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President Trump’s Weekly Address-Recognizing Passover and Easter – 04/14/17
President Trump continues to share words of encouragement as he takes the opportunity of sharing this weekly address to point our nation to the significance of this weekend and what it represents: The Jewish Passover and the celebration of Easter. “This week, Jewish families across our country, and around the world, celebrate Passover and retell the story of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people.” As he continues to emphasize the importance of the Exodus for the Jewish people, he also shares about how Christians celebrate Easter. “This Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the promise of eternal salvation. It is a holy day of reverence and worship; it is a sacred time that fills the spirit of our Nation with the faith of our people. America is a nation of believers.” Not only is this a time to remember and commemorate the significance of this moment, it is also a reminder for all of us of where our strength comes from. President Trump closes his weekly address with this powerful truth; “As long as we have faith in each other, and trust in God, we will succeed.” It is so exciting to see our President acknowledge that we are Pro-Israel and Pro-Jesus. Be encouraged as you are reminded why so many are celebrating the Good News on this Easter moment, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: Eternal life, hope faith, and Jesus Christ. John and Steve shared in this segment.
Clear Presentation of the Gospel on Fox and Friends by Faith Anchor Lauren Green
As the faith anchor on Fox’s Fox & Friends, Lauren Greentakes the opportunity of this Easter celebration to point out what makes this day of the year so special and why Christians call this past Friday “Good Friday”. While many are taking part in egg hunts, Green points out that it’s much more than that. As she dialogues with other correspondents, she shares, “I have a hard time saying ‘Happy Good Friday’, but we understand that this is a day of mourning. This is the day that Jesus died on the Cross and that He was crucified. He walked through carrying His Cross and suffered an excruciating death.”
When some consider the reality of Jesus’ crucifixion, they are reminded of the many that are persecuted for their faith around the world and ask what can be so good about this day. Green explains with these words; “…out of this excruciating pain, out of this bad, what they thought was bad, came this incredible good, and that’s why we call it ‘Good Friday’”. She continues to explain, “Because we, as Christians, know that we’re on the other side of the resurrection, we understand what this leads up to.” On the third day, after His crucifixion, Jesus was raised from the dead, which is what Easter celebrates; “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Not only does Green discuss the significance of Easter, but she also points out how Christianity sets itself apart from all the religions of the world. “Christianity has unique truth claims. It is the only religion where its founder claims to have been God. Right? God in the flesh. Buddha did not make these claims. Mohammed did not make these claims.” She doesn’t stop there. She further points out the ensuing struggle when someone begins to acknowledge this reality. “So, this is why, when the Secular world and non-Christians are confronted with Christianity, they have a conflict because the Secular world wants to believe that all religions are the same, that they worship the same God, and Christianity is saying, ‘NO. Jesus is God.’ So, even Muslims have to say, we have to say that Muslims don’t even worship the same deity because they don’t believe that Jesus was divine…”
It’s important to recognize that when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate on the day that He was to be crucified, He said in John 18:36, “…My kingdom is not of this world…” He wasn’t living for this life, but the life to come: eternal life. Experiencing persecution will always appear to be overwhelming if we are living solely for this life. It’s a powerful reality when we begin to truly understand what Jesus did and accomplished for every one of us upon the Cross. If you haven’t yet, you can receive Jesus Christ into your life this very moment.
Be encouraged and lifted up as you are reminded of this powerful moment of history, as not just a date in history, but a reality that can effect your eternal life, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: hope, faith, It Is Finished, Jesus is Lord, persecution, and eternal life. John and Steve shared in this segment.
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See more, related content and articles for this article.
The Tragic Death of Robert Godwin Senior on Easter Sunday and His Family’s Amazing Reaction as they Speak out for the First Time
It is a chilling reminder of the evil in the world anytime we learn that someone was murdered. In today’s reality, evil has climbed to new levels with the ability to do it LIVE for all the world to see. The Godwin family is experiencing devastation and loss as Robert Godwin Sr. was murdered in cold blood, on the streets of Cleveland, as many watched his murderer flaunt the event live on social media. As some would assume the Godwin family to be consumed with emotions toward the killer, it isn’t exactly as one may think. CNN’s Anderson Cooper spoke to some of the family after this tragic event.
When some would expect anger and rage expressed from the Godwin family, it is quite the opposite. Cooper asks the family what they will remember most about their father, and they had these words to say: “He taught us about God, how to fear God, how to love God and how to forgive.” They continue to share their hearts towards their father’s killer. “Each one of us forgives the killer, the murderer…” Cooper interjects his surprising response. “You do?” They continued, “We want to wrap our arms around him…I can honestly say right now that I hold no animosity in my heart against this man.”
As some would be wondering how a family can share such love and compassion towards an individual considering such circumstances, the family begins to share how this response is possible for them. “I know that he’s a sick individual. I know that, ya know because of his sickness, whatever evil overtook him that caused him to do this to my dad, it’s not him, it wouldn’t be something he would typically do, and I promise you I could not do that if I did not know God. If I didn’t know Him as my God and my Savior. I could not forgive that man.”
As the family continues to share compassion not only for their father, but also the loss for this man’s family, that his children lost their father, and his mother lost her son, Cooper again interjects, surprised by their words. He says, “That’s incredible Tanya that you’re thinking about that even in your time of grief; that you’re thinking about them.” They responded by highlighting how they were raised by their parents. “It’s just what our parents did. It wasn’t that they just taught us, they didn’t talk it, they did it. They lived it. People would do things to us, and we would say, ‘Dad are you gonna really forgive them?’ and he would say, ‘Yes. We have to.’” What is so beautiful in this moment, is that the Godwin family not only represented their natural father well, they represented their Spiritual Father, Father God, well.
Regardless of what others do to us, or how we are treated in this life, the greatest gift we can give is forgiveness. When we refuse to forgive others and walk in un-forgiveness, waiting for someone else to do something before we will forgive, it is not them that suffers, it is ourselves. If we find ourselves saying, “that person owes me”, it goes from “owe” to “own”. Think of it this way, “you owe me, you owe me, you owe me…you OWN me, you OWN me, you OWN me.” Freedom comes when we forgive. When we understand the true depth of forgiveness that Jesus offered us, we have no problem demonstrating forgiveness to others.
Be encouraged and lifted up as you see the full story of the Godwin family, their demonstration of love, compassion, forgiveness, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: Facebook Live, Cleveland Ohio, CNN, Anderson Cooper, forgiveness, and prayer. John and Steve shared in this segment.
MORE and More Professional Athletes Using their Platform to Unashamedly Profess their Commitment to Follow Jesus: NY Mets Curtis Granderson
As we look across the many different professional arenas of sports, there are multiple Christians that are quite outspoken with their faith. From his time in college, to the NFL, Tim Tebow has been a voice for the Lord. Steph Curry has used the platform of the NBA for the Gospel as well. There are others, such as Ben Watson, who previously played for the New Orleans Saints, as well as Dwight Howard, who plays for the NBA’s Houston Rockets, and many others. When looking at the MLB, New York Mets’ Outfielder Curtis Granderson is also sharing encouraging words for Christ.
In a recent interview with CBN, Granderson is turning heads with his character, as well as his athleticism. When other athletes show frustration or irritation from the game’s events, Granderson still manages to control himself. He shares how people even ask him about his cool, calm demeanor; “People go, how come you don’t slam your helmet, how come you don’t break your bat, how come you’re not, you know, yelling and cussing at everybody?” He shares how he answers them, “That’s not going to change anything. You know, the results are what they are. They’ve happened, then move on and God will bless me with another opportunity to go out there with a chance to do something different.”
When asked about how he works on the things that need strengthening, he shares, “You know, try not to worry too much about what’s happened. Understand the process of everything that’s happened before.” The MLB maintains a season of 162 games, so you have to have a marathon mindset. Granderson continues, “Obviously, you’re going to have ups and downs in the game. You’re going to have injuries. You’re going to not play to the capability that you think you can play to.”But, it’s in Christ where his strength lies. “And the way you respond and how people see that is all from Christ giving me this strength to go out there and understand that things will turn, He has a plan. Just lay it out for Him and the plan will take shape.”
When other athletes are receiving paychecks and sponsors for their talents, Granderson sets himself apart by using his relationships with sponsors to benefit his foundation, “The Grandkids Foundation”. Instead of receiving income from sponsors, he elects to be paid in equipment so that he can give it to those who need it and can use it. As a man who plays in the big league, he doesn’t want people to see his generosity or his talents, he wants people to see Christ. “I want them to see someone that is –has worked hard, didn’t take anything for granted, that was very blessed with the opportunities to do some amazing things and tried to take advantage of all the opportunities that were laid out in front of me. If things went one way to the side, tried my best to get back on track as soon as possible. And be a living example of what Christ can do for you and what Christ has in store for you”.
This is such an awesome testimony of the Goodness of the Lord. Presently, there is a mindset in our culture that in order to share the Gospel, you have to be standing behind a pulpit on Sunday morning. This is simply not true. God wants us to affect all areas of society. There are 7 Spheres of Influence: Government, Education, Business, Family, Media, Arts & Entertainment, and the Church. Now is the time to be bold for the Lord, regardless of where He has placed us. Be reminded in the love of baseball as well as the encouragement of seeing the ability to reach others for Christ no matter where you are, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: blessings, provision, New York Mets Baseball, Detroit Tigers, boldness, evangelism, witness for Christ, and generosity. John and Steve shared in this segment.
Awaken the Dawn : America’s Tent of Meeting October 6-9, 2017 I Washington DC
Awaken the Dawn is coming to Washington D.C. this October 6-9 for a powerful event of worship, praise, and celebration being lifted up to the Lord. There is no better place than the capital of our nation, to come together in unity under the banner of Jesus Christ. David Bradshaw and Rick Pino inviteus to this exciting event as they describe it with these words: “We’re gonna mobilize to the National Mall this October…musicians, songwriters, all of you crazy musicianary crew…bring your worship, bring your love.” It’s not about another concert as some may assume. Pino continues, “this is about you enlisting in this worship army!” This event is unlike anything you have ever seen as there will be 50 different tents full of worship. Each tent is designation for one of the 50 states. Pino is calling for 1,000 musicians and worship leaders to make this a reality. SIGN UP TODAY! See the full call to action from Pino and Bradshaw, and so much more. John and Steve shared in this segment.
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