Happy Sunday

Never Happened

Today's Author: Pastor Bill

Scripture: John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." KJV

The prisoner spoke: "I've never peddled drugs, I've never cheated on my income tax, I've never beaten my wife, I've never ---"

"Wait a minute," the prosecutor interrupted, "Did you or did you not rob the bank?"

"Well, I give blood to the Red Cross, I've served in the army, I gave money to the flood and tornado victims, and I --- "

"Wait a minute. Did you or did you not rob the bank" "Yes, but I've done so many good things!"

One day you and I will stand before a judge and we may defend ourselves with  at least 8 "I" statements:

I never robbed anyone
I never murdered anyone
I was a good provider for my family
I helped the poor every chance I got
I was an upstanding citizen and voted every election
I may have done a few bad things, but so did everyone else
I went to church at least twice a month and a few Wednesdays
I think I'm about 3% guilty for my entire lifetime on earth and that ain't bad

And  the Judge will say as in James 2:10: "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws" NLT

When I accepted the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for my sins --- my sins were washed away by his shed blood and became as though they never happened.

Angus Buchan of "Faith Like Potatoes" fame puts it this way: "Good People don't go to heaven, BELIEVERS go to heaven!"

Prayer: Father thank you for the good news of Jesus Christ dying for my sins and making them as though they never happened. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Great I Am
I want to be close, close to Your side
So Heaven is real and death is a lie
I want to hear voices of angels above
Singing as one

CHORUS
Hallelujah, Holy, Holy
God Almighty, the Great I Am
who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the Great I Am

I want to be near, near to Your heart
Loving the world and hating the dark
I want to see dry bones living again
Singing as one

CHORUS

The mountains shake before You
The demons run in fear
At the mention of the name
King Of Majesty
There is no power in hell
or any who can stand
before the power and the
Presence of the Great I Am

CHORUS

Daily Smile:
A man walked into a doctor's office and the receptionist asked him what he had. He replied, "I got shingles."
She said, "Fill out this form and supply your name, address, medical insurance number. When you're done, please take a seat."

Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aide came out and asked him what he had. He said, "I got shingles."
So she took down his height, weight, and complete medical history, then said, "Change into this gown and wait in the examining room."

A half hour later a nurse came in and asked him what he had. He said, "I got shingles."

So she gave him a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram, and told him to wait for the doctor.

An hour later the doctor came in and asked him what he had. He said, "Shingles."

The doctor gave him a full-cavity examination, and then said, "I just checked you out thoroughly, and I can't find shingles anywhere. " 

The man replied, "They're outside in the truck. Where do you want them?"

In The News:

Famed Journalist and Christian Mentor John McCandlish Phillips dies at 85
John McCandlish Phillips Jr., an acclaimed New York Times reporter who left his job to become an evangelist, died April 9 at age 85 after a long bout with pneumonia, WORLD reports. Phillips worked for 21 years at the Times, and was known for his hard-hitting journalism as well as his creative feature articles.  Phillips famously kept a Bible on his desk and abstained from the common newsroom practices of drinking and gambling. Yet, he didn’t have a preachy reputation: He was known as a “quiet giant” and maintained an exemplary reputation.
Phillips mentored several generations of journalists, even in the years after he left journalism. Russ Pulliam, a WORLD board member, was a friend and mentee of Phillips. “I didn’t even know how to say, ‘How do we bring a Christian worldview to our work?’” Pulliam recalled Tuesday. “I know for a number of younger Christians in journalism he was a friend who gave us guidance. …He could go write a story and bring biblical principles to bear in it, and in such a subtle way. And the New York Times editors would love it.”
In 1965, Phillips reported on Daniel Burros, the leader of New York state’s Ku Klux Klan who advocated for the genocide of Jew. In the lead-up to the story, Phillips found out that Burros was himself Jewish, and Burros threatened to kill Phillips. When Phillips went forward with his reporting, Burros committed suicide the day the Times published the story.
Phillips quit the Times in 1973. He said he felt God calling him into full-time ministry, which he did through a small Pentecostal church he helped found and run: New Testament Missionary Fellowship. At the time the Christian community in New York City was very small, but has grown in recent decades.

Planned Parenthood of Delaware Accused of Unsafe Conditions
Two former workers from Planned Parenthood of Delaware say the Wilmington abortion center’s unsanitary and unsafe conditions put women at risk, WORLD reports. In an interview, Jayne Mitchell-Werbrich and Joyce Vasikonis described soiled operating tables not cleaned between patients and abortionists who refused to wear gloves. The women, who are registered nurses, quit their jobs to protect their medical licenses. Both women said the Planned Parenthood facility should be closed.
According to the local ABC news affiliate, the abortion providers in Delaware do not undergo routine inspections because the Delaware Department of Health does not have enough manpower.  However, the agency does respond to complaints, and did tour the Planned Parenthood facility in October after a patient called. Mary Peterson, who works for Delaware’s health department, said inspectors did not find any evidence during the inspection to support the nurses’ claims. In spite of this, five patients have been rushed from the facility to a nearby hospital since the beginning of the year, something Peterson said state officials would be looking at more closely.

Earthquake In Iran, Dozens Feared Dead
At least 40 people are feared dead in Iran and seven more in Pakistan after a powerful earthquake near the countries' shared border, CNN reports. The earthquake was preliminarily measured at 7.8 magnitude, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter of the quake, which struck at around 3:15 p.m. local time, was about 50 miles north of Saravan, the Iranian Seismological Center reported. A state of emergency has been declared in the area, and rescue workers have been deployed from other provinces.

Richard Land to Head Southern Evangelical Seminary
Richard Land, the evangelical culture warrior who was set to leave his job with the Southern Baptists after a series of controversies, will step down early to become head of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, N.C., in July, RNS reports. The Charlotte school focuses on apologetics, or defending the Christian faith in the modern world, a subject Land is passionate about and taught for years as the head of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
"My goal is to join with the SES family to produce an ever increasing number of graduates who will be the green berets and paratroopers of God's army, and who will be used by him to win tremendous victories for Christ and His kingdom," Land said in a statement. A year ago, Land made controversial comments about race and the Trayvon Martin case that resulted in a reprimand from the SBC and the loss of his radio show. Land was also found to have lifted passages, without attribution, from another source for his radio commentaries. Russell Moore, dean of the school of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was elected to succeed Land.

Happy Saturday

Changing our thinking

Moses said to the Lord; ”Oh Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past, nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 3:10, NIV

It is no easy thing to change the habits of an old man. Moses was eighty when the stillness of the semi-desert was broken by someone speaking with a human voice, and giving the old man a most extraordinary experience of challenges and miracles. But, like most of us, Moses was not willing to change his ways and routines for something he knew and understood very little about.

The dreams of his youth had died. The realities of life had made him accept a career as a shepherd. His only hope now was for an increase in his flocks, and an occasional glimpse of new grazing lands. His horizon really did not stretch very far these days. Gone and almost forgotten were the days of his youth, with an entirely different life, bright prospects and dreams of liberating his people.

But one day he ventured out beyond the desert, and this became the beginning of one of the most important journeys ever undertaken by a man. It began with a flock of sheep. It ended forty years later with a whole nation at the border of the Promised Land. Who could even in his wildest dreams have imagined that? Only God.

But it took a change in Moses` thinking and a breaking of his old habits. That seemed to be harder than speaking to Pharaoh later on, or leading the Israelites through the desert. No wonder the Bible so often addresses our mind, and the way we think, like Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 14:20, and many more. Most of the spiritual battles we fight are taking place in our minds.

What is influencing your thoughts today? Deeply rooted habits and traditions, or a fresh challenge by the Lord? Obviously the example of Moses is a special challenge to the elderly, who tend to think the best days are past. And maybe they are. Not every eighty-year old should become a Moses. But the willingness and ability to catch the Lord´s vision for today is so important to us all: To break the pull of traditions and habits, not as an end in itself, but to catch the vision of what the Lord will do tomorrow. We should not just recount what He did yesterday.

Today may be the day of an important decision in your life that will affect the lives of others tomorrow. Learn from Moses. The God who challenges you to obey knows what He is doing, even when you question it in disbelief.

Look out for your burning bush today! And even more, let God who was in the bush, give you hope and faith for things you have stopped dreaming of. With God everything is possible!

Today's Writer : Goran Andersson 




Great Is The LORD
Great is the Lord,
He is holy and just
By His power we trust
In His love
Great is the Lord
He is faithful and true
By His mercy He proves
He is love
Chorus:
Great is the Lord
And worthy of glory
Great is the Lord
And worthy of praise
Great is the Lord
Now lift up your voice
Now lift up your voice
Great is the Lord
Great is the Lord

Great is the Lord,
He is holy and just
By His power we trust
In His love
Great is the Lord
He is faithful, and true
By His mercy He proves
He is love

Chorus

Great are you Lord
And worthy of glory
Great are you Lord
And worthy of praise
Great are you Lord
I lift up my voice
I lift up my voice
Great are you Lord
Great are you Lord

Daily Smile:
Four people are in an airplane, the pilot, the smartest man in the world, the richest man in the world, and a punk teenager. The airplane experiences some difficulties, and the pilot informs the three passengers that the plane is going to crash, and there are only three parachutes on the plane. 

The richest man in the world takes one, because he says that his lawyers will sue everyone else on the plane if he doesn't survive. 

The smartest man in the world takes a parachute, because he thinks that the world would be a worse place without him. 

The pilot says to the punk "There's only one parachute left, I'll fight you for it." 

"That won't be necessary," said the punk, "The smartest man in the world took my backpack."

In The News:

Richard Lane to Head Southern Evangelical Seminary
Richard Land, the evangelical culture warrior who was set to leave his job with the Southern Baptists after a series of controversies, will step down early to become head of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, N.C., in July, RNS reports. The Charlotte school focuses on apologetics, or defending the Christian faith in the modern world, a subject Land is passionate about and taught for years as the head of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
"My goal is to join with the SES family to produce an ever increasing number of graduates who will be the green berets and paratroopers of God's army, and who will be used by him to win tremendous victories for Christ and His kingdom," Land said in a statement. A year ago, Land made controversial comments about race and the Trayvon Martin case that resulted in a reprimand from the SBC and the loss of his radio show. Land was also found to have lifted passages, without attribution, from another source for his radio commentaries. Russell Moore, dean of the school of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was elected to succeed Land.

Pope Forms Advisory Board to Reform Catholic Church
Pope Francis has set up an advisory board of 8 cardinals from around the world to look into ways of reforming the Catholic Church, the Christian Post reports. The advisory board was formed to help bring changes in the church's administration, which has been plauged by scandals, particularly in the eight-year reign of former Pope Benedict. The eight prelates come from the U.S., Italy, Chile, India, Germy, Democratic Republic of Congo, Austrailia and Hondoras. This diversity points to Francis' intention to allow bishops from around the world to have more say in Vatican decisions.

Obama Awards Catholic Army Chaplain Medal of Honor
Reverend Emil Kapaun was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama, RNS reports. A candidate for sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church, Kapaun was a priest who served as an Army chaplain in the Korean War and was recognized for his bravery on the battlefield and in a prisoner-of-war camp. "Father Kapaun has been called a shepherd in combat boots," Obama said. "His fellow soldiers, who felt his grace and his mervy, called him a saint--a blessing from God. ... I can't imagine a better example for all of us."
Several POWs who survived the camp attended the White House ceremony. Ray Kapaun, Emil Kapuan's nephew, accepted the medal. He said that though he never knew his uncle, stories from the other POWs brought Emil Kapaun to life for him.
For Kapaun to reach canonization, the Vatican must find proof of two miracles attributed to Kapaun's intercession.

Brennan Manning Dies at 78
American author, friar, priest, contemplative and speaker Brennan Manning passed away at the age of 78, reports his offical website. He had battled failing health in recent years. His books, including The Ragamuffin Gospel and Abba's Child, touched many lives and had a profound impact on the way many lived out their faith. His final book was his memoir, All is Grace.

Two Explosions at Boston Marathon Finish Line
Two explosions have been reported near the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street as thousands of people gathered for the race, reports The Boston Channel. The blast happened around  2:50 p.m. Monday, about three hours after the winners crossed the line. Store fronts have been blown out, and there have been reports of dozens of injuries. The race was stopped and the area is being evacuated.
The first explosion happened across from the Lenox Hotel and the second blast was about 15 seconds later, witnesses said. Many of the injuries appeared to be spectators who gathered to watch the race. 

Happy Friday

Don’t make Me Over!  by Sisbeejay 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFvLcCDvdEA

 

Has anyone out there ever been angry with your mother or father for something they did or didn’t do when you were younger, and then you are still holding it against them? I mean you are now grown and you are still holding it against them? True, what they did, or didn’t do, may have been atrocious; may have been horrific. But the point is that we are now grown and some of us are still holding it against them. Some may be still trying to get their mothers or fathers to love them like they want them to. And every decision you have made has been made with the remembrance of your past and with the idea of getting revenge against your parents.
So many people’s lives have been affected negatively because of unforgiveness, bitterness and revengeful purposes. I remember the day when I first realized that my parents were no saints. I was literally angry because they had reared us with high morals. I thought to myself, how could they? After all, they did things when they were young that they told us not to do! 

It was not until I was in my early twenties that I finally realized that my parents were human and were not perfect! So being imperfect, they made mistakes. And I forgave them at that time, and began to accept the people that they were and I respected them. Every son or daughter must come to the point that they realize that their parents are not perfect. They made mistakes and in so doing, they may not have been capable of loving us like we would have wanted them to, or they may not have acted like we would have wanted them to act. So at some point we should make the decision that we will love them for who they are, not for who we would have wanted them to be. 

The same thing goes for husbands, children and siblings. We love them for who they are, not for who we would have them be. Some of them have hurt you terribly, but nobody’s perfect. We all have hurt somebody! Jesus gave us a good example when He loved us and died for us even while we were yet sinners.
If we have received so great a forgiveness, then who are we to withhold forgiveness to others, especially those so close to us?

Extending that a bit, you can see now that if you are able to forgive momma because she was that young mother who didn’t ever know how to love her children effectively, or she didn’t come to your rescue when someone was abusing you, or she was never home because she was out with different men, then you can see that you can also forgive anybody their trespasses that have been against you. Now you can love the unlovable. 

I think back to my grandmother-in-law. She was conceived as the result of a well respected man of another race taking advantage of her young mother. Her mother was not able to keep her and rear her because she was just too young and inexperienced. So another older lady in the community, who felt compassion for her, asked her if she could take the child. She consented and she gave her baby to this other woman.
The other woman took advantage of grandma when she was a child and made her do hard labor around the house. So when she was fifteen years old, she married and had her first child. Grandma was very fair skinned and beautiful and this caused her to be persecuted all of her days by her own people. Because she herself had never been loved, she did not know how to love her children. She never, ever used the word love and she appeared unemotional and rude at times. But everyone knew that grandma cared deeply about her family, but she just couldn’t express it in words. She tried at times to express her love in deeds, but she had difficulty doing that too. If her children and grandchildren were to love her, and they did, it was not for her being flowery and lovable, but because she was who she was. They just loved grandma for her being grandma.

In conclusion, I would say, let’s don’t make people over before we love them and lets do love our parents, just because they are our parents.

Happy Thursday

Love Means Listen 
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak." Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!" - Acts 13:15-16

How do you feel when you make a phone call, and a recorded voice answers and asks you to leave a message at the sound of the beep? Or when your phone conversation is interrupted by call waiting, and your party asks you to hold while he sees if this call is more important than yours?

What we really want is to have someone listen to us as if they care. You know what I mean. You call long-distance to the Apex Washer, Dryer, and Ironing Board Company. You call and call, and finally get through. An operator says, "Hold, please." After a long wait, the operator comes on the line again and says, "May I help you?" So you tell the person you'd like to speak to Mr. Green. "Who's calling?" You give your name. "Hold, please." Finally you get Mr. Green's office. "May I speak to Mr. Green?"

"I'm sorry, he's away from his desk. May I take a message?"

Sound familiar? Think about that in light of God's remarkable promise in Jeremiah 33:3: "Call to me and I will answer you." No hold buttons. No busy signals. Never an interruption by someone more important than you. You have His attention every day, all day, day and night. Because God loves you, He pays attention to you. He listens when you talk to Him.

Friend, that's the example for us with our families. When your child calls, answer. When your spouse wants to talk after you're home from work, talk. And listen! It takes such little effort, and it pays such big dividends.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for inviting me to talk to You about everything. Give me keen ears to hear Your response. Amen.

God's ear is always open to the person who seeks Him. 

It Is Well With My Soul

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 
 when sorrows like sea billows roll; 
 whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 
 It is well, it is well with my soul. 
Refrain:
 It is well with my soul, 
 it is well, it is well with my soul. 

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, 
 let this blest assurance control, 
 that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, 
 and hath shed his own blood for my soul. 
 (Refrain) 

3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! 
 My sin, not in part but the whole, 
 is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, 
 praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 
 (Refrain) 

4. And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, 
 the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; 
 the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, 
 even so, it is well with my soul. 
 (Refrain) 

Editor's Note:
Speakers were not working when I pick this song... 
A little loud for me, but some may enjoy... 
Happy Thursday...
Richard

Daily Smile:
When a woman got married she put a shoebox in the closet and told her husband not to open it. After over 50 years of marriage she was dying and told him to open the box. When he opened it there were 2 doilies and $85,000.00 He ask why this was in the box. 

She replied “when I got married my mother told me to crochet a doily every time I got mad at you. 

He smile thinking she was only mad twice and ask what the $85,000.00 was. 

She replied that's the money from selling the doilies.

In The News:

Libya Releases Four Egyptian Christians from Prison
Libya released four Egyptian Christians from prison on Thursday, the ICC reports. The prisoners had spent more than a month in jail, accused of proselytizing. Egypt’s state news agency MENA said the authorities dropped the charges. The release comes after Egypt extradited two members of our Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime earlier in the month. Last month, Egyptian judicial sources told Reuters Egypt was seeking to swap the Libyans with the Egyptian Copts. Libya’s small Christian community has expressed fears over Islamist extremism as the government struggles to impose its authority over armed groups. Christians there are persecuted by both the government and radical Islamists.

Philadelphia Abortion Clinic: Workers Recount Horrors
Dr. Kermit Gosnell has been charged with killing a female patient and seven babies allegedly born alive at his abortion clinic in inner-city Philadelphia, CBN reports. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. In a case that has gone virtually unreported by major media outlets, eight former employees have already pleaded guilty, some to third-degree murder. They've testified about the bizarre and often chaotic practices at the clinic, including some of the horrific things they witnessed. One employee said she saw aborted babies move at least twice. Another said she snipped the spines of at least 10 babies. Gosnell's former lawyer, Bill Brennan, says the trial will take some time. "Between the death penalty, length of service and the abortion issue -- yeah, and when you factor in that it got international attention when it broke, it's going be a long, difficult process," Brennan said.

In New Budget, Obama Cuts Abstinence Education Funds
In the budget he delivered yesterday to Capitol Hill, President Barack Obama axed funds for sexual risk avoidance (SRA) education, even though research shows these programs can help curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, WORLD reports. The president also redirected funds away from avoidance education and towards sex-ed programs that emphasize contraception. In a statement, the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) said moving the money violates a 2010 congressional mandate to give states $50 million in Title V grants for SRA education. Currently, the ratio of federal funding for contraceptive-based sex education and abstinence-based programs is 16:1, respectively. Opponents of abstinence education criticize it as unrealistic and ineffective, assuming teens will choose to be sexually active. Consequently, they advocate for “safe sex” education instead.
But SRA programs teach students more than just the wisdom of abstinence. They also learn other practical skills, like how to identify healthy relationships, avoid unwanted sexual advances, avoid STDs, and understand contraception. Since the president delivered his budget more than two months late, it isn’t clear how significantly it will affect the legislative process.

Happy Wednesday

Going Without Jesus

by Os Hillman

"After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it" (Luke 2:43).

Bob and Janice had five kids. When they go on any trip, Benjamin, the youngest, always sleeps under the seat in their mini van. In the rush of preparing for their visit to the grocery store and getting the other kids situated, they failed to pick up Benjamin, who was standing outside at the other end of the store. As they proceeded down the road, they assumed that Benjamin was quietly sleeping in his normal place under the seat in the back of the van.

Meanwhile, about an hour later, young Benjamin was wondering why his parents had not picked him up. He went back into the store and told the manager his plight. The manager called the police. The young boy was eventually picked up by a policeman.

Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus was 12-years old. They were evidently very distracted by the excitement and business of the Feast. In fact, Mary and Joseph began their return trip to Nazareth only to realize well into the trip that Jesus was not with them. It would be three days before they would be reunited with their 12-year-old son. It caused quite a scare for Mary and Joseph, and they reprimanded Jesus for "wandering" off.

As a parent, I find this story truly amazing. How can parents
of the Son of God not know their son is not in their presence? Yet, this story illustrates how each of us can become so busy that we continue to operate not realizing Jesus is no longer with us.
We can walk away from fellowship with Jesus. Do not let this happen to you. He longs to have daily fellowship with you because He loves you. Today, ask yourself if Jesus is accompanying you in your daily activities. He desires to walk with you each and every day.


It Is Well With My SOUL

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

Daily Smile:



In The News:
Johns Hopkins Approves Student Pro-Life Group Johns Hopkins University reversed course on its stance against a student pro-life group, granting the organization full recognition late Tuesday, Word Magazine reports. The student judiciary unanimously overturned an earlier decision by the student senate to deny Voice for Life (VFL) recognition because its planned activities included sidewalk counseling outside abortion facilities. According to the minutes from the March 12th meeting, members of the senate said they feared the group would “make people uncomfortable.” In a letter protesting the decision, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education warned the school it was on shaky legal ground: “The viewpoint-based rejection of VFL in this case contradicts the principles established by the Supreme Court when it held that public universities are required to grant expressive student organizations recognition and access to the funding of student activities on a viewpoint-neutral basis. “

Johns Hopkins is a private university, not bound by First Amendment protections, but the school pledges to protect the free exchange of ideas on campus.

Christian Prisoner Set Free in Pakistan Amid Attacks on Christian Communities
After years of imprisonment on death row for blasphemy in Pakistan, Younis Masih has been set free by an appeals court, reports the ICC. Media reports differ on the exact circumstances of Younis Masih’s 2005 arrest for allegedly blaspheming Islam’s prophet Muhammad, though sources agree that the conflict spread when Muslim mobs attacked Christian homes in the area. Masih denied that he blasphemed Muhammad, but he was convicted and sentenced to death in 2007. According to World Watch Monitor, Masih’s sentence was appealed, and his attorney presented evidence that the original conviction was based on hearsay. On April 3, an appeals court in Lahore overturned Masih’s death sentence and declared him innocent.

Pakistan’s small Christian community is especially vulnerable to blasphemy accusations. Christians make up less than 3 percent of Pakistan’s 180 million people, with less than 1 percent considered evangelical/followers of Christ.

Arkansas State Senate Moves to Defund Planned Parenthood Members of the Arkansas Senate voted Tuesday to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that receive federal and state grants to fund sex education programs, the Christian Post reports. Senate Bill 818 was introduced by Rep. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch), who aims to end the subsidization of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that receive federal and state tax dollars to fund their sex education programs, because it violates the state's constitution. Amendment 68 of the Arkansas constitution states that: "No public funds will be used to pay for any abortion, except to save the mother's life." Earlier this year, the Arkansas legislature passed two bills that ban abortion after 20 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. Gov. Beebe vetoed both bills, citing his opinion that the bans were unconstitutional. The legislature overrode both vetoes.

Happy Tuesday

Starting Over

by Os Hillman

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. - James 1:9

Do you find yourself in humble circumstances? If so, James tells us that we are to take pride in this "high" position. These two things would seem to be an oxymoron. Most of us would not consider humble circumstances a high position. Successful business tells us that being on top means being wealthy, attaining favor and status, or having power to influence. However, Jesus influenced not from power, but from weakness.

J.C. Penney is a name synonymous with department store. He first launched his chain of "The Golden Rule" stores in 1907. In 1910 his first wife died. Three years later, he incorporated as the J.C. Penney company. In 1923 his second wife died giving birth to his son. In 1929 the stock market crashed and he lost $40 million.

By 1932, he had to sell out to satisfy...creditors. This left [Penney] virtually broke. ...Crushed in spirit from his loss and his health suddenly failing, Penney wound up in a Battle Creek, Michigan sanitarium. One morning he heard the distant singing of employees who gathered to start the day with God: Be not dismayed, whate'er betide, God will take care of you.... Penney followed the music to its source and slipped into a back row. He left a short time later a changed man, his health and spirit renewed, and ready to start the long climb back at age fifty-six.

By 1951 there was a J.C. Penney store in every state, and for the first time sales surpassed $1 billion a year. [John Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1992), 340-343.]

The success of J.C. Penney can be traced to God's mercy in his life to bring him out of his humble circumstance. Do you find yourself in a humble circumstance? God is the only one who can help you see your humble circumstance from His viewpoint-a high position. It is a high position because of what God is going to teach you in this place. He does not intend you to stay there; it is merely a stopping place to learn some important things you would not learn otherwise. Press into God and trust Him for the outcome to your circumstances.


Great Is Thy Faithfulness

1. “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
   There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
   Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
   As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
• “Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!“
    Morning by morning new mercies I see;
  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
      “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
2. Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
   Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
   Join with all nature in manifold witness
   To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
   Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
   Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
   Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Daily Smile:



In The News:
One in Five Teen Births Are Repeats
More than 18 percent of all babies born to teenagers in the U.S. are baby No. 2 or 3, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It’s bad news not only because it means young mothers aren’t getting the message about birth control, but also because babies born to teenagers, especially unmarried teenagers, are more likely to be underweight and to have other health problems.

“Although teen birth rates have been declining for the last two decades, in 2010, more than 367,000 teens aged 15–19 years gave birth,” the CDC said in its report.

“Teen mothers want to do their best for their own health and that of their child, but some can become overwhelmed by life as a parent. Having more than one child as a teen can limit the teen mother’s ability to finish her education or get a job. Infants born from a repeat teen birth are often born too small or too soon, which can lead to more health problems for the baby," adds the CDC.
Source: NBC News

Christian Leaders Reach Out to Rick Warren After Hurtful Comments Are Made on Son’s Suicide
Well-known Pastor Rick Warren's personal tragedy of losing his son Matthew as the result of suicide last Friday has not only garnered sympathy and condolences from around the world, but also online vitriol from his detractors, The Christian Post Reports. Even worse to Warren and many in the Christian community, some of the attacks have come from people professing to be Christians. Upon learning of the news of Mathew Warren's death and the response on the Internet by some Christians, Beth Moore, founder of Living Proof Ministries, wrote in her blog post that after a mixture of emotions on Saturday, she became "madder and madder at the bullies in the Body of Christ." Christian author Frank Viola also defended the Warrens, stating, “If you are a Christian and your heart doesn't go out to this brother and his family, something is wrong with you spiritually.” Warren, who uses social media frequently and has nearly a million followers on Twitter, was more active on Tuesday than previous days, posting his thoughts and recommending articles through links. "WOW. We love you @BethMooreLPM for your powerful and prophetic #SadnessAndMadness blog [link]," he posted in regards to Moore's "Sadness and Madness" article.

As North Korea threatens Nuclear War, More Christians Suffer
As the world turns its attention to North Korean threats of nuclear war, human rights groups are bringing attention the extensive human rights violations in the country. Long considered the world's worst persecutor of Christians, estimates place the number of imprisoned Christians at between 30,000 and 70,000, the ICC reports. Once known as the Jerusalem of the East and a center of Christianity in Asia, the Communist regime run by the Kim family has tried to crush Christianity into oblivion for more than half a century.

On Friday, the North Korean government said it would not be able to guarantee the safety of embassies after April 10, and suggested that Russia, China, and Great Britain consider evacuating their diplomats. While the situation appears to be serious, governments are playing down the rhetoric from North Korea, assuming it represents yet another tantrum by a regime starving for attention, legitimacy, and economic aid. North Korea is the worst perpetrator of persecution against Christians in the world. Christians are tortured, imprisoned, and murdered. Private, non-state-sanctioned religious activity is prohibited. Anyone discovered engaging in clandestine religious activity is subject to arrest, torture, or even public execution.

As many as 100,000 believers are thought to worship secretly. Possessing a Bible, saying the words God or Jesus, and meeting together are all offences punishable by death. VOM reports estimate that of the hundreds of thousands incarcerated in labor and concentration camps, about 30,000 are Christians

Robert Edwards, Inventor of Test Tube Babies, Dies at 87
Nobel Prize winner Robert Edwards, a University of Cambridge professor known as the "father of in vitro fertilization," died Wednesday at the age of 87 after battling a long illness, World Magazine reports. Edwards and his late colleague, gynecologist Patrick Steptoe, were the first to enable a woman to give birth using in vitro fertilization (IVF), 35 years ago. Edwards and Steptoe's work aroused indignation in the 1970s. Critics said manipulating the procreative process in a lab was degrading to humans. They pointed out many embryos, created in petri dishes but never transferred to the womb, were simply "washed down the sink"—a scenario that continues today. At the time, Edwards defended himself in The Quarterly Review of Biology, arguing life was transferred gradually from parent to child, rather than created at the moment of conception: "The assumption of full human rights at a single moment … demands making arbitrary decisions that are unjustified biologically," he wrote.

Other scientists have since disputed that view and affirmed that human life begins at conception. The denial of life at conception undergirds the justification for abortion today, although abortion proponents rarely try to defend that dubious tenet, instead preferring to talk in terms of "choice."

Happy Monday

Is There Such a Thing As Coincidence?

by Jon Walker

"Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon. A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, `Would you give me a drink of water?'" (John 4:6-7 MSG)

During this week of Thanksgiving (Editor's Note: every week should be a week of Thanksgiving), give some thought to this question: Is there such a thing as coincidence?

In Kingdom reality, there simply cannot be. Random doesn't happen in God's Kingdom. Oswald Chambers says God is the Great Engineer, creating circumstances to bring about moments in our lives of divine importance, leading us to divine appointments.

Was it a coincidence that Jesus came upon the woman at the well? Was she just a random woman who walked into a discussion of God's grace and omnipotence and then told a whole village about God's forgiveness? Would God have left that all to chance?Would he do any less in the details of your life?

The Bible says God actively works within our circumstances. And so we cannot judge our situation apart from God's wisdom. In other words, we must leave it up to God to interpret our circumstances. Only he is capable of understanding all the facts, and only he sees the significance of every detail.

This is a critical question to answer in your life: Is God active in your current circumstances or not?

Talk About It
•    Why would God not be involved in your circumstances?
•    If you believed God had your best interest at heart, how would you view your current circumstances differently?



Thank You LORD

Some thank the Lord for friends and home
For mercies sure and sweet
But I would praise Him for his grace
In prayer I would repeat

     Refrain:
      Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul
      Thank you, Lord, for making me whole
      Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
      Thy great salvation so rich and free

Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow
Some for the stars that shine
My heart is filled with joy and praise
Because I know He’s mine

I trust in Him from day to day
I prove His saving grace
I’ll sing this song of praise to Him
Until I see His face

Daily Smile:



In The News:
Biggest Reason for Declining Church Attendance: Children's Sports?
Sunday morning used to be a time reserved by many Christians for attending worship services, but new research indicates the extent to which American churches today are competing against other activities -- the biggest competition being children's sports, Christianity Today reports. According to a study published in the Review of Religious Research, an examination of declining attendance at 16 congregations revealed that most pastors place the most blame on children's sports activities, since practices and competitions alike are increasingly "scheduled on Sunday mornings at the very time when many churches traditionally have provided religious education." However, that doesn't mean that families whose kids are highly involved in athletics will stop attending church. Instead, more Protestant churches are offering alternate service times to accommodate members with Sunday morning commitments. They're also increasing their emphasis on physical fitness programs or sports ministries. According to David Briggs of the Association of Religion Data Archives, "More than two-thirds of congregations who said sports and fitness programs were a specialty of the congregation reported more than a 10 percent growth in attendance from 2000 to 2010. In contrast, only a third of churches with no athletic programs reported such growth."


Egyptian Christians Flee Under Increased Scrutiny, Persecution
Tens of thousands of Christians have left post-revolution Egypt due to concerns over rising Muslim conservatism and a general instability they say is emboldening attacks against them. Perhaps the most dramatic example of sectarian tension yet occurred Sunday in central Cairo, where a crowd attacked Christian mourners after they emerged from a funeral in Egypt’s main Coptic Christian cathedral. Coptic Pope Tawadros II underscored rising tensions between Christians and Muslims when he criticized Islamist president Mohammed Morsi for the weekend violence which resulted in the deaths of four Christians. The state of instability, decaying economy and rise in crime have scared many Egyptians into leaving, or trying to -- not least of all Egyptian Christians who say they are easy targets when trouble erupts and there is no system in place to protect them. "They feel if there is an issue, there is vigilante violence," said Douglas May, a U.S. Catholic priest based in Egypt, where he has lived for 18 years. He said that although there were restrictions on minorities under former President Hosni Mubarak, Christians felt safer because there was at least a sense the country was under control. There are no official figures for how many Christians have left Egypt since the revolution, though estimates range as high as in the tens of thousands. "When there is no clarity, rumors abound,” said Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, patriarch of Egypt’s estimated 250,000 Coptic Catholics. "There are those saying hundreds of thousands, others saying thousands, but there are people leaving, this we know -- and not only Christians, Muslims are leaving as well."


Jim Wallis Now Supports Same-Sex Marriage
Long-time evangelical left leader Jim Wallis, founder and CEO of Sojourners, has changed his position on government recognition of same-sex marriage, the Christian Post reports. Wallis, who announced his support in a Friday interview with the Huffington Post, said he was worried about the decline of marriage and wanted to strengthen it, but believed that same-sex couples should be included in that endeavor. "I think we should include same-sex couples in that renewal of marriage, [but] I want to talk marriage first," Wallis said. "Marriage needs some strengthening. Let's start with marriage, and then I think we have to talk about, now, how to include same-sex couples in that deeper understanding of marriage. I want a deeper commitment to marriage that is more and more inclusive, and that's where I think the country is going." When the Huffington Post asked Wallis to clarify if he meant he specifically supported same-sex marriage, he answered "Yes." A spokesperson for Sojourners confirmed on Monday that this is the first time Wallis has publicly stated that position.

Happy Sunday

Thought for Today
 "I think about heaven a great deal, I think about the failures in my life in the past, but know that they have been covered by the blood of Christ, and that gives me a great sense of confidence...I have a certainty about eternity that is a wonderful thing, and I thank God for giving me that certainty. I do not fear death. I may fear a little bit about the process, but not death itself, because I think the moment that my spirit leaves this body, I will be in the presence of the Lord." - Billy Graham 

In His Hands
By Betty Purser Parker
 We know not what tomorrow brings
Although we plan ahead
For only God alone can know
The pathway we must tread.

We cannot know the future
Not one minute nor one hour
Each circumstance that we must face
Lay only in His power

It's vital that we live by faith
From minute unto minute
And trusting that each step we take
He's walking with us in it.

We cannot see the future
Not the trials we must face
But in all things, God promised us
Sufficiency of grace.

This alone should give us hope
Whatever be our plans
In knowing that our future lies
In His sweet, loving hands.

Heavenly Sunlight
Walking in sunlight all of my journey;
Over the mountains, through the deep vale;
Jesus has said, “I’ll never forsake thee,”
Promise divine that never can fail.

Refrain

Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
Flooding my soul with glory divine:
Hallelujah, I am rejoicing,
Singing His praises, Jesus is mine.

Shadows around me, shadows above me,
Never conceal my Savior and Guide;
He is the Light, in Him is no darkness;
Ever I’m walking close to His side.

Refrain

In the bright sunlight, ever rejoicing,
Pressing my way to mansions above;
Singing His praises gladly I’m walking,
Walking in sunlight, sunlight of love.

Refrain

Daily Smile:
Two elderly women were fussing about their husbands over tea one day.
"I do wish my Leroy would stop biting his nails. That makes me terribly
nervous!" the first one said.
"Oh, my Elmer used to do the same thing," the other woman commented.
"But I broke him of that habit real quick."
"What did you do?"
"I hid his teeth!"

In The News: 

Syria: 'Bloody March' Marks Record High Death Toll

Last month marked the deadliest month in Syria since protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime began two years ago, CBN News reports. More than 6,000 people were killed in what is being called "Bloody March"; a third of those were civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Those killed include 291 women, nearly 300 children and more than 1,400 rebel fighters. The United Nations reports that 70,000 people have died since the uprising began, but Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Observatory, said, "We estimate it is actually around 120,000 people." Efforts by foreign media and independent human rights organizations within the country have been curtailed, making the verification of casualty figures virtually impossible.
Arizona Town Approves Same-Sex Civil Unions

In a small, former mining town turned artist colony, the city council approved on Apr. 2 an ordinance recognizing civil unions for same-sex couples, WORLD News Service reports. The measure -- adopted with a vote of 5-2 following an emotional three-hour hearing -- makes Bisbee the first Arizona city to validate civil unions. Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne has promised to go to court to block the ordinance, calling it unconstitutional. The measure attempts to change state law on things such as community property, something only the state can do, he said. Under the measure, same-sex couples can enter a civil union and receive the same rights as married couples simply by walking into City Hall and paying $76 -- the same fee couples pay for a marriage license in the county, The Sierra Vista Herald reported. The city clerk would then issue the couple a certificate of the civil union. Earlier Tuesday, Bisbee City Attorney John MacKinnon said the ordinance's power would only apply to things within the city’s control, including city personnel policies and the city cemetery. How it applies at the local hospital, for example, would be up to those institutions. "We can’t as a small jurisdiction in southeastern Arizona change everything in Arizona," he said before the hearing. The conservative Christian advocacy group Center for Arizona Policy also spoke up before the meeting, saying the ordinance would violate Arizona's ban on same-sex marriage and would lead to a costly legal fight. MacKinnon wrote off the group’s concerns, saying it was equating civil unions with marriage. "I don't think that's necessarily the case," he said.
Christian Killed in Attack on Coptic Mourners in Egypt

Coptic Christians attending a funeral service in Cairo on Sunday for four Copts killed two days earlier in an anti-Christian rampage were in turn attacked themselves by at least 200 Muslim rioters, Morning Star News reports. The incident, which started with a few dozen men pelting the mourners with stones, quickly escalated into a massive attack against Christians at St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the Abbassia area of Cairo involving firearms, flash-bang grenades, tear gas, fire bombs and other improvised weapons, besides cars set ablaze. Police took more than an hour to respond, and when they arrived, they did nothing to stop the attack. Instead, most stood and watched men throw rocks at the Christians gathered at the gates of the cathedral compound or hurl stones over walls at the Christians trapped inside. Police also did nothing as the attackers scaled the walls of the cathedral compound. Almost three dozen Coptic Christians suffered injuries in the attack, and one was thought to have been killed; Mahrous Hanna Ibrahim reportedly died from gunshot wounds. Sunday’s funeral was held to remember the loss of four Christians killed Friday in a riot against Christians in Khusus, a poor section on the outskirts of Cairo. The attack on the funeral and cathedral marks a shocking new low in persecution of Christians in Egypt; the attack also shows the boldness with which Egyptian Christians are now being attacked. 

Happy Saturday

Building Up Your Marriage

By Tracie Miles

"However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Ephesians 5:33 (NIV)

When I married my husband over 23 years ago, I fully intended to unconditionally love, respect and admire him. I had great intentions of being the perfect wife, offering kind words, a romantic kiss and dinner on the table every evening.

But then careers took off, bills increased, children were born, laundry piles grew, and life became chaotic. Along the way I subconsciously created a measuring stick of expectations for whether my husband actually deserved my love and respect.

When marriage didn't meet the unrealistic expectations I had before the wedding, and real life kicked in, it became easy to fall into the habit of tearing down my husband and marriage.

It seemed the longer we were together, the easier it was to see each other's flaws, and mercilessly criticize them. This eventually led to short tempers, less tolerance, and a lack of marital bliss. Not what I dreamed my marriage would be when I said "I do."

Maybe you can relate? Have you noticed too that as a result of these frustrations, the gifts of unconditional love, respect and admiration that we fully intended to offer become gifts we withhold?
A few years ago I picked up a book written for wives. I was hoping to rekindle some passion in my marriage. Little did I know God would use truths shared in that book to get my attention and help me make some inward changes.

As I read, God convicted my heart about things I had said to my husband just days earlier. Critical comments that rolled off my tongue so easily, I now regretted deeply. Although I had fully intended to be my husband's biggest encourager, I had become one of his worst critics.

God helped me see the powerful influence I have on my husband and marriage when choosing words that build up. Words that encourage instead of discourage. Words that heal, not wound.
As women, we can build up or tear down our husbands every day, merely by the respect we give, the words we choose, and the amount of faith in him we convey.

Respect and admiration are two of the most powerful tools a wife has to influence her husband. Realizing I had fallen short in giving those two precious gifts to my man, I asked God to help me control my tongue. I asked Him to fill my heart and mouth with words that would make my husband feel admired, respected and loved, regardless of whether I felt he deserved it.

I knew I'd need God's help to follow through on my renewed intentions, so I asked for a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit when critical thoughts crept into my mind. God helped me avoid the temptation to say them out loud.

Within just a few weeks, I saw a change — in me, in my husband's demeanour, and in our relationship. A change that rekindled unconditional love, respect and admiration within my heart, thoughts and actions toward my husband. A change that reflected what I set out to give him all along.

Through our words of respect, and admiration, we can help our husbands become the great men God created them to be, and in turn, have we can have the marriages we fully intended to build. It will take patience, humbleness and grace, but it'll produce love, happiness and togetherness.

Dear Lord, help tame my tongue and focus on building up my man. Help me break free of the habit to criticize, even when warranted. Open my eyes to the positive, not the negative. Draw us closer, and help us both nurture a strong and loving marriage. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 
Daily Smile:
One rainy evening,a couple emerged from a restaurant only to find that they had locked the keys in the car. The husband insisted he could open the door with a wire coat hanger, so we went back to the restaurant to get one. There were none to be found.

The husband then ran to a department store a few blocks away and returned with a hanger. After a few attempts, he got the door open and they both climbed in.

As they sat there, soaked and cold, he stuck the hanger under his seat. With a smug grin, he said, "Now if this ever happens again, I'll have one."

In The News:
Judge Orders FDA to Make Morning-After Pill Available Over the Counter for All Ages
A federal judge has ruled that the government must make the most common morning-after pill available over the counter for all ages, instead of requiring a prescription for girls 16 and younger, the New York Times reports. The decision comes after a decade-long fight over who should have access to the pill and under what circumstances, and counteracts an unprecedented move by the Obama administration's Health and Human Services secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, who in 2011 overruled a recommendation by the Food and Drug Administration to make the pill available for all ages without a prescription. In a decision in a lawsuit filed by advocates, judge Edward R. Korman ruled that the government's refusal to lift restrictions on access to the pill was "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable." Korman ordered the FDA to lift any age and sale restrictions on the pill, Plan B One-Step, and its generic versions, within 30 days. The FDA and HHS declined to comment on the ruling Friday morning or indicate whether the government would file an appeal, saying the decision was being reviewed.

Egyptian Christians Face Increased Kidnappings
Kidnappers are targeting Christians in Egypt's southern Minya province, and church leaders say the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood is partly to blame, CBN News reports. More than 150 Christians, including children, have been kidnapped for ransom during the past two years in Minya province, home to many Christians as well as some of Egypt's most radical Islamists. Christian leaders say criminals are emboldened by the preaching of Islamic clerics who declare Christians are second-class citizens, but Christians rarely report the kidnappings because they don't believe the police will help them. One priest says local officials don't prosecute Muslims accused of attacking Christian homes and churches, and that encourages more crime. Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 83 million people.

Pope Francis a Huge Hit With U.S. Catholics — For Now
He has been Pope Francis for less than a month, but the former archbishop of Buenos Aires is a hit with American Catholics -- at least for now, the Religion News Service reports. The tables may turn on Francis once media attention moves from his no-fuss style to his substantive actions, a Vatican expert said Wednesday, but he currently has an 84 percent favorable rating among U.S. Catholics, including 43 percent who hold a very favorable view of him, according to a new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. It is significantly higher than U.S. Catholics' view of Pope Benedict XVI early in his papacy, though the ratings are not directly comparable. Francis' favorable score was measured just two weeks into his papacy, while views on Benedict were surveyed three months after he became pope in 2005. Just 67 percent of U.S. Catholics had a favorable view of Benedict in the Pew Forum's measure in July 2005, by which point he had already taken a widely publicized unpopular action by firing the editor of the Jesuit magazine America. Americans had their highest view of Benedict in 2008 when he visited New York and Washington, D.C., but he never reached the 91 to 93 percent favorable heights hit by Pope John Paul II between 1987 and 1996, in Pew Forum research.

Rick Warren's Son Takes Own Life After Lifelong Battle With Mental Illness
The 27-year-old son of Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren has taken his own life after a lifelong struggle with mental illness, the Christian Post reports. Warren made the announcement about his son in an email sent to his staff early Saturday morning. "No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now," Warren wrote. "Our youngest son, Matthew, age 27, and a lifelong member of Saddleback, died today. Over the past 33 years we've been together through every kind of crisis. Kay and I've been privileged to hold your hands as you faced a crisis or loss, stand with you at gravesides, and prayed for you when ill. Today, we need your prayer for us." Warren described Matthew as "an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate man" but "only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America's best doctors, meds, counselors and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided." Warren went on: "Today, after a fun evening together with Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life." In a statement from Saddleback, the church asked that everyone "join us in praying for the entire Warren family and that God's comfort and peace will be with them as they deal with this difficult situation."