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Before You Share, Beware!

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Social media is a powerful tool that can be used for good or bad. That includes missing person alerts. Many posted online have the added plea, “It only takes seconds to share.” Verifying that a missing person report is legitimate and still active also takes a few seconds. For years, I’ve noticed many of these cases have been resolved and need to stop circulating .   In recent months, more missing child alerts have become phishing scams. Facebook posts about so-called missing children are later changed to something one might be selling or lead to a link to extract money from people. Unless it’s your child or someone you know, it’s best not to share these alerts until you do some research. A website called TinEye allows one to do a reverse image search. There’s also a national database available to verify if a child is missing.  Here are some red flags to look for when you see a missing person alert on Facebook: The post came from a “buy and sell” group instead of a law enforcemen
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Reflection on the ’24 Election

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A few days ago, I walked by a house that had Halloween decor in their front yard along with signs promoting Democratic politicians. I thought the possibility of a Harris - Walz administration was more scary than the ghosts hanging from the trees. Creepy decorations are usually on display for a few weeks during the year. The election of bad politicians has longer negative effects. Fortunately, enough God-fearing Americans voted so that Donald Trump will return to the White House. Not since Grover Cleveland has a president served two non-consecutive terms. Unlike the previous two elections, Trump also won the popular vote. It was just before 8:30 p.m. EST last Tuesday when I started watching the Victory Channel’s election coverage. Although Kenneth Copeland had prophesied a Trump victory, I had concerns the Democrats would attempt to use invalid ballots to steal the election like what happened in 2020 . Again, some news sources declared Kamala Harris the winner of certain states befor
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Politicians in the Pulpit

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Last Sunday morning, presidential candidate Kamala Harris spoke at the Church of Christian Compassion in Philadelphia. I did some research to find out more about this inner-city fellowship. Their website mentions them having an evangelism ministry. However, one outreach to encourage voting was sponsored by the Democratic Party. I don’t understand how professing Christians can align with a political platform that promotes abortion and perverted lifestyles. They must be biblically ignorant or in denial. Fortunately, not every congregation member approved of Harris’ appearance. In response to a YouTube video of the Vice-President’s speech, one woman commented: “Omg, This is my church, I am not pleased with this. I’m glad I wasn’t there. Pastor (W. Lonnie) Herndon, please do better.” There were a few hecklers present at the Church of Christian Compassion, Harris’ response to them was “That’s why we fight for our democracy.” Then she repeatedly clapped her hands while saying, “Every voic
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Pets vs. People

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In one of his YouTube videos , conservative radio talk show host Dennis Prager asked, “If you saw your dog and a stranger drowning, which would you save first?” In surveys he’s done with students, two-thirds have voted against the stranger. British evangelist Leonard Ravenhill stated, “Today’s Christians spend more money on dog food than missions.” One study determined Christians spend twenty times more money on Halloween costumes for their pets than preaching the gospel in unreached areas. That demonstrates how some believers value their pets more than men's souls. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I know how painful it is to lose a pet. As a boy, I wept heavily after the family cat got hit by a car and died. While some believe their deceased pets are in heaven , they don’t need to be redeemed. Jesus came to bring salvation to humans, not animals. It should also be pointed out God Himself said that man was alone until He c
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Read Your Bible

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It disturbs me when I meet professing Christians who give excuses not to attend church . Two days ago, I witnessed to a man riding a bicycle in front of my house. He insisted, “We are having church right now.” Jesus did say in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” However, the body of Christ cannot function to its fullest when believers aren’t connected to the fellowship He’s called us to (1 Corinthians 12:18). This man also defended his belief that he didn’t need to read the Bible. I had offered to give him a gospel of John but he refused it because “I have God’s word in my head.” Yes, we should memorize and meditate on it (Joshua 1:8). Still, that’s not a substitute for reading Scripture. Even Jesus read it while in the synagogue (Luke 4:16). Had I thought of it then, I could have quoted Scripture references and challenged this man to tell me what they were. Instead, I recalled this analogy Kenneth Copeland sha
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Appreciate Your Pastor

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As last week’s blog article stated, October is Clergy Appreciation Month. There’s also a Clergy Appreciation Day on the second Sunday in October (which happens to be today). Since the early 1990s, these unofficial holidays have reminded congregations to honor ministers and their families.   Sadly, too many Christians use the Internet to criticize preachers  they don’t like. How about they instead express gratitude for the ones who helped them grow in the Lord? Over the years, God has used ministers from various denominations to speak into my life. Some are pastors whom I previously wrote about in this list . This article will highlight others who weren’t mentioned: John Arnott - In 1994, a supernatural move of God began at Toronto Airport Vineyard. Changed lives resulted from what became known as “ The Toronto Blessing .” I first saw Pastor John during a 1995 meeting in Minneapolis. A few weeks later, I made the first of many visits to the church now known as Catch the Fire. Despit
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A Tribute to Al Best

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October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This tribute is for one who went home to be with the Lord last Sunday. Al Best oversaw Light in Anoka Church in a northern suburb of Minneapolis. Originally from Florida, Al first gave his life to the Lord at 17 but then backslid. Meanwhile, he served 21 years in the Navy and worked various jobs. That included selling Rainbow vacuum cleaners. I would eventually get to know his sales manager. Eric Gonyon became an associate pastor at Rodney Howard-Browne ’s church (I usually attend services there when in Tampa).  A few years after recommitting his life to the Lord, Al became a pastor. In 2007, the Lord directed him to head north to Minnesota, where his wife Jean is from. First, they ministered in the small town of Dassel. What started as a youth mission transitioned into regular services for all ages. Then in 2016, Al and Jean moved to Anoka to take on a church originally called New Day Fellowship. To counter the city’s motto as the “Halloween Ca
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