Chinese Pastor Who Organized Human Wall
Against Church Demolition "Grateful" for Prison
Sentence

A Chinese pastor maintains that he is grateful for
the opportunity to serve a prison sentence.
Huang Yizi faces up to seven years in prison for
criticizing the government's campaign to
demolish church buildings, according to the
Christian Post.
China Aid reports Pastor Yizi gathered church
members and other believers to defend Salvation
Church by created a human wall to keep
authorities out on July 21. Fourteen people were

seriously injured that day.
On Aug. 3, police took forty-year-old Pastor
Huang Yizi of a Wenzhou-based church into
criminal detention. Aug. 28 he was arrested for
“gathering a crowd to disrupt public order.”
"He [Yizi] seems well. He is grateful that God has
given him the chance to serve time in the
detention centre," Beijing-based rights lawyer
Zhang Kai Ahaojie said.
Huang’s arrest notice is translated below:
Upon approval from Pingyang County People’s
Procuratorate, this bureau placed Huang Yizi
under arrest on August 28, 2014 on suspicion of
“gathering a crowd to disrupt public order.”
Huang Yizi is currently being detained at
Pingyang County Detention Center.

DEACON FILE LAW SUIT AGAINST PASTOR AFTER HE ADMITTED HAVING SEX WITH CHURCH MEMBERS

Deacons File Suit Against Pastor After He
Admitted to Having Sex with Church Members
Carrie Derricks

Deacons of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in
Alabama have filed suit against their pastor Juan
McFarland after he admitted to having sexual
intercourse with several women in the
congregation without informing them he had
AIDS. The pastor also confessed to drug use and
misuse of church funds.
According to the lawsuit, "The Defendant Juan D.
McFarland attempted to change the by-laws and
constitution of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist
Church by deception in an attempt to prevent the
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church from
terminating him as Pastor, in the event the church
members discovered his debauchery, sinfulness,
hedonism, sexual misconduct, dishonesty, thievery
and rejection of the Ten Commandments.”
McFarland has refused to step down from his
leadership position despite a church vote that
resulted 80-2 in favor of terminating the pastor.
The church has also filed suit against
McFarland’s ally, church member Marc Anthoni
Peacock. The Christian Post reports Peacock
threatened the deacons with taking advantage of
the so-called “castle doctrine” if they would
return to the church. The lawsuit states that
doctrine is in reference to shooting as self-
defense.
"The vast majority of the members of Shiloh
Missionary Baptist Church are afraid to go to
church for the fear of violence," the lawsuit
against Peacock says.
McFarland has not yet been charged with any
crimes; it is a Class C misdemeanor to knowingly
spread a disease in Alabama.

catholics welcoming same sex

Catholic parishes should welcome same-sex
couples, the synod of nearly 200 bishops on the
family in Rome was told on its first full

day of
meetings.
Ron and Mavis Pirola, from Sydney, who are
among of a small group of laity who will address
the bishops and cardinals over the next two
weeks, said: "The church constantly faces the
tension of upholding the truth while expressing
compassion and mercy. Families face this tension
all the time.
"Take homosexuality as an example. Friends of
ours were planning their Christmas family
gathering when their gay son said he wanted to
bring his partner home, too. They fully believed in
the Church's teachings and they knew their
grandchildren would see them welcome the son
and his partner into the family. Their response
could be summed up in three words, 'He's our
son.' "
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They continued: "What a model of evangelisation
for parishes as they respond to similar situations
in their neighbourhood."
The Catholic News Service reported the
intervention from Rome, where Pope Francis has
called the extraordinary synod in an attempt to
help the Church find a way to deal with a world
where its teachings on homosexuality, marriage
and divorce and contraception are not only
increasingly out of step with the world, but
regarded as unjust by many. In a letter to
bishops in 1986, the former Pope Benedict, then
Cardinal Ratzinger, stated what remains the
Church's official position, that homosexuality is
"ordered towards an intrinsic moral evil, and thus
the inclination itself must be seen as an objective
disorder."
The Pope, who opened discussions, urged bishops
to speak openly, without fear of upsetting him.
He said they had a "great responsibility" to bring
the realities and problems of churches in the
world to the synod.
Pope Francis said: "A general condition is this:
speak out. Let no one say: 'This can not be said;
think of me this way or that ...' You have to say
everything that you feel with parrhesia (A Greek
word meaning 'boldly')."
He revealed that after an earlier meeting this year
on the topic of the family, a Cardinal wrote to him
saying it was a pity that some Cardinals had not
had the courage to say some things, out of
respect his feelings of fearing that the Pope was
thinking something different. "This is not good,
this is not collegiality," the Pope said. "You have
to say everything that the Lord feels you have to
say, without human diffidence, without timidity.
And, at the same time, you should listen with
humility and accept with an open heart to what
your brothers say. With these two attitudes is
exercised collegiality.
"For this reason, I ask you, please, brothers in the
Lord: speak with frankness and listen with
humility. And do it with tranquility and peace."
Although there is a tangible sense among
observers in Rome that there is a mood for
change, it is unlikely to happen quickly. The
Monday morning session, which was televised,
saw many bishops argue against any changes to
church teaching.
All future sessions will be behind closed doors,
and summarised for accredited media at daily
briefings in the Vatican press office.
At the end of the week, the bishops will draft a
working document on the theme of evangelisation
and the family. It will be finalised next week.

Synod on the Family: Could the Catholic Church be liberalising on divorce, contraception and homosexuality?

The Catholic Church has signalled it could be
moving towards a liberalisation of its ban on
divorced and remarried people receiving Holy
Communion, to the growing anger of the
conservative wing.
Commentators believe a softening of the outright
ban on artificial birth control, already ignored by
most lay Catholics, is also possible, after the first
official document emerged from Rome today.
The mid-term report presented at the start of the
second week of the Extraordinary Synod on the
Family was welcomed by liberal commentators
but condemned by the conservative group Voice
of the Family as a "betrayal".
Francis X Rocca of Catholic News Service said
the document used "strikingly conciliatory
language on situations contrary to Catholic
teaching" and emphasised calls for greater
acceptance and appreciation of divorced and
remarried Catholics, cohabitating couples and
homosexuals.
Writer John Thavis described it as an
"earthquake", the "big one" that hit after months
of smaller tremors.
The relatio post disceptationem was read aloud to
the 200 bishops meeting in the synod hall at the
Vatican.
Thavis noted that while defending traditional
doctrine, it also called on the Church to build on
positive values in unions that the Church has
always considered "irregular" including
cohabitating couples, second marriages after
divorce and even homosexual unions.
"Regarding homosexuals, it went so far as to
pose the question whether the church could
accept and value their sexual orientation without
compromising Catholic doctrine."
The document will be finalised this week then
used for reflection around the world for a year,
before the next stage in the process begins, at
another synod next October, where the theme will
be "the vocation and mission of the family in the
church and the modern world."
Presenting the report this morning, the General
Rapporteur, Cardinal Peter Erdő, said Jesus
taught marriage was indissoluble, but showed
understanding of those who didn't live up to this
ideal.
The Church had to consider "whether there are
positive elements in irregular marriages," he
added.
Cardinal Erdő said many synod members
expressed the need for reformed, simplified
procedures for annulments.
Regarding divorced and divorced and civilly
remarried Catholics, the report speaks of the need
for "courageous pastoral choices" and "new
pastoral paths", calling for case-by-case
discernment.
The report noted that a couple choosing to
cohabit might indicate commitment-phobia, but is
also a choice that is taken "while waiting for a
secure existence" such as a steady job and
income. The Cardinal said the Synod Fathers also
noted that homosexual persons have gifts and
talents to offer the Christian community and that
pastoral outreach to them is an important
educative challenge.
REUTERS/Claudio Peri
Pope Francis leading the synod of bishops in Paul
VI's hall at the Vatican
John Smeaton, co-founder of Voice of the Family,
said: "Those who are controlling the Synod have
betrayed Catholic parents worldwide. We believe
that the Synod's mid-way report is one of the
worst official documents drafted in Church
history.
"Thankfully the report is a preliminary report for
discussion, rather than a definitive proposal. It is
essential that the voices of those lay faithful who
sincerely live out Catholic teaching are also taken
into account. Catholic families are clinging to
Christ's teaching on marriage and chastity by
their finger-tips."
Patrick Buckley, Voice of the Family's Irish
representative, said: "The Synod's mid-way
report represents an attack on marriage and the
family. For example, the report in effect gives a
tacit approval of adulterous relationships, thereby
contradicting the Sixth Commandment and the
words of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the
indissolubility of marriage.
"The report undermines the Church's definitive
teaching against contraception, by using the
coded language of 'underlin[ing] the need to
respect the dignity of the person in the moral
evaluation of the methods of birth control". This
language is the code of those who wish to reduce
the Church's doctrines to a mere guide, thus
leaving couples free to choose contraception in
so-called 'conscience'.
"The report accepts wrongly that there is a value
in the homosexual orientation." This contradicts
the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith's
1986 letter which condemned homosexuality as
ordered towards an intrinsic moral evil, he said.
"Although the particular inclination of the
homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or
less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic
moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be
seen as an objective disorder."
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Maria Madise, Voice of the Family's coordinator,
said: "What will Catholic parents now have to tell
their children about contraception, cohabiting with
partners or living homosexual lifestyles? Will
those parents now have to tell their children that
the Vatican teaches that there are positive and
constructive aspects to these mortal sins? This
approach destroys grace in souls.
"It would be a false mercy to give Holy
Communion to people who do not repent of their
mortal sins against Christ's teachings on sexual
purity. Real mercy consists of offering people a
clean conscience via the Sacrament of Confession
and thus union with God.
"Many of those who claim to speak in the name
of the universal Church have failed to teach the
faithful. This failure has created unprecedented
difficulties for families. No responsibility is taken
for this failure in this disastrous mid-way report."
"The Synod's mid-way report will increase the
incidence of faithful Catholics being labelled as
'pharisees', simply for upholding Catholic
teaching on sexual purity."

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL... DATE : Tuesday 14 October 2014 THEME : THE OLD TIME RELIGION

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...
DATE : Tuesday 14 October 2014
THEME : THE OLD TIME RELIGION

Memorise:
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing
this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy 4:16

Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 SAMUEL 12-13 and PROVERBS 11:18-31

Message
In a world of confusing and conflicting messages, there is need from time to time to check your foundation and the core of your faith as a Christian. You need the ‘old-time religion’ (Jeremiah 6:16). Ours is not dead religion as practised by the world, but rather, a way of life in the Spirit that has its foundation on belief in the Bible as the word of God. We believe in the Trinity,
the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His atonement and resurrection, the need for repentance, new birth, justification, sanctification, the Holy Spirit, grace (and the possibility of falling from it), the rapture, the second coming of Christ, the judgments, Heaven and Hell. The believers of old were sticklers to the word of God. They knew that the word of God was good enough and sufficient for them.
Joshua 1:8 says,
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou
shalt have good success.”
It is imperative that you believe and obey the word of God. If only the children of God would believe His word and obey it, the blessings they would get from God would not only grant them material success, but also eternal life. In addition, they will enjoy good health and safety from evil men and women. The word of God is a Book of Redemption. It has the inspiration (breath) of God in
it. God had the Bible written by revelation; it was transmitted through a method free of error and mistakes. The word of God is authentic because every word in
the Bible is inspired (Matthew 5:18). All the written words of God are immortal, infallible, and indestructible (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 1:23). Has God made you
a promise in His word? Believe and hold on to it. That promise will definitely come to fulfilment. The Bible is also a supernatural revelation from God. As
such, it has supernatural effects upon the heart, soul (mind) and will of man. It is a dynamic revelation from God which has dynamic quality. The word of God
is effectual (Isaiah 55:10-11) and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), having the power to save, heal, deliver, and to set free. It cleanses (Psalm 119:9), gives wisdom and understanding (Psalm 19:7) and brings comfort and peace (Romans 15:4).
It is only through obedience to the word of God that we can remain holy and preserved from sin and error. Do you want to be fulfilled on earth? Do you want to enjoy peace of mind? Do you want to be victorious? Do you want to make it to heaven? Read, meditate on and obey the word of God.

Action Point:
Have you read your Bible today? Begin to study the word of God on daily basis from today.

AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

Categories: Devotionals

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL... DATE : Tuesday 14 October 2014 THEME : THE OLD TIME RELIGION

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...
DATE : Tuesday 14 October 2014
THEME : THE OLD TIME RELIGION

Memorise:
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing
this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy 4:16

Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 SAMUEL 12-13 and PROVERBS 11:18-31

Message
In a world of confusing and conflicting messages, there is need from time to time to check your foundation and the core of your faith as a Christian. You need the ‘old-time religion’ (Jeremiah 6:16). Ours is not dead religion as practised by the world, but rather, a way of life in the Spirit that has its foundation on belief in the Bible as the word of God. We believe in the Trinity,
the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His atonement and resurrection, the need for repentance, new birth, justification, sanctification, the Holy Spirit, grace (and the possibility of falling from it), the rapture, the second coming of Christ, the judgments, Heaven and Hell. The believers of old were sticklers to the word of God. They knew that the word of God was good enough and sufficient for them.
Joshua 1:8 says,
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou
shalt have good success.”
It is imperative that you believe and obey the word of God. If only the children of God would believe His word and obey it, the blessings they would get from God would not only grant them material success, but also eternal life. In addition, they will enjoy good health and safety from evil men and women. The word of God is a Book of Redemption. It has the inspiration (breath) of God in
it. God had the Bible written by revelation; it was transmitted through a method free of error and mistakes. The word of God is authentic because every word in
the Bible is inspired (Matthew 5:18). All the written words of God are immortal, infallible, and indestructible (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 1:23). Has God made you
a promise in His word? Believe and hold on to it. That promise will definitely come to fulfilment. The Bible is also a supernatural revelation from God. As
such, it has supernatural effects upon the heart, soul (mind) and will of man. It is a dynamic revelation from God which has dynamic quality. The word of God
is effectual (Isaiah 55:10-11) and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), having the power to save, heal, deliver, and to set free. It cleanses (Psalm 119:9), gives wisdom and understanding (Psalm 19:7) and brings comfort and peace (Romans 15:4).
It is only through obedience to the word of God that we can remain holy and preserved from sin and error. Do you want to be fulfilled on earth? Do you want to enjoy peace of mind? Do you want to be victorious? Do you want to make it to heaven? Read, meditate on and obey the word of God.

Action Point:
Have you read your Bible today? Begin to study the word of God on daily basis from today.

AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

Categories: Devotionals

‘Left Behind’ and ‘The Good Lie’ Face Off during Hollywood’s Year of Faith-Based Films Sarah Pulliam Bailey

movies coming out this weekend that aim to
attract a faith-based crowd join a glut of biblical
films for 2014, testing the limits of Hollywood’s
appetite for religion.
The two films, “The Good Lie” and “Left Behind,”
both opening Friday (Oct. 3), reflect two different
filmmaking strategies: One is geared for a wider
audience that could attract Christians, while the
other produces a movie clearly made for the
Christian base.
With a number of films targeting a faith audience
this year, it’s unclear whether Hollywood is
oversaturating the market with faith-based films
— a revolutionary idea 10 years after Mel
Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” shocked the
industry by raking in $611.9 million worldwide.
“The Good Lie,” starring Reese Witherspoon
helping four young “Lost Boys” from Sudan adjust
to life in the U.S., has underlying faith themes.
The refugees rely on their faith as they try to
leave homeland strife behind, and Witherspoon’s
character works closely with a faith-based
agency to place refugees with families.
To find the Lost Boys actors, the filmmakers held
casting calls at churches that have helped
resettle actual Lost Boys. Actor Ger Duany, who
plays one of the Lost Boys in the film, was
himself a Lost Boy. Born in Sudan, Duany was a
child soldier before he escaped to Ethiopia and
sought refuge in the U.S. at age 16.
The film, being billed as the next “The Blind Side,”
already has grassroots support from a diverse set
of faith-based leaders and organizations.
Megachurch pastor Rick Warren, Sojourners
founder Jim Wallis, World Vision, UNICEF, Oxfam
and other groups are promoting the film, with
some hosting screenings or buying out entire
theaters.
“The Blind Side,” based on Michael Lewis’ best-
selling book about a black football player taken in
by a white family, received a groundswell of
support from Christians, eventually grossing over
$250 million in the U.S. One of “The Good Lie”
producers, Molly Smith, who also produced “The
Blind Side,” said this film could face some
challenges in drawing people to the theaters.
“‘The Blind Side’ struck a chord with the
heartland,” Smith said. “This movie is a tougher
sell because it’s not entertaining with a story
about children of war.”
Though it’s not an overtly religious film,
filmmakers employed the same strategy as other
films in seeking endorsements from religious
leaders and faith-based organizations.
“We didn’t set out to make it a faith-based
movie. During the journey of the Lost Boys, it was
their faith that guided them. We tried to tell the
story in an authentic way, and that’s part of it,”
Smith said. “Movies like this only opens the door
to making more movies like this with values,
family, sacrifice, love, faith.”
The other film out this weekend, “Left Behind,”
starring Nicolas Cage, is more overtly religious,
based on the best-selling books by Tim LaHaye
and Jerry Jenkins about the world after Jesus
returns, when true believers are swept into glory
and everyone else is left behind.
The first “Left Behind” book, published in 1995 by
Tyndale House Publishers, was a surprising best-
seller, spawning a series that has sold over 63
million copies. The series’ sales figures would
rival “The Hunger Games” trilogy, “The Hardy
Boys” series and even “Winnie-the-Pooh.”
The book had already been turned into a 2000
film starring Kirk Cameron, grossing about $4
million, barely breaking even. Tim LaHaye
originally panned the newer version but later
changed his tune.
“It is the best movie I have ever seen about the
Rapture,” he said.
“We’re not pursuing endorsements as if the film’s
success depends on it,” said his grandson, Randy
LaHaye, who co-produced the film. “One of the
reasons ‘Left Behind’ was successful was
because people had no idea they were learning
biblical prophecy. In that sense, it’s a biblical
film.”
Early reviews give “The Good Lie” a boost: The
film scored an 84 percent rating on Rotten
Tomatoes, which measures how positively movie
critics review a film. “Left Behind,” on the other
hand, receives 3 percent. Both films will also
compete with Ben Affleck’s highly anticipated
thriller, “Gone Girl.”
With 2014 shaping up to be the year of faith-
based films, the two films reflect the increasingly
fierce competition to tap into the purchasing
power of Christian moviegoers. Christian
audiences turned out in force for surprise hits like
2008′s “Fireproof” (which had a budget of $
500,000 but took in $33.5 million) and the 2006
film produced by the same Georgia church,
“Facing the Giants.”
But with Hollywood producing large-scale films
like this year’s “Noah,” starring Russell Crowe,
smaller-budget films like “Left Behind” might have
a harder time standing out at the box office.
“Noah” grossed more than $100 million
domestically, according to Box Office Mojo.
Christian Hollywood duo Mark Burnett and Roma
Downey’s “Son of God” took in $60 million. The
book-to-film story “Heaven Is for Real” has made
$90 million domestically since its release. Even
“God’s Not Dead” drew in a surprising $60
million.
Films like “The Good Lie” that don’t feature overt
religious themes don’t always perform well.
“Moms’ Night Out,” which was marketed heavily
to the faith-based audience with a production
budget of $5 million, drew only $10 million.
In addition, smaller-scale films with faith themes
out this fall, such as “Believe Me,” “The Identical”
and “The Song,” could have difficulty competing
with a film like “Noah,” which had a $125 million
budget.
More faith-based films are expected this year.
Texas megachurch pastor Joel Osteen signed on
with Aloe Entertainment to be the executive
producer of “Mary, Mother of Christ,” billed as a
kind of sequel to “The Passion of the Christ,” but
production has been bogged down with
controversy involving Mexican drug traffickers and
money launderers.
The official trailer for “Exodus: Gods and Kings,”
about the life of Moses and starring Christian
Bale, was released from 20th Century Fox and
already has 2.5 million views. And the film
adaptation of the best-selling book “Unbroken,”
which also has faith themes, will come out on
Christmas.