Why Do We Put ‘Christian Celebrities’ on a Pedestal?, Charisma Magazine

Gungor. Vicky Beeching. Mark Driscoll. David Yonggi Cho. What do all these names have in common? Controversy.

Of course, a blogger like myself could not go silent on these issues.

When situations like this arise, we are challenged, confused, disillusioned. We often resort to bashing, freaking out, and being disgusted (or excited) when a Christian celebrity falls.

When I think of the aforementioned names, I think of children of God who followed the call of God, were used mightily by God, and are being honest with their struggles. Mistakes have been made; power has been abused. But that's no excuse to write people off.

An Issue of Worship

Allow me to issue a challenge—to you, to me. This is about worship. When situations like this arise, I wonder whom we are worshiping, what we're prioritizing. Our worship culture so often becomes a consumer game of digesting the latest, greatest songs and resources, idolizing the people who carry the gifts of God.

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Profile: Danniella Westbrook

Profile: Danniella Westbrook

Don’t stare at her nose! That’s all that was running through my head as I prepared to chat with British actress Danniella Westbrook. It’s not often I’ve had to mentally prepare to avoid a social faux pas, but I’m sure I wasn’t alone with this one.

The child model turned actress was born in Walthamstow to a cab driver and a shop assistant and was brought up in Essex. Her parents supported their daughter’s ambitions by allowing her to attend the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School, and she found fame aged 16 playing Sam Mitchell in EastEnders, a role she would revisit intermittently for the next 20 years. She featured in many prominent storylines with her onscreen brothers, thugs Grant and Phil Mitchell, but it wasn’t this that made the headlines.

During the mid-90s Westbrook developed a severe cocaine habit, epitomised by pictures published in the press where it was evident that her nasal septum had been completely eroded. With grisly pleasure, the tabloids rejoiced in documenting the life of a young woman spiralling out of control. Pictures of Westbrook falling out of nightclubs and lying in gutters became standard gossip mag fodder. So in 2012, when she gave an exclusive interview to a British tabloid detailing her conversion to Christianity and newfound love for clean living, almost everyone did a double take. Of all the people to find God and turn their life around, she just seemed so unlikely.

So how did it all come about? My journey to find out was a somewhat arduous one. If her agent is to be believed, Westbook is a hard woman to pin down these days. The release of her new book, which openly documents her drug abuse and a gang rape as well as her conversion, has resulted in her becoming a born-again celebrity in high demand. After this difficulty, together with detailed requests for the provision of transport and a make-up artist (we were filming), I began to wonder what kind of person I would eventually meet.

The reality was a very petite individual, who arrived with no entourage and a very humble, relaxed and warm manner. She wore a crucifix and had the Bible verse Isaiah 54:17 tattooed on her wrist. ‘I always feel – especially coming from a working class background and being in the public eye – people judge, judge, judge and they use judgement as a weapon against people, to make them feel terrible about themselves,’ she explains. ‘So, for me [the verse says] “God’s there for you and no weapon formed against you shall prosper”. So that’s the Bible verse for me.’

Brian & Jenn Johnson - Where You Go I Go

The Pretenders - I'll Stand By You

Glee Make Me feel your love

My Uttermost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers, The Ministry of the Unnoticed

Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . —Matthew 5:3

Matthew 5 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Sermon on the Mount

5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

4 God blesses those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 God blesses those who are humble,

    for they will inherit the whole earth.

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[b]

    for they will be satisfied.

7 God blesses those who are merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

    for they will see God.

9 God blesses those who work for peace,

    for they will be called the children of God.

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . .” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace.

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6 Principles That Clarify What Faith in Ministry Looks Like

6 Principles That Clarify What Faith in Ministry Looks Like

Some Bible verses are so clear that their simple truth is undeniable, such as Hebrews 11:6 which says, "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." (NLT)

In case you missed the deep, hidden meaning of the phrase "it is impossible to please God without faith," let me state it clearly: It is impossible to please God without faith. In other words, God has spelled out for us the kind of life that He finds pleasing. It's not a life of achievement or good works or religiosity. It's a life of faith. And if our primary motivation for ministry is pleasing God, then we need a ministry of faith.

UK Ministers want answers on independence currency, The Scotsman

TWO UK CABINET Ministers have today challenged the SNP Government to provide answers on currency after Alex Salmond’s top adviser said that his post-independence plans may be blocked.

The SNP Government wants to share the pound in a currency union with the rest of the UK but this has been ruled out by the Coalition Government and Labour opposition. Crawford Beveridge, who heads up Mr Salmond’s fiscal commission working group, admitted in a keynote speech last night that “politics” could see the plans blocked and suggested using the pound without UK agreement - so called sterlingisation - could work as an alternative.

With only a week to go until postal voting starts in the referendum both Chief Secretary Danny Alexander and Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael are now pressing the SNP Government to set out its currency ‘Plan B’.

Mr Alexander said the Scottish Government is ‘fast running out of time’ to come up with a Plan B on currency.

Liberal Democrats at Holyrood have this morning called for an urgent ministerial statement from Alex Salmond on the currency after Mr Beveridge suggested the SNP’s threat to walk away from Scotland’s share of UK debt after a Yes vote “looks like a default and it smells like a default” to credit ratings agencies.

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PM praises gay marriage in major family speech

PM praises gay marriage in major family speech

David Cameron has said he believes in the “right of marriage for all people”, as he gave a major speech on the family.

Speaking on Monday the Prime Minister said he wanted to send a “clear message” that Britain supports commitment.

He claimed this was “just as vital whether the commitment is between a man and a woman, a man and a man or a woman and another woman”.

Huge change

David Cameron backed the introduction of same-sex marriage, which came into force in March, despite widespread opposition.

In June he praised the redefinition as a “huge, historic change”.

Now, in a speech where he said that for him “nothing matters more than family”, he has again emphasised his support for the change.

Well, Mr Cameron, we know what the Bible teaches,  Marriage is between a Man and a Woman

Once Gay, Always Gay? Not Necessarily

Once Gay, Always Gay? Not Necessarily









But this story raises an interesting question: If our culture demands that we accept homosexuality in the name of freedom, should we not also respect the rights of people like William Dobson if they want to leave the gay lifestyle? The answer to that question might prove whether or not all the talk about "tolerance" in our culture today is actually a smokescreen for intolerance.

Vicky Beeching re-enters Christian Albums Chart

Vicky Beeching re-enters Christian Albums Chart

Just a week after coming out as gay worship leader Vicky Beeching has returned to the Christian and Gospel Albums Chart.

Her album 'Eternity Invades' came in at number 10 despite being released four years ago.

She had raised concerns that many would no longer sing her songs after she came out.

Last week the 35 year-old, who became known by performing at Christian festivals both in the UK and the US, said she's struggled with the issue her whole life but was now ready to go publi

Oswald Chambers, My Uttermost for His Highest, Christ Awareness, Daily Devotionals

Christ-Awareness

. . . and I will give you rest —Matthew 11:28

Matthew 11:25-30 Nasb

Come to Me

²⁵ At that ^[y]time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

²⁸ “Come to Me, all ^[z]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is ^[aa]easy and My burden is light.”

Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once, asking Him to re-establish your rest. Never allow anything to remain in your life that is causing the unrest. Think of every detail of your life that is causing the disintegration as something to fight against, not as something you should allow to remain. Ask the Lord to put awareness of Himself in you, and your self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all in all. Beware of allowing your self-awareness to continue, because slowly but surely it will awaken self-pity, and self-pity is satanic. Don’t allow yourself to say, “Well, they have just misunderstood me, and this is something over which they should be apologizing to me; I’m sure I must have this cleared up with them already.” Learn to leave others alone regarding this. Simply ask the Lord to give you Christ-awareness, and He will steady you until your completeness in Him is absolute.

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Muslim Labour frontbencher accused of encouraging 'mob rule' after joining anti-Israel protest which forced supermarket to close... then demanding goods boycott Daily Mail

  Shabana Mahmood was involved in protest at Sainsbury's in Birmingham

  Store closed for several hours as campaigners lay down outside the shop

  MP bragged about actions on YouTube, calling for a boycott of Israeli goods

  Birmingham Ladywood MP accused of 'promoting public disorder'

  Labour says she told Ed Miliband she 'does not support a boycott of Israel'

  But critics have demanded that she apologise for her comments

A Labour frontbencher was accused of encouraging mob rule last night after she boasted of taking part in an anti-Israel protest that forced a supermarket to close. 

Shabana Mahmood lay in the street outside a Sainsbury’s store in Birmingham alongside dozens of pro-Palestine campaigners, protesting against the fact that it was ‘stocking goods from illegal settlements’.

Her ‘direct action’ forced the supermarket to close for several hours on a busy Saturday. She then used YouTube to brag about her actions, calling for a boycott of Israeli goods – in direct contravention of Labour policy. 

Last night the Muslim MP, who speaks for the party on tax and growth policy, was accused of ‘stirring up tensions’ by Jewish leaders. They said the Birmingham Ladywood MP was promoting public disorder, and branded her behaviour ‘completely inappropriate’.

Labour said Ed Miliband had spoken to Miss Mahmood, who told him she does not support a boycott of Israel. But critics said this did not go far enough and called on her to apologise. 

Simon Johnson, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: ‘It is completely inappropriate for a Member of Parliament to promote public disorder that forced a supermarket to close. We believe that she has been made aware of her party’s opposition to boycotts and has back-pedalled, but an apology is yet to be heard.’ 

Vivian Wineman, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: ‘Such rabble rousing is extremely irresponsible.’

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I fear our panic stricken politicians are leading us into another bloody shambles in Iraq, says GENERAL SIR MICHAEL ROSE, Daily Mail

Like panic-stricken rabbits caught in the headlights, our political leaders do not appear to know which way to go.Amid the rising tide of horror stories coming from Iraq, there seems to be little constructive thought emerging from Western politicians on how to solve the political and humanitarian issues that confront the country.

The only thing that they do know is that something must be done. But developing a viable, effective strategy against the brutal campaign of the Islamic State has, so far, clearly been beyond their competence.

Although I strongly believe that military intervention must be instigated only as a matter of last resort and I firmly opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003, I am convinced that there is a powerful moral — and practical — case for intervening now against the Islamic State.

For what we are witnessing is the terrible consequences of the so-called Arab Spring, so naively celebrated by our leaders just a few months ago.

As I have watched and read news reports from this embattled and disintegrating region, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we must intervene to protect the lives of Iraqis and hold back the rising tide of the Islamic State.

Stumbling

During my military career, I have been involved in many interventions that have proved highly successful and were an enormous benefit to civilians caught up in war. But for such interventions to succeed, there must be clear direction from the politicians.

Sadly that is lacking as the West’s leaders seem to be stumbling daily as they try to configure exactly what they want to achieve.

Indeed, I have grave fears that they do not have a clear idea of what form such military intervention should take. For it is imperative that before we send so much as one British soldier back to Iraq, our government’s strategists must decide with absolute clarity and precision the objective of the mission.

They must also commit sufficient resources to ensure the job is done with as little risk as is possible to the lives of our men.

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