| | 6 Easter messages from US presidents | | Curated for you byCP Editors | | Good afternoon! It's Wednesday, April 5, and today's headlines include a collection of Easter messages from U.S. presidents, research on Americans' views of former President Donald Trump's indictment, and details on "The Passion of the Christ" star Jim Caviezel's latest film, "Sound of Freedom." | Easter marks a significant holiday for the Christian faith as Christians celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection on the third day after being crucified. In recent decades, U.S. presidents have made it a tradition to issue messages in commemoration of the special holy day, focusing on the resurrection and other aspects. This article from The Christian Post highlights six statements issued by recent presidents in celebration of Easter. Among the bunch: Ronald Reagan declaring that Easter marks Christ's victory over death, Bill Clinton calling it the holy day when good conquered evil, and George W. Bush calling the observance "the most important event of the Christian faith." Continue reading.Also of Interest ...What is Holy Week and what does each day symbolize? | | P.S.From daily news to weekend headlines, we've got you covered. Whether you're interested in religious liberty or inspiring faith stories, there is something for everyone. Check out CP's full newsletter lineup to subscribe to our latest free offerings. See more. |
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| What does the American public think of Trump's indictment? | | A number of polls over the last week have shown conflicting reports when it comes to how citizens across the U.S. feel about the news of former President Donald Trump's indictment by a grand jury in Manhattan. This article from CP reviews the findings of several polls from outlets including CNN, ABC News, and RealClearPolitics. Read more. | | Christian author repents for using trans pronouns | | Rosaria Butterfield, a Christian author who once advocated for using people's preferred pronouns after her conversion to the faith has condemned her previous use of them as a sin. Butterfield, a former lesbian Syracuse University women's studies professor who came to Christ over 20 years ago, wrote an article on Monday where she condemned herself for "carelessly" using trans pronouns in books and articles and advocating for their use in interviews. "Christians who use the moral lens of LGBTQ+ personhood are not merely a 'soft presence' in the enemy camp. Their malleability makes them pudding in the enemy's hand," she wrote. "They make false converts to a counterfeit gospel that bends the knee to the fictional identity of LGBTQ+." Read more. | | Missionary, pastor killed in wrong way crash on way to preach | | Pastor Dean Elliott, 63, of Byron Center and a ministry called Abounding Hope in Michigan has died after a wrong-way crash that state police believe might have been triggered by a drunk driver. The wrong way driver, a 30-year-old Grand Rapids man, was critically injured in the accident, which occurred on the northbound lanes of U.S. 131 just south of Burton Street. Elliot and his wife, Brenda, have run Abounding Hope since 2003, evangelizing throughout Eurasia in a ministry that carried them to 58 countries on five continents. M. Wayne Benson, a long-time friend and president and founder of Paraclete Ministries, called the couple "people of integrity and models of Christ's love." Read more. |
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| Why isn't adoption a Gospel theme during Easter? | | Lifeline Children's Services President Herbie Newell highlights why adoption should be a central Gospel theme during the Easter season. "By swallowing death up in life, Jesus did everything necessary to provide for those of us outside the family of God to be brought in as sons and heirs of the Most High. The miracle of Easter paves the way for our adoption into the family of God," he writes. Read more. | | Is it a sin for a Christian to use trans pronouns? | | In this editorial, Dr. Michael Brown discusses the "cultural madness" of trans pronouns and why Christians should not conform by declaring one's own pronouns. When it comes to using the requested pronouns of others, Brown concludes that "reality is reality and truth is truth," stating that "to collaborate with someone's deep, heartfelt confusion is to hurt them more than to help them." Read more. |
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| The #1 Book Publishing Event For Business and Ministry Leaders | | If you are an aspiring or existing author that is looking to grow your platform using the power of books, this is a must-attend event! Leadership Books (LeadershipBooks.com) will be pulling back the curtain on the book publishing industry and giving you the insights you need to sell more books and gain more clients. Join us at the beautiful World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL May 22-23, 2023 for a 1-1/2 day conference (In conjunction with the National Religious Broadcasters Convention) that will set you on a path to success!This event is perfect for pastors, leaders, ministers, and all-around aspiring authors! | | Be sure to register, today! | | |
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| Evangelist Stone won't face charges in sexual misconduct case | | A grand jury has declined to file any charges against prominent Tennessee-based evangelist Perry Stone in a sexual misconduct case. The Voice of Evangelism board of directors confronted Stone, the founder of Perry Stone Ministries, in 2020 after receiving a dozen letters from women accusing Stone of sexual misconduct. He was asked to step down and participate in a restoration plan while the complaints were evaluated, but he was eventually cleared and allowed to resume his post. Local district attorneys requested that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigate the accusations. Stephen Crump, the 10th Judicial District Attorney General, has indicated that the case file will remain open, telling the Chattanooga Times Free Press that it's not common to do so due to the potential that new information may emerge. Read more. | | Houston responds to Cartier watch claims | | Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston took to Twitter to assert that his wife, Bobbie, has never "bought, owned, or worn a Cartier watch in the past 25 years." Houston's comments came in response to claims that the megachurch splurged thousands of dollars on a luxury Cartier watch for Bobbie during Houston's reign as global senior pastor. Houston, 69, who was due to appear in a California court Tuesday to answer drunk driving and related charges, lashed out on the social media platform days after Australian Parliament Member Andrew Wilkie accused Houston and other church leaders of money laundering, tax evasion and shopping sprees that would "embarrass a Kardashian." Read more. |
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| 'His Only Son' is in theaters now | | The biblical drama "His Only Son," which hit theaters on March 31, tells the story of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the mountain of Moriah as revealed in Genesis 22. The movie is the first theatrical film to utilize crowdfunding to cover distribution and advertising expenses, raising more than $1,235,000. With a budget of just $250,000, the film—which was released in 1,200 theaters—has already raked in more than $5.5 million, placing it behind "John Wick: Chapter 4" over the weekend. Learn more. | | Caviezel stars as agent who saved kids from sex trafficking | | "The Passion of the Christ" actor Jim Caviezel stars in "Sound of Freedom," an Angel Studios film based on the true story of a former U.S. government agent who quits his job to focus on rescuing children from global sex traffickers. The film is set to debut in theaters later this year. During an interview with CP, producer Eduardo Verástegui discussed the importance of the film, stating, "We're talking about millions of children around the world kidnapped for sex; these kids are being raped 15 times a day for many years. And when the traffickers don't want them anymore ... they open them and sell their organs. If this doesn't move you, if this is not enough for you to wake up and do something, I think you're dead. I hope this movie will touch millions of hearts." Read more. | | | | | | | | Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! -- CP Editors |
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