often discovered online, at conferences, or through friends’ recommendations. According to the study:

“The most influential factors in discovering a new worship song are peer endorsements and personal experiences. Worship leaders mainly trust their friends and fellow church leaders to provide them with song recommendations.”

The study draws on responses from over 400 worship leaders across the U.S. and Canada, seeking their insights on music production and their song selection process for worship. 

Demonstrating a woeful lack of discernment, a mere 16% of worship leaders admitted to being less inclined to choose a song associated with Hillsong. In comparison, 27% expressed a similar hesitancy towards songs linked to Bethel. 

On the other hand, a significant 62% confessed they were likely to pick songs from Hillsong, with a slightly lesser 48% saying they would likely opt for songs associated with Bethel. 

Three months ago, Worship Leader Research reported that four megachurches were responsible for producing and releasing nearly all the top worship songs released in the last decade, with Hillsong and Bethel being two of them. 


Top 10 Weirdest Things Hillsong Leaders Expensed to the Church  
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Top 10 Luxury Hotels Hillsong Leaders Expensed to the Church (Spoiler: The Cheapest is $8457.42)

EASTER HYMNS & 30 Easter Prayers and Blessings to Celebrate Resurrection Sunday

2 Hours of BEAUTIFUL Easter Hymns (with lyrics)

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

SEE:  https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/easter-prayers-celebrate-resurrection-day-victory.html;

Republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, & research purposes.

30 Easter Prayers and Blessings to Celebrate Resurrection Sunday

The celebration of Easter is so much more than chocolate bunnies and dying eggs.  Our Savior has risen! This Easter day, the resurrection of Jesus reminds us that God makes all things new. He has given us the same resurrection power to live free from sin and to receive eternal life. Offering Easter prayers of blessing is one of the most powerful ways to remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus and his resurrection from the grave.

We hope this collection of Easter prayers will bring you renewed hope and faith this Resurrection Day. Easter provides an opportunity like no other to renew your faith! Scripture tells us that "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).  Take time to meet with God today and speak these prayers of thanks to Him for the victory of Jesus and the victory we have over sin.

Easter Prayers for 2023

You can pray these Easter prayers and blessings at sunrise, around the Easter dinner table with family and friends, or share them on social media!  

Get your free Easter Prayer and Scripture Guide to reflect on the meaning and importance of Christ's resurrection.

1. An Easter Sunday Prayer

O wonderful God, my soul is filled with joy as I celebrate the Resurrection today! Thank you that you’re alive, and that you want a relationship with me. I want to enjoy a relationship with you, as well. After Jesus rose from the grave on the first Easter, an angel told people “do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:5). I can rise beyond fear this Easter by trusting you. I’m looking forward to new adventures together day by day. I love you, Lord! Amen. - Whitney Hopler

2. To Remember Our Hope Through the Cross

Father, We praise You for sending Your Son to abide with us and be with us. Life can feel lonely, but the fact is…we are never alone. That is a truth we can cling to during the ugliest breakdowns. Thank You for giving us the grace to release our failed efforts and bottled up emotions to You, free of judgment and full of healing love.

Forgive us for walking through life without the joy that Jesus died to fill our hearts with. Help us to find You in the hard moments of life, and remember the comfort and truth of Your promises during seasons of suffering.

3. A Prayer for Resurrection

Dear God,
Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for the victory and power in your Name. Thank you that you hold the keys over death, that by your might, Jesus was raised from the grave, paving the way for us to have new life with you. Thank you that you had plan, that you made a way.

We confess our need for you…fresh…new…again. We ask that you renew our hearts, minds, and lives, for the days ahead. We pray for your refreshing over us.

Keep your words of truth planted firm within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to your word. And when the enemy reminds us where we have been, hissing his lies and attacks our way, we trust that your voice speaks louder and stronger, reminding us we are safe with you and that your purposes and plans will not fail. We ask that you will be our defense and rear guard, keeping our way clear, removing the obstacles, and covering the pitfalls. Lord, lead us on your level ground.

Shine your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. Set you way before us. May all your plans succeed. We may reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing.

Thanks be to you God, for your indescribable gift! To you be glory and honor, on this Resurrection Day, and forever.
In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Debbie McDaniel

4. A Prayer for Easter Sunday

Lord God, you loved this world so much that you gave your one and only Son, that we might be called your children too. Lord, help us to live in the gladness and grace of Easter Sunday, every day. Let us have hearts of thankfulness for your sacrifice. Let us have eyes that look upon your grace and rejoice in our salvation. Help us to walk in that mighty grace and tell your good news to the world. All for your glory do we pray, Lord, Amen. - Maria Miriam

5. To Remember the Victory Belongs to Jesus

Ah Lord God, as I celebrate Easter and the triumphant victory of Jesus Christ over death and hell and sin, I fall down before You and worship You. I cry with others around the world, “worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” All of creation bows before You Lord Jesus because You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who has won the victory and conquered death! (Based on Revelation 5:12, Philippians 2:10-11). - Becky Harling

6. Say "Thank You" for Jesus

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to save me from my sins. Thank you that you loved me enough to send a perfect sacrifice, so that we could live together eternally. I confess that I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I ask you to come into my heart, and I commit to following Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Glynnis Whitwer

7. A Prayer for Gratitude and God's Blessings at Your Easter Meal

God, we pause with such gratitude for the gift of your undeserved, unfailing, and unfathomably love.

Thank you for walking around on this broken, dusty, and trouble-ridden planet for 33 years so that we might believe and have eternal life.

Thank you for communicating your love for us in a way that is so personal, so extravagant, and so gracious.

Thank you for dying and then rising from the dead so we could have hope.

Thank you for proving that you are real, you are powerful, and that only you give us the power to live our lives well through your incarnation, death, and resurrection.

Thank you for washing away our sins by offering yourself as the perfect and blameless sacrifice in our stead.

Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done for us and offer our lives as a living sacrifice to you in gratitude for amazing grace. Amen.

- Amanda Idleman, Easter Dinner Prayers

8. For Faith this Easter

Dear Lord, draw my thoughts upward toward You every minute of every day, but especially this Easter. Help me resist the temptation to focus on the painful things of this earthly life and learn to control my thoughts so they don’t sink my faith or joy in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Traci Miles

9. A Prayer to Remember the Depths of God's Love

Lord, You are so amazing! How can I ever thank You enough for coming into this world to give Your life for me? I'm sorry for the times I get so busy that I fail to remember the incredible love You willfully demonstrated to me by going to the Cross. You didn't have to do it, but You did it for me. I thank You from the depths of my heart for loving me so completely! I pray this in Jesus' name! - Rick Renner

10. For Sacrifice and Thanksgiving

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: I offer a prayer of sincere thanksgiving for Your blood sacrifice. Thank You for being obedient to Your Father and going to the cross for me. May I never forget that You gave Your life for me, so that one day I might live with You in eternity. Because Your blood has redeemed us, we are now new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and by His blood we are freed from sin to serve the living God, to glorify Him and to enjoy Him forever. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Dawn Neely

11. For Love and Mercy

Lord, how can we ever thank You enough? You endured more pain, more shame, more sorrow, more grief than we can possibly fathom. Help us remember why You gave Your life. Because of love. Because of mercy. Because we desperately need them both. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Liz Curtis Higgs

12. Sharing the Real Meaning of Easter

Dear Lord, help me to tell of Your wondrous power and mighty acts to those generations that come after me. May I not let the season pass by without pondering the real meaning of Easter. In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Karen Ehman

13. A Prayer For a Heart Like Jesus

Dear Jesus, I plead for You to give me Your grief over the people who have missed You and rejected You. This Easter, remind me just how much I need You. Help me see Your grace. Grant me that divine combination of sorrow and tenderness that points people to the cross and to new Life. Dear God, give me Your heart for my world, to see the desperate need for salvation we all have. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.- Amy Carroll

14. Prayer to Receive the Cross

Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of Your forgiveness, for binding up my brokenness. Forgive me for the ways I try to "help" You save and fix me. Help me to simply receive what You have done for me on the Cross. "Simply" receiving sometimes isn't so simple. Give me the strength to be still and receive Your mercy and grace in this moment. Through the Savior who saves completely. Amen.

15. To Remind Us that Our Debt is Paid on Easter

Lord Jesus, how can I ever repay You for what You’ve done? Thank You for paying the debt for my life. Thank You for erasing my sin and calling me Your own. I am no longer a slave to sin or in debt to a holy God. I am a child of God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Arlene Pellicane

16. Celebrate The Good News

Dear God, thank You for the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. We want to celebrate Him every day of our lives. In a world that grows increasingly dark, help us hold up His light. Give us the courage to speak as boldly as Mary Magdalene did, and never be ashamed of proclaiming Your Good News. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Liz Curtis Higgs

17. For Easter Hope in Troubled Times

These times are frightening, Lord. Headlines daily deliver troubling news. If we dwell there, Father, we will lose all hope. Thank You for Your protection and the promises we have in Your word. Nothing can separate us from Your love and the victory achieved by Christ at the cross. He is our hope and ever-present help in trouble. Thank You, Father. We have no need to fear. You will never leave nor forsake Your own! - Judy Fussell

18. An Easter Prayer from Matthew 28

- “Do not be afraid." God, I hand over to You those things that make me so afraid. Resurrect the parts of my faith squelched by fear.

- "I know that you are looking for Jesus." God, when my soul is searching, help me know the answer to every longing can be found in You.

- "He has risen."  God, the fact that Jesus is risen should lift my head, my heart and my attitude. Help me to live today as if I really believe this with every part of my life.

- "Just as he said." Jesus, You keep Your promises. Help me live as though I believe that with every part of me. Help me trust You more, obey You more and resemble You more.

- "Come and see." Jesus, You had the angels invite the women in to see for themselves that You had risen. You invite me into these personal revelations every day. Forgive me for sometimes rushing about and forgetting to come and see for myself ... You, Your Word, Your insights.

- "Then go quickly and tell his disciples." Jesus, I don't want to be a secret keeper with my faith. I want to be a bold and gracious truth proclaimer. For You. With You. Because of You. Me, the unwanted girl whom You loved, redeemed and wanted.

In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Lysa TerKeurst

19. Easter Children's Prayer

God made you and God made me,

He made the world for us to see.

God loves you and long ago,`

He sent his Son to tell us so.

Jesus showed us many things,

To love and share and dance and sing.

To learn and pray, to help and care,

He promised he'd always be there.

He died but then came back to life,

Let's celebrate for he's alive!

Amen.

20. A Good Friday Prayer

Lord God, Jesus cried out to you on the cross, “Why have you forsaken me?” You seemed so far from his cry and from his distress. Those who stood at the foot of the cross wondered where you were, as they saw Jesus mocked and shamed and killed. Where were you then?

Lord God, we, too, ask where you are, when there is trouble and suffering and death, and we cry out to you for help. Be near to us, and save us so that we may praise you for your deliverance.

Lord God, we wait, on Friday, for the resurrection of Sunday and sometimes our lives seem a succession of Fridays and we cannot see what is “Good.” Teach us to call your name as Jesus did. Make us to trust in you like little children. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Maria Miriam

21. For Family Encouragement

Father God, Easter is also a time when we have the opportunity to come alongside those in our family. Some family members may celebrate Easter by tradition, not fully understanding what Easter represents and means. Lord, guide us as Your followers in lovingly helping to encourage these people we are surrounded with in what You want them to know in this time. Perhaps it is the love of Christ, or maybe it is the hope that although things can look so dead and hopeless as they did on Good Friday, there is joy in the morning as in Easter Morning. Perhaps it is in coming alongside others in sincere love and loving them as Christ loved us, showing them the authentic truth of what it means to not only say you are a Christian but to genuinely follow Christ in attitude and action. Lord, use us in the ways You see fit to help those in our circles and communities to truly know Your heart through us. May we represent You well. In Jesus' Name, Amen - Cally Logan

22. To Celebrate Victory Every Day

Father, Thank You for the miracle of life – abundant life here, and eternal life with You in Heaven. Help me celebrate that life every day as I seek You and follow Your plan for my life. Today, I say with the Apostle Paul, “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Mary Southerland

23. Of Gratitude For Jesus Coming to Earth

Father God, Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to this earth. We recall the words of John 3:16, "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Lord, we do not take that lightly. Knowing that Jesus came to this earth as a baby to take on the punishment we deserved, was tortured, and died for us is overwhelming. And then to keep Your promise in that He did not remain dead but instead rose again. Father, help us not overlook or ever stop saying in the most sincere fashion, "Thank You." May our hearts come to a place of genuine and complete gratitude in that which You have done, and may we take this attitude of thankfulness with us into this season of Easter. In Jesus' Name, Amen - Cally Logan

24. For the Spirit to Pour Afresh

Almighty God, I praise You for Your power, presence, and purpose in my life. I confess my unbelief and unwillingness to press on when hope seems dead. O Lord, please pour Your Spirit afresh on me. May Your resurrecting power shine forth in my life and the lives of my loved ones. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray, Amen. - Carla Lake

25. To be Grateful for Victory Over Death

Lord Jesus Christ, I rejoice and rejoice continually in Your glorious and triumphant victory over death. For Your victory is my victory. Help me to live by it, in it, and for it. I am grateful to my depths - grateful forever. Amen. - Selwyn Hughes

26. A Prayer to Remember the Power of Resurrection

Lord, death could not hold You. And because of You, the resurrection, we, too, can live. Thank You that the grave is only a journey into the presence of God. You have removed the sting of death and empowered this thing called life. Now I will live in Your presence forever. Amen. - Rebecca Barlow Jordan

27. For Forgiveness and Freedom

Dear Lord, may I realize afresh today what Your death and resurrection mean for me. Forgiveness … Freedom … and the ability to walk with You through this fallen world into eternity. May I always find my satisfaction in You and Your willingness to offer Yourself to me. In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Rachel Olsen

28. A Jelly Bean Prayer for Kids

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for creating me and everything in this universe (green jellybean). I admit that I have sinned (black jellybean) and have fallen short of your glory. But I want to thank you for going through with God’s plan, even when it was scary for you (purple jellybean). Thank you for dying for my sins and the cross (red jellybean) and shedding your blood for me so that I could become pure as snow (white jellybean). I know that you will do everything you said you will do and that one day I will be in heaven with you (orange and yellow jellybean). For now, I wait in hope and excitement for when I will see you face to face (pink jellybean). Amen. - Hope Bolinger

29. To Reflect that Jesus is the Son of God

Father, please help me to act in a way that accurately depicts who You are. You are not merely a moral, historical person. You most certainly are not a fictional character. May my words and actions say to others, “Truly this man is the Son of God!” In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Karen Ehman

30. A Prayer of Repentance

Heavenly Father, our hearts are so prone to hardness. Please break up that fallow ground and search us, oh God, show us the hidden places that offend you so that through repentance we can offer you the praise you so richly deserve. Our sacrifices and celebrations are meaningless if they aren’t dedicated to you with a contrite heart. Thank you that Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at Your right hand interceding for us. Thank you that His blood covers our sin and makes a way for us to enjoy the bounty of Your presence. Forgive us, Lord. Turn our hearts back to You. Replace our arrogance, ignorance, and self-sufficiency with a pure, Holy, reverent fear. Enable us once again to tremble with awe at your life-giving Word. Create in us a clean heart, Lord, and restore a right spirit within us—so that with that renewed spirit we can celebrate Your Holiness that has made us whole. - Annette Griffin

31. A Prayer for Lent

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift of this season. Thank you for knowing our hearts and our need for rhythms in our lives, and for drawing us into a deeper communion with you throughout the coming 40 days.

Lord, it can be disheartening to read on Ash Wednesday that all come from dust, and to dust all return (Ecclesiastes 3:20), yet we know that there is more to our stories. We know that you created man and woman from the dust at the very beginning of time (Genesis 2:7) and that you breathed life into them to transform them into living creatures. We know that you are in the business of resurrection-- your very Son went to the cross to show us that no death is final and that ultimate transformation comes through your gift of salvation. Though we were made from dust, and our bodies will return to dust again, we can live in eternal glory with you through the blood of your Son.

May we remember the gift of salvation in this season. May these weeks leading up to the tragedy of Good Friday and the glory of Resurrection Sunday remind us of who you are, how you love us, and who you have created us to be as your followers... Read more of our Prayer for Lent

Share your own easter prayer words in the comments below and be encouraged by our large praying community!

Read more about the meaning, origin, and history of Easter, the celebration and remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion, at our article What is Easter?

When Is Easter?

The early Christians began remembering the Resurrection every Sunday following its occurrence. In A.D. 325, the Council of Nicaea set aside a special day just to celebrate the Resurrection. The problem with an official day was deciding whether the Resurrection should be celebrated on a weekday or always on a Sunday. Learn more about the reason behind Easter being celebrated on a Sunday and when Easter is this year at our article When is Easter?

UK: Children at Islamic Republic of Iran School sing song that references apocalyptic myth about massacering Jews

Iran’s New Islamic Propaganda Song Likened To Nazi Brainwashing

Children were brought to a gathering to hear "Hello Commander"

Children brought to a gathering to hear "hello Commander". May 19, 2022

'Hello Commander' become social phenomenon: report

BY ROBERT SPENCER

SEE: https://www.jihadwatch.org/2022/11/uk-children-at-islamic-republic-of-iran-school-sing-song-that-references-apocalyptic-myth-about-massacring-jews;

Republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, & research purposes.

Yes, there is an Islamic Republic of Iran School in London. Why? Because Britain is mad.

00100154

“Children chant massacre-Jews song at North London school,” by David Rose, The Jewish Chronicle, November 24, 2022:

An Iranian propaganda video in which dozens of children sing a song that references an apocalyptic myth about massacring Jews was filmed at a school just 15 minutes’ walk from the New London synagogue in St John’s Wood, a JC investigation has revealed.

In the video, shot earlier this year in the playground of the Islamic Republic of Iran School (IRIS) near Queen’s Park station, the children sing about joining 313 mythical warriors in a conflict against the infidels, when (according to the present Iranian regime) Israel will be obliterated and Jews killed.

Some scenes were also shot at the nearby Islamic Centre of England (ICE), which is controlled by the Iranian regime and linked to the school. ICE is currently the subject of a statutory inquiry by the Charity Commission, as the JC disclosed last week.

The song, entitled Hello Commander, has been praised by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who claims its popularity proves his people’s “loyalty to the system”, Iranian pro-regime media has reported.

Its recording in St John’s Wood, in easy reach of several synagogues and Jewish centres, has raised serious concerns among community security officials.

In the London video, rows of boys in white shirts and pressed black trousers and girls in blue flares, white blouses and matching hijabs can be seen saluting and singing their allegiance to their “commander”, Ayatollah Khamenei.

The children, aged between eight and 15, sing: “Without you, this life has no meaning. This life comes alive when you are here for me.”

They then sing about fighting in history’s final battle for the mythical leader known as the Mahdi, last seen supposedly almost 1,200 years ago.

Shia theology says the Mahdi will return to Earth to lead Muslim forces in the war of the apocalypse, accompanied by an elite band of 313 fighters — including, the song suggests, the children in the video.

They sing: “We wait for under the flag of our leaders. Tell me beloved, will you arrive soon? May Allah hasten your reappearance…

“We may be young but do not see us as too young. For you I will rise up and you will not see me fall. From the 313, you will see I will answer the call… Take my oath of loyalty as a warrior and servant.”…

Mir Abbas Hussein, a spokesman for the ICE, denied that what he called the “local” version of the song had this meaning.

He told the JC that he accepted that IRGC leaders said Israel must be obliterated before the Mahdi’s return, but said there was “nothing in the [religious] books about destroying Israel” and the song as recorded in London “is nothing to do with a political agenda. Here we focus on religion.”

The ICE’s constitution stipulates that one of its trustees will always be the UK’s personal representative of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Versions of the song recorded in Iran and elsewhere dominate the country’s official airways.

A report by the pro-regime Iran Press News Agency states: “Hello Commander educates the new generation on the ambitions of the Islamic Revolution and encourages them to be guardians to protect those ideals, which is seen as a step towards promoting the revolution among the generation to come.”…

The school is owned by the Iranian government and ICE’s previous director Mohammad Shomali, the previous ICE director and reportedly its Khamenei representative, has spoken there.

The ICE has received £139,000 from taxpayers under the Covid furlough scheme. Meanwhile, the school’s pastoral and educational standards have been scathingly criticised by Ofsted….

The ICE has hosted numerous speakers over many years who have spewed a torrent of Jew-hatred. In recent weeks, these included an ayatollah who says Jews were responsible for killing of Muslims in Burma and that Zionism “harms all mankind”.

The ICE is one of several centres across Britain and Europe that are controlled by Iran. Police and security services uncovered links to terrorism at one pro-regime hub in Germany.

The ICE and its northern UK counterpart, the Manchester Islamic Centre, have hosted prominent Labour politicians including Jeremy Corbyn the year before he became party leader. He made a speech at the ICE in 2014 on what he called “The Case for Iran”….

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SEE ALSO: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/473059/Hello-Commander

Space Force Releases New Branch Song, ‘Semper Supra’

President Donald J. Trump's U.S. Space Force reveals Official Song, 09/20/2022

BY ATHENA THORNE

SEE: https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/athena-thorne/2022/09/21/space-force-releases-historic-new-branch-song-semper-supra-n1631034;

Republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, & research purposes.

The U.S. Space Force (USSF) debuted its official song on Tuesday at the 2022 Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. The song is named after the USSF motto, “Semper Supra,” which translates to “always above.”

“Every branch of the armed forces has an official song, from ‘The Army Goes Rolling Along’ to ‘The Marines’ Hymn.’ Each song is part of the services’ foundation and represents its values, traditions, and culture,” said the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs in a press release.

“‘Semper Supra’…was created to capture the esprit de corps of both current and future Guardians, and intends to bring together service members by giving them a sense of pride.”

Related: NASA Is Destroying an Asteroid in September!

The statement went on to describe the creative process behind the new anthem:

Two former service members collaborated to create the song, a process that took years of research and revisions to make sure the song was ready for release.

“The song was a long work in progress because I wanted it to encompass all the capabilities that the Space Force offers and its vision,” said James Teachenor, a singer/songwriter who created the lyrics and melody [and] was the visionary composer and driving force of the song’s creation.

Teachenor is “an Air Force veteran and former member of the Air Force Band in Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has had songs recorded by many mainstream country music artists such as Luke Bryan, Trace Adkins, and Montgomery Gentry,” according to Military.com. Teachenor “said he texted Raymond and Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger Towberman that he wanted to be involved in crafting the song. The senior leaders took him up on the offer.”

Teachenor started working on the song with Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond in 2019 when the USSF was formed. Once the song fundamentals were established, Teachenor went on to collaborate with chief musician Sean Nelson, U.S. Coast Guard Band trombonist, and staff arranger, according to the USSF statement:

“I received the melody and words from James, and he wanted me to help add the harmony and to orchestrate it,” said Nelson. “At first, it started with singing and the piano. I became familiar with the other branches’ songs, but I wanted this one to have its own modern spin to reflect what the Space Force is – modern, new and very advanced.”

Once Nelson added more than 30 instrument parts, the song’s arrangement was played and recorded by the USCG band, then submitted to the Space Force for review. After many months of development, revisions and variations in coordination with the USCG band, the Space Force picked the final version of
“Semper Supra,” to capture what it means to be a Guardian.

The lyrics to “Semper Supra” are:

We’re the mighty watchful eye,
Guardians beyond the blue,
The invisible front line,
Warfighters brave and true.
Boldly reaching into space,
There’s no limit to our sky.
Standing guard both night and day,
We’re the Space Force from on high.

“Semper Supra” was performed at the conference by Air Force Band members, but that didn’t stop a little inter-branch rivalry from cropping up. When Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown was asked his opinion of the new military service song, he replied, “I’m sure it will grow on us.”

A solid military march with Sousa overtones, a brisk tempo, and plenty of pomp and flourishes, “Semper Supra” will fit in nicely with the cannon of military music.

Take a listen!

 

 

45 Minutes of Easter Hymns (with lyrics)~SCRIPTURE~EASTER CANTATA

Romans 6:5- For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

1 Corinthians 15:21- For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3:10- that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Revelation 20:6- Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

BY ROSEMARY SIEMENS

SEE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAfnIsmsJV4

ALLIE BETH STUCKEY:

Easter Encouragement: What the Resurrection Means for All of Us

 

Yes, Leftism Is A Religion: CORRUPT, APOSTATE Presbyterian Church USA Graces Us With Hymn to Climate Change

ROMANS 1: 25-28:

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way, also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper___.

EXCERPTS:

"The Climate is Changing ST. DENIO 11.11.11.11 ("Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise") The climate is changing! Creation cries out! Your people face flooding and fire and drought. We see the great heat waves and storms at their worst. We pray for the poor, Lord — for they suffer first. We pray for the animals here in our midst who cannot defend their own right to exist. We pray for the mountains and forests and seas that bear the harsh footprint of our human greed. We thank you for people who treasure the earth, whose faith has long taught them its beauty and worth. We thank you as well for the children and youth who look to the future and speak out the truth. We thank you for leaders, courageous and brave, who know that the earth is worth fighting to save, who care about justice and what they should do, who listen to science and work hard for you. You love this good earth, and you sent us your Son! May we love our neighbors — there's work to be done. May we, by your Spirit, do all in our power to care for your earth in this critical hour. Tune: Traditional Welsh hymn, in John Robert's Caniadau y Cyssegr (Songs of the Sanctuary), 1839 Text: Copyright © 2021 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Permission is given for free use of this hymn. Email: carolynshymns@gmail.com New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com This hymn-prayer was written to support efforts to counter climate change, including at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland (October 31-November 12, 2021). COP26 (Conference of Participants) is the main decision-making body of 197 countries working to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions and to counter dangerous climate change."

BY ROBERT SPENCER

SEE: https://pjmedia.com/culture/robert-spencer/2021/10/29/yes-leftism-is-a-religion-presbyterian-church-graces-us-with-hymn-to-climate-change-n1528051;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

Is modern American Leftism a new, secular religion? Of course, it is. Who could forget House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Grey Goose) giving thanks to her god for his salvific sacrifice: “Thank you, George Floyd, for sacrificing your life for justice”? Or New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Planned Parenthood) proclaiming that the unvaccinated “aren’t listening to God and what God wants.” And now the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which has long been a hollowed-out shell teaching social justice Leftism in vaguely Christian garb, has done its part for the sanctification of the contemporary Leftist agenda by publishing a new hymn, “The Climate is Changing.” The lyrics are far more ludicrous than the title might suggest.

Presbyterian News Service reported Friday that the hymn was prepared for the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference on Sunday in Glasgow. Apparently the assembled dignitaries, after working hard all day on strategies to compel the U.S. and Western Europe to commit economic suicide and hand global financial hegemony to China on a silver platter, will be in the mood to belt out a rousing hymn about saving Gaia. The pious Presbyterians were happy to oblige.

“The Climate is Changing” is helpfully written to a tune that many of the conference participants will find familiar: “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” an enduringly popular nineteenth-century hymn that begins: “Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible, hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.”

Now, this is the twenty-first century, and all that patriarchal business about a wise, omnipotent, glorious God is as dated as porkpie hats and the notion that there are only two genders. “The Climate is Changing,” which was written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, co-pastor with her husband, Bruce, of First Presbyterian Union Church in Oswego, New York, is much more up-to-date. Here are the first two verses, in all their virtue-signaling pseudo-Christian glory:

The climate is changing! Creation cries out!

Your people face flooding and fire and drought.
We see the great heat waves and storms at their worst.
We pray for the poor, Lord — for they suffer first.

We pray for the animals here in our midst
who cannot defend their own right to exist.
We pray for the mountains and forests and seas
that bear the harsh footprint of our human greed.

You get the idea. The lyrics do make a cursory nod toward the old religion: the fifth (yes) verse begins by reminding God: “You love this good Earth, and you sent us your Son!” If you don’t recall Jesus saying much about the necessity to reduce greenhouse emissions, but only in the West while giving China a free hand to pollute as much as it wants while turning the world into its personal economic fiefdom, Bruce Gillette, the husband of the holy hymnographer, might want to have a few words with you. “We all need to be doing more to counter the crisis ASAP,” said Bruce, who is also (surprise!) vice-moderator of Presbyterians for Earth Care. “Prayer (spoken and sung) needs to be the basis for Christian action. We hope this new hymn helps churches in their worship and action.”

Related:Leftists’ ‘Tolerance’ and ‘Inclusiveness’ Excludes Christians

It probably will, because the Gillettes are by no means alone in pretending that climate change, which rests upon numerous unproven and hysterical assumptions, is a foremost Gospel imperative. Just as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was bequeathing “The Climate is Changing” to the world, Old Joe Biden was over in Rome chatting up Pope Francis; according to the White House, Old Joe “lauded Pope Francis’ leadership in fighting the climate crisis.” And with good reason: on Thursday, the Pontiff recorded a message for the BBC in which he made it clear that he wasn’t going to brook any dissent from his climate change agenda on the basis of the idea that maybe it’s not such a good idea, much less a Gospel imperative, to impoverish and weaken one’s own nation in favor of a predatory foe. “We can confront these crises by retreating into isolationism, protectionism and exploitation,” said the woke Popescold, “or we can see in them a real chance for change.”

Nor is Pope Francis by any means alone. Top-level clergy of virtually all Christian denominations, as well as numerous non-Christian religious leaders, have agreed that tackling climate change is our foremost duty in this age. And now we can sit around the campfire, roast up some marshmallows, and sing about it as well, thanks to Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. We need a few more hymns for our new religion, though. Maybe Gillette can give us “O Little Town of Climate Change” next, or “What A Friend We Have In Gaia.” In the meantime, maybe if we sing enough choruses of “The Climate is Changing” with sufficient heartfelt sincerity, Gaia will turn away Her wrath and once again smile upon us and accept our offerings.

But, of course, then we have all that systemic racism to atone for. Whatever form the Left’s new religion eventually takes, it is certain to be exhausting.

Openly ‘Gay’ Recording Artist Reaches No. 1 ‘Christian’ Spot on iTunes

‘Preacher’s Kid’ carries a parental advisory for explicit lyrics and at turns lacerates youth group lock-ins and short-term mission trips — staples of an evangelical Christian upbringing — while professing a complicated faith.

SEE: https://religionnews.com/2021/02/10/semler-lgbtq-artist-gamestops-christian-music-with-no-1-christian-album-on-itunes/

SEE: https://christiannews.net/2021/02/12/openly-gay-recording-artist-reaches-no-1-christian-spot-on-itunes/;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

(RNS) — For the second straight day, an openly queer [ ] artist has the top Christian album on iTunes.

“Preacher’s Kid” by Semler, the artist name of Grace Baldridge, hit No. 1 on Tuesday (Feb. 9) in Apple’s iTunes store, dethroning “Look Up, Child” by Lauren Daigle, which was released in 2018.

“It’s unbelievable. I keep trying to pinch myself,” Baldridge, 30, told Religion News Service.

“I actually got a tattoo last night to try and pinch myself to see if this was real.”

But don’t expect to hear the eight-song EP on Christian radio anytime soon.

It carries a parental advisory for explicit lyrics and at turns lacerates youth group lock-ins and short-term mission trips — staples of an evangelical Christian upbringing — while professing a complicated faith.

Continue reading this story >>

Editor’s Note: The above shared story is from a secular news service, which does not represent the perspective of a Christian worldview.

Kari Jobe, Hillsong, Bethel Music Steeped in Pagan Idolatry

SEE: https://reformationcharlotte.org/2019/02/21/embracing-a-new-age-charismatic-worship-on-sunday-mornings/;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

There was something peculiar about the old hymns that churches would embrace and sing together on Sunday mornings. For the most part, they were rich in doctrine — they actually communicated something to the congregation. They were exegetical, they told us who God is and about what He has done. It was in response to this rich theology and the knowledge of God that the congregation responded in praise and worship.

It was reverent and orderly — it was not a chaotic mess. That is, until, the charismatic movement began to grow. The charismatic movement has influenced the worship in the vast majority of churches in the world today. Charismatic worship focuses much less on biblical doctrine and much more on garnering an emotional response from the worshiper.

Charismatic worship music draws its foundations from the modern culture — and that culture is a mixture of Western technological advances in music coupled with Eastern mysticism. That is, through modern musical styles, often an emotional trance-like state can be achieved through repetitive beats and choruses. With a lack of concern for the words itself, in a sense, one is “under the influence” of the music, increasing suggestibility.

This is one of the hallmarks of the charismatic movement. Their focus is much more on the Holy Spirit — what they believe to be the Holy Spirit — than it is on sound doctrine. Consider what one of the pioneers of modern charismatic worship, Jack Hayford, states in his bookWorship His Majesty,

There is an unholy propensity in human nature to secure itself in history rather than open itself to simplicity–the simple touch of God, the summoning voice of the Spirit. Just as with the Reformation, ecclesiastical and theological resistance sustains its posturing against the new, the fresh and the childlike. The effort to “keep control” breeds the forging of new instruments of doctrinaire domination over the church…

The idea is that doctrine enslaves people to an inferior form of worship and does not allow one to “experience” the Holy Spirit through their emotions. In the same chapter, Hayford, writing about the effects of the Protestant Reformation says, “the shackles of emotional, intellectual, and spiritual slavery were cast aside and a renaissance of learning and social advancement was realized.” Of course, that isn’t exactly true. It is true that Christians were set free from the spiritual bondage of the Roman Catholic Church, which is a false church filled with false doctrine. However, as the New Testament teaches, being set free from the bondage of corruption actually enslaves us to Christ Himself, which, in turn, enslaves us to good doctrine. Hayford, however, continues, “I believe a new Reformation in worship will accomplish the same thing.”

The “Reformation in worship” to which Hayford points is the watered-down charismatic emotionally-driven worship we see in our churches today. When you walk into any modern Evangelical church, the airwaves are filled with the sounds of electric guitars, drums, and a multitude of instrumental riffs that tickle the ears of hundreds, even thousands of people who stand with their hands in the air swaying back and forth. Sadly, for the most part, it isn’t God that they are worshiping, but the music. Often there is no choir, and often, the music is led by one lead singer. The focus is often on that lead singer and rather than congregational, reverent worship, it’s an entertainment show that is designed to garner an emotional state to prepare one to hear and receive whatever it is the pastor, who follows the worship service, has to say. It’s, for lack of a better way of putting it, hypnosis.

And this is exactly how the Eastern mystics have worked throughout the ages, and now repackaged with a modern snare into the New-Age movement. Entrance your audience, indoctrinate them into your religion through seduction, and keep them through their emotions. The charismatic worship movement is simply New-Age mysticism enveloped with a veneer of Christianity.

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SEE ALSO:

https://reformationcharlotte.org/2019/02/23/kari-jobes-sexualizing-of-gods-love-and-word-of-faith-heresy/

AND: https://reformationcharlotte.org/2016/03/17/why-hillsong-music-is-dangerous-for-your-church/

AND: https://reformationcharlotte.org/2019/04/14/why-do-so-many-worship-leaders-look-so-gay/

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Hillsong Music is a Gateway Drug to Apostasy, Your Church is Dealing it to You

SEE: https://reformationcharlotte.org/2020/10/14/hillsong-music-is-a-gateway-drug-to-apostasy-your-church-is-dealing-it-to-you/;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

Last year, we watched a string of high-profile apostasies take place, including Marty Sampson, one of the most prominent Hillsong music artists over the years. Sampson is not the only one, though. Hillsong Church is not a church, but a breeding ground for false converts — and is filled with false teachers. Hillsong has practically merged with the Roman Catholic Church and has even held Catholic Masses at its conferences and it has completely embraced the Word of Faith heresy.

This is an updated article that seeks to explain why your church shouldn’t be feeding you this drug.

It is the bounden duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist and as to what Antichrist is no sane man ought to raise a question. If it be not the Popery in the Church of Rome, there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name. . .It wounds Christ, because it robs Christ of His glory, because it puts sacramental efficacy in the place of His atonement and lifts a piece of bread into the place of the Savior and a few drops of water into the place of the Holy Spirit and puts a mere fallible man like ourselves up as the Vicar of Christ on earth. If we pray against it, because it is against Him, we shall love the persons though we hate their errors; we shall love their souls though we loathe and detest their dogmas. And so the breath of our prayers will be sweetened because we turn our faces toward Christ when we pray.

– Charles H. Spurgeon

By far, the greatest evil in the church are the works of darkness that creep in unaware to dilute the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, while building a false church that serves the interest of man. One of the major players in these days of iniquitous works is the world-wide organization known as Hillsong Church. Hillsong has fed much to the evangelical church in the way of wickedness through its many programs, especially its music production program. Hillsong’s music is played in nearly every evangelical church in the world, as well as many Roman Catholic churches. The purchase of every piece of “worshipful art” from them goes to support their works and pays homage to their apostasy.

Does your church worship service include Hillsong’s music?

Hillsong church is a breeding ground for false converts. Some of their New York campus’ flagship products include the homosexual couple, Reed Kelly and Josh Canfield, in which Canfield volunteers as a choir director 2 and Justin Bieber, who has continual run-ins with the law.

Hillsong Australia’s former worship pastrix, Darlene Zschech, has taken the apostate nature of Hillsong’s artisanship to the highest level.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. – Eph 5:11

Zschech has chosen instead to bear false witness to the world, blaspheming the Holy Spirit by attributing evil deeds to Him that he did not do. In a recent blog post, she wrote,

I am writing this mid-air on my way home from Singapore after an amazing time away speaking, leading worship, writing songs, being with dear friends. It has been wonderful. And, to see what the Holy Spirit is doing around the earth is completely breathtaking. Even in all the expressions that make us different as God’s colourful church, its incredible to me that when the Holy Spirit draws near, His role in our experience of following Jesus makes us so very similar.

What is she referring to? Her recent capitulation to Rome–the Vatican, at an ecumenical worship event lead by the Roman Catholic Church. Don Moen, an American “worship leader” with close ties to Zschech and Hillsong, who also participated in the event was quoted as saying in an article at Christianity Today,

This ecumenical event brings Protestants, Catholics, and Jews together as we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being martyred and persecuted all over the world today.

I find it extremely difficult to reconcile this mindset, the acceptance that contradictory beliefs can all be from the same God, as a work of the Holy Spirit. She refers to it as “different characteristics, faces, tastes, and giftings.. yet a DNA running through our veins that draw us together.” In Philippians 2:2, Paul teaches us to be “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” True Christians can only be united around the truth because God is truth.  She goes on to say,

A few months ago a very interesting email turned up in my office inviting me to sing at a beautiful event called the ‘Catholic charismatic renewal’ at St Peters Square, to actually lead songs of worship with others as the Pope called people to prayer and unity…Most invites I receive, I am unable to say yes to, but when Mark and I feel a peace about it, I go…This invite to Rome was about many different denominations coming together to pray for the world…

The Holy Spirit does not lead Christians into an ecumenical, multi-god “praise and worship” event put on by the ancient enemy of the Gospel, the Roman Catholic Church. It’s quite the opposite. The Holy Spirit leads people out of Rome, and out of apostasy (Revelation 18:4). The Holy Spirit finds what Zschech claims she was led to do by Him as totally unacceptable (Eph 5:11).

Zschech has been deceived, as many from Hillsong have, that doctrine is of no importance in the Christian life, and that all who name the name of Christ–Roman Catholics, homosexuals, unrepentant sinners–as long as you name Christ, we are all united in that confession. She goes on to say,

I was not there to judge, I was not there to become a Catholic, I was not there to sightsee. But I WAS there to lift up the name of Jesus.. without any hesitation or compromise.. for as I have learned over many years, that once Jesus is the centre.. anything can happen.

Right Darlene, let’s not judge, let’s just jump on the bandwagon of feel-good music, man-centered pep talks, and motivational speaking, all while we judge those who truly want to hold to sound doctrine and see people come to a true saving faith in Jesus Christ. “Once Jesus is the center, anything can happen,” she says. The center of what? Your blasphemous, idolatrous event that mocks who he is, and what he has done? Jesus will not be mocked (Gal 6:7). You can rest assured that the Jesus of the Bible was not the center of that event–rather he was looking down at you, calling you to repent. You have more than compromised his name, you have outright denied him.

Nonetheless, she believes that the Holy Spirit has brought her together with the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church, to lead thousands of lost people in an ecumenical worship service, united under a false Gospel, and a false Jesus. But this isn’t surprising considering apostasy coming out of the church she was brought up in. Hillsong has focused on a works-based gospel–a social gospel, nearly identical to that of Rome. She continues,

A message was preached about the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst, and about the great grace of God which we are all dependent. Pope Francis asked the crowd to declare loudly,’Jesus is Lord’ three times and each time it grew in confidence and intention. Worship was lifted up which had the many thousands of people who attended all singing in free-flowing moments which to be honest, was reminiscent of a time I sang on a John Wimber crusade in New Zealand many years ago.

So the Pope asks the crowd to repeat a mantra, and their “confidence and intention” grew with each repetition? Strangely, this sounds a lot closer to Eastern Mysticism than to Christianity. Besides the fact that vain repetitions are forbidden in Scripture (Matthew 6:7), we are taught to humble ourselves before the Lord. We don’t use him as a wishing well. However, this practice is nonetheless rooted in the heretical Word of Faith movement that teaches that our words have the power to speak things into being. Proponents of this heresy, such as Kenneth Copeland, have argued that since God was able to speak things into existence, that man has been endowed with the ability to do the same, equating faith to a “creative force.”

She closes her blog with some very troubling statements–statements that are indicative of the lost state of her soul, as well as many others. She says:

It all comes down to a seeking heart. And a God, who is seeking us, is NOT defined or intimidated by denomination, liturgy, age or preferences… the TRUTH of our hearts toward Him is what He is after. Not controlled or manufactured, outside in expressions of lives trying to present a Holy life. Jesus, only Jesus is the answer. He takes us as He finds us. He works with us every day, from the inside out, patient and kind in His love for us and His ultimate work in our lives, leading us daily in our life’s purpose.

She’s right that Jesus is the only answer, but which Jesus? The Jesus of the Roman Catholic Church is not the same Jesus of the Bible. The Roman Catholic Jesus is a Jesus who is summoned by a priest and dwells within the body of a wafer during his repeated sacrifice on the altar of the Satanic temple daily.

So yes, I did meet Pope Francis. And yes, I did witness something truly miraculous…Change is happening all over the planet. There is a hunger for the truth of being a Christ follower, and so Christ followers need to be found EVERYWHERE.. that we will be a witness BY OUR LOVE.

Change is certainly happening all over the planet, but it’s not for the truth. The Bible teaches there will be a great falling away, a rebellion against God in the last days (2 Thes 2:3), and we see it happening right in front of our eyes. The apostate church of Rome is leading the way, and Zschech and Hillsong are right behind them. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says that people like Zschech are “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan, disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” Zschech is following a false path and teaching a false Gospel. Her ends will correspond to her deeds.

Finally, she has this to say,

C’mon church. Isaiah 60 says to ARISE SHINE Thy light has come that even as the earth grows darker, Christ’s light in us shines brighter. Let’s not be dulled down by a lack of understanding, or a judgmental attitude. I had to continually remind myself that I was there to announce and declare the Kingdom of God and not to fault find but to be aware and awake to something very precious. And so on we go, hearts and hands ready for all God is calling us into.

Folks, this lady is totally, and completely lost. She has absolutely no idea who Jesus Christ is, what he has done, or why he has done it. Yet, her music is played in solid churches and listened to by faithful people all around the world. Why do our churches continue to promote and support the rank heresy that comes out of Hillsong Church? Is it because we don’t any better? Arguably, most evangelical churches are on the same page as Zschech, but some would openly reject this false doctrine, and preach it back to the pits of Hell where it belongs, yet they are completely blind to the fact that they are supporting it, and feeding it, by purchasing the rights to this music to lead their faithful congregations in worship of the one true God. Can we not see the absolute hypocrisy here? Why?

 

 

 

Matt Maher is Not Saved, Stop Singing His Music in Church

SEE: https://reformationcharlotte.org/2019/02/01/matt-maher-is-not-saved-stop-singing-his-music-in-church/;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

Modern Evangelicals are happily embracing a deceptive evil, and letting it creep into their churches. The evil is a counterfeit gospel, a counterfeit Christianity. The evil is the Roman Catholic Church, and it’s creeping in unawares, especially to young and impressionable minds, through worship music. Particularly, a Catholic singer named Matt Maher has become strikingly popular in Evangelical worship. With the compromise of today’s Evangelical leadership, this should come as no surprise. Al Mohler once said he believed that there would be millions of Catholics in heaven. Other Southern Baptists are declaring confessing, professing Roman Catholics saved (See here, and here). And it just about every contemporary Baptist church, you’ll hear “worship” music written by Roman Catholics.

Charles Spurgeon once said,

I question if hell can find a more fitting instrument within its infernal lake than the Church of Rome is for the cause of mischief. And your church will in its measure, be the same if bereft of the Spirit.

What a gem of truth. The rate at which Evangelicals are embracing this false spirit as alarming. Historically, and as a result of the conservative resurgence, Southern Baptists have withstood much of the apostasy that has befallen other denominations. For the most part, Southern Baptists have held a strong (but weakening) stance against homosexuality entering the church. At least, for now, you don’t find acceptance of homosexuality preached from the pulpits in most SBC churches. And most SBC pastors aren’t going to recommend to their congregation books written by homosexual activists, like Matthew Vines, that call themselves Christians.

So why do we make exceptions for Roman Catholics? Why do we declare them saved when they reject the true Gospel? Why do we worship to music written by Matt Maher, a Roman Catholic?

Evangelicals are being duped. Roman Catholicism, like any other false religion, is an abomination to God. It is absolutely asinine for Al Mohler to believe that there would be millions of Catholics in heaven. Does Al Mohler believe there will be millions of Mormons in heaven too? How about millions of practicing homosexuals? Would he want devotionals written by Matthew Vines to be studied in Sunday School at his church? What about prayers written by Glenn Beck to be read during worship service? Do you see the inconsistency?

Yet, Evangelicals everywhere are embracing Roman Catholicism as brothers and sisters in Christ. Russell Moore recently said in an article he co-authored with Roman Catholic, Marco Rubio, “both of us are of the Christian faith.”

Why do they believe this?

Roman Catholics cannot be Christians because they reject Jesus as wholly sufficient for the remission of their sins. Because of this, they practice idolatry regularly, through the mass, in which a priest supposedly summon Jesus out of Heaven to enter a wafer, and then proceed to eat and drink the physical body and blood of what they believe to be Jesus, present in the wafer. They practice idolatry through the veneration of Mary and the Saints in order to try to gain favor with God. They reject the fellowship of a true, local church that teaches and exposits the Scriptures authoritatively. And they practice idolatry by putting their faith in their man-made organization, hierarchical priest system, and sacraments for their salvation.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Let me make that clear: Do not be deceived, a practicing, unrepentant Roman Catholic will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It doesn’t matter if a Roman Catholic “sounds evangelical” in his testimony. If he’s in the Roman Catholic Church and doesn’t see anything wrong with the idolatry he practices daily, he has not been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

It doesn’t matter if Matt Maher says he’s a Christian or makes a “Christian-sounding” profession of faith. He is still a Roman Catholic, who practices idolatry, and is not repentant of it. It doesn’t matter if some of his music sounds okay. It doesn’t matter if he says he believes in Jesus. If he is unrepentant of his sin, he has not been regenerated.

But let’s go out on a limb here, and say that perhaps he is saved, and just hasn’t come to realize yet through sanctification that he’s caught up in a false religion. Sanctification is both immediate and progressive, therefore, it is possible for a Roman Catholic to be saved, and still (temporarily) be in the Roman Catholic Church. It still doesn’t matter. He’s still practicing sin, should be called to repentance, and by no means should he, or his worship music be played in a Bible-believing church. We wouldn’t do that for other unrepentant sinners. Why do we make exceptions for Roman Catholics?

We wouldn’t do that for other unrepentant sinners. Why do we make exceptions for Roman Catholics?



Matt Maher is Not Saved, Stop Singing His Music in Church

SEE: https://reformationcharlotte.org/2019/02/01/matt-maher-is-not-saved-stop-singing-his-music-in-church/;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:

Modern Evangelicals are happily embracing a deceptive evil, and letting it creep into their churches. The evil is a counterfeit gospel, a counterfeit Christianity. The evil is the Roman Catholic Church, and it’s creeping in unawares, especially to young and impressionable minds, through worship music. Particularly, a Catholic singer named Matt Maher has become strikingly popular in Evangelical worship. With the compromise of today’s Evangelical leadership, this should come as no surprise. Al Mohler once said he believed that there would be millions of Catholics in heaven. Other Southern Baptists are declaring confessing, professing Roman Catholics saved (See here, and here). And it just about every contemporary Baptist church, you’ll hear “worship” music written by Roman Catholics.

Charles Spurgeon once said,

I question if hell can find a more fitting instrument within its infernal lake than the Church of Rome is for the cause of mischief. And your church will in its measure, be the same if bereft of the Spirit.

What a gem of truth. The rate at which Evangelicals are embracing this false spirit as alarming. Historically, and as a result of the conservative resurgence, Southern Baptists have withstood much of the apostasy that has befallen other denominations. For the most part, Southern Baptists have held a strong (but weakening) stance against homosexuality entering the church. At least, for now, you don’t find acceptance of homosexuality preached from the pulpits in most SBC churches. And most SBC pastors aren’t going to recommend to their congregation books written by homosexual activists, like Matthew Vines, that call themselves Christians.

So why do we make exceptions for Roman Catholics? Why do we declare them saved when they reject the true Gospel? Why do we worship to music written by Matt Maher, a Roman Catholic?

Evangelicals are being duped. Roman Catholicism, like any other false religion, is an abomination to God. It is absolutely asinine for Al Mohler to believe that there would be millions of Catholics in heaven. Does Al Mohler believe there will be millions of Mormons in heaven too? How about millions of practicing homosexuals? Would he want devotionals written by Matthew Vines to be studied in Sunday School at his church? What about prayers written by Glenn Beck to be read during worship service? Do you see the inconsistency?

Yet, Evangelicals everywhere are embracing Roman Catholicism as brothers and sisters in Christ. Russell Moore recently said in an article he co-authored with Roman Catholic, Marco Rubio, “both of us are of the Christian faith.”

Why do they believe this?

Roman Catholics cannot be Christians because they reject Jesus as wholly sufficient for the remission of their sins. Because of this, they practice idolatry regularly, through the mass, in which a priest supposedly summon Jesus out of Heaven to enter a wafer, and then proceed to eat and drink the physical body and blood of what they believe to be Jesus, present in the wafer. They practice idolatry through the veneration of Mary and the Saints in order to try to gain favor with God. They reject the fellowship of a true, local church that teaches and exposits the Scriptures authoritatively. And they practice idolatry by putting their faith in their man-made organization, hierarchical priest system, and sacraments for their salvation.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Let me make that clear: Do not be deceived, a practicing, unrepentant Roman Catholic will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It doesn’t matter if a Roman Catholic “sounds evangelical” in his testimony. If he’s in the Roman Catholic Church and doesn’t see anything wrong with the idolatry he practices daily, he has not been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

It doesn’t matter if Matt Maher says he’s a Christian or makes a “Christian-sounding” profession of faith. He is still a Roman Catholic, who practices idolatry, and is not repentant of it. It doesn’t matter if some of his music sounds okay. It doesn’t matter if he says he believes in Jesus. If he is unrepentant of his sin, he has not been regenerated.

But let’s go out on a limb here, and say that perhaps he is saved, and just hasn’t come to realize yet through sanctification that he’s caught up in a false religion. Sanctification is both immediate and progressive, therefore, it is possible for a Roman Catholic to be saved, and still (temporarily) be in the Roman Catholic Church. It still doesn’t matter. He’s still practicing sin, should be called to repentance, and by no means should he, or his worship music be played in a Bible-believing church. We wouldn’t do that for other unrepentant sinners. Why do we make exceptions for Roman Catholics?

We wouldn’t do that for other unrepentant sinners. Why do we make exceptions for Roman Catholics?