Texas Church Offers 4 million dollars in Prizes to Come to Their Easter Service

Click to read original article from KRISTV.com
CORPUS CHRISTI - How would you like to register for $4 million in prizes? One church is making you that offer in exchange for attending Easter Service. It's a big price tag and all the prizes collected came from the Coastal Bend.
Pastor Bil Cornelius spreads his ministry's message each weekend from Bay Area Fellowship on Weber. His message from God extends far beyond the building; his service runs nationally.
With Easter Week upon us, his message is getting an even bigger boost with a big giveaway.
"We've got two BMW's, we have an Audi, an Avalanche, we have a Mitsubishi Eclipse, a Jaguar," said Trish Fraizer, a spokesperson for the church.
From dresser drawers to cars, bedroom sets and even bikes; the total giveaway is valued at $4 million, the goal initially was to give away one million dollars in prizes.
"Our hope is someone that's never been here, that may come for the wrong reasons, comes here and we're able to plant a seed," explains Fraizer. That seed, they hope, will increase membership.
"You get the free gift of Heaven if you just accept Christ," said Pastor and Founder Cornelius.
The church spreads its message to about 7,000 members and every weekend, those members' donations bring in about $100,000 to the megachurch. It's money that goes back out into the community.
"It goes into facility operation, it goes into personnel cost, outreach, church planting, we start other churches we start other locations and community outreach programs as well," said Pastor Paul Schulz.
He tells us the goal is to double members in the next ten years.
This Easter giveaway may just help, either way, members say their only goal is to touch as many people as possible with the message of God.
"The overall goal is to let them hear about the message of Christ, ask him into their heart and leave saved, that's the overall goal," Fraizer said.
Bay Area Fellowship has 5 facilities in the Coastal Bend and one in San Marcos.
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JMC Ministries Response

It just amazes us how churches today will use anything to get people to come to church even when it compromises the Holy Scriptures.

Did Jesus say, come follow me and I will give you a Car, or a laptop, or even a Flatscreen TV? NO! He said He offered what the world could not give, Everlasting Life! He said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He said he would provide for our needs. A flat-screen TV is definitely not one of those needs or even a luxury automobile.

We ourselves have seen churches here in Ohio giving out money and gift cards to get gas, go to restaurants, and stores. If their members bring so many people to church on Sundays. 

How is this biblical when Jesus seeing people selling things and exchanging money in the church turned over the tables of those selling goods in the synagogue and told them that it is wrong. If Jesus were here in the flesh today He would do the same thing to these churches. 

The 4 million dollars that will be spent to "bribe" people to come to church should be used to help people in need. Think about how many people you could help who are homeless, unemployed, on the verge of losing their homes etc. Thousands Could be helped!

When I read about this church I see no difference between them and a Rent A Center or a Car Sales Man offering prizes to the first few customers through the door. Or How some car dealer ships send you mail saying "if you bring in this key you could win a new car" It is a gimmick.

Jesus and the disciples did not need a gimmick they spoke TRUTH and offered what man and the world could not. This church offers expensive material things that will rot and rust to get you to fill their seats and hopefully see you give your life to God. But honestly What God is this church serving? That is the 4 million dollar Question there.

People will only come to this church if they think they can walk away with a materialistic prize when the Real Prize is being overshadowed....A relationship with Jesus Christ and Everlasting life.

We must pray Brothers and Sisters in Christ that people not be deceived by materialistic things and see the Truth and know that they don't need all that stuff just to want to go to church and worship our Lord. Jesus Didn't need a gimmick and neither do we.

Obama Makes Fun of Those Who Are Against Health Care Reform

 

JMC Ministries Response

To hear Obama riling up the crowd and making fun of those who don’t want his Government Health Care Clearly shows that he does not care what the American People want or think.

Obama’s approval rating is the lowest since he has been in office after he signed the Health Care Reform Bill. His rating is 44%. But hearing this crowd you would not know that.

More Americans are against Obama than for him. This crowd of people applauding. cheering and even booing at those who are against the health care do not make up the majority. They are the minority!

To hear the president make fun of me, my family and friends is very upsetting because it just shows he has no respect for Americans that want FREEDOM and not More BIG Government running everything in our country! We must NOT Let our voices be silenced, we must keep fighting and stand up for our Freedoms and rights that Obama clearly wants to take away.

Judge Rules Against Secret Service Agents for seizing “Million Dollar Bill” Bible Tracts

Click To read full story from World Net Daily

By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily

A federal judge has ruled the seizure of thousands of Gospel tracts from a Texas ministry by U.S. Secret Service agents not only was illegal, it violated Fourth Amendment protections against an overbearing and intrusive government.

The decision yesterday by Judge Jorge Solis of the Northern District of Texas came in the long-running dispute over a tract deliberately made to look like a $1 million bill.

The Million Dollar Bill tract was created by evangelist Ray Comfort, who also is author of "Nothing Created Everything: The Scientific Impossibility of Atheistic Evolution," and "You Can Lead An Atheist to Evidence, but You Can't Make Him Think."

"The Million Dollar Bill, taken as a whole, poses no reasonable risk of deceiving an honest, sensible, and unsuspecting person," the judge wrote. "First and foremost is the fact that the Million Dollar Bill purports to be worth a million dollars. There is no genuine currency in this amount.

"More importantly, the amount the bill purports to be worth would lead any unsuspecting, honest, and reasonable person to become suspicious of the [bill's] genuineness. Though many people would readily accept a one-hundred dollar bill without thinking there was a need to even give the bill a cursory examination, a reasonable and honest person would suspect that a bill purporting to be worth a million dollars is not genuine."

Further, the judge ruled that the agents who confiscated 83 packets of the Gospel tracts from the Denton, Texas, offices of the Great News Network violated the U.S. Constitution.

Solis noted that the agents went to the office and confronted workers, demanding the tracts. The workers told the agents ministry leader Darrel Rundus was the only person who could give them permission to take the privately owned property. Rundus had said he would cooperate if the agents got a warrant or a court order, which they had chosen not to do.

According to the court's opinion, the agents then threatened arrest if the workers did not cooperate.

"Agent [Mickey] Kennedy was not subtle in the manner by which he implied that he was taking the Million Dollar Bills with him no matter what – even if it meant arresting Mr. [Timothy] Crawford in the process. The facts and circumstances surrounding Agent Kennedy's statements to Mr. Crawford on June 2, 2006, leave no doubt that Mr. Crawford believed he would be arrested if he did not retrieve the Million Dollar Bills from the closed closet in which they were hidden out of the agents' sight," the judge ruled.

"Agent Kennedy's coercive tactics not only resulted in an unconstitutional search and seizure, it also resulted in bringing disrepute to the noble profession of law enforcement," Solis wrote.

Further, the judge concluded that the agents involved in the seizure later "conspired together to cover up the actual events that took place at GNN's office.

"Agents Kennedy and [Erin] Erdman persisted in covering up these events by being untruthful when they took the witness stand during the bench trial for this case," the judge concluded.

WND contacted Secret Service offices in Dallas and in Washington, but no one would comment on the case.

Rundus told WND he was pleased with the outcome, and his attorney, Steve Crampton, said he was pleased with the ruling, given the stonewalling and coverup that appeared to have taken place throughout the government's case.

"Hopefully, they will go back and rethink their big-picture strategy," Rundus said.

The tracts at issue invite a recipient to answer the "million dollar question: Will you go to Heaven?"

The case was brought on behalf of the Great News Network, which was distributing the tracts. Crampton argued the case on behalf of the Florida-based non-profit legal advocacy group Liberty Counsel.

The tracts clearly state they are not legal tender and contain the Gospel message.

They are published by the Living Waters ministry of evangelist and author Ray Comfort, who says he has distributed millions over the years.

Rundus sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for violations of the Constitution's First Amendment right to free speech and the Fourth Amendment guarantee against unlawful search and seizure. The judge wrote that because he decided the tracts are not illegal, he didn't have to reach a conclusion whether the statutory provisions the government alleged were being violated were constitutional.

Rundus has reported the tracts are extremely effective. He uses them to share his faith with others. While the front of the tract has markings similar to paper currency, it states "This bill is not legal tender," "Thou Shalt Not Steal" and "Department of Eternal Affairs."

The judge noted those are among the indicators, along with the biblical quotations, that would tip off a "reasonable" person, along with the fact there is no such bill.

West Virginia Pastor Murdered

Texas University Play Portraying Jesus as Homosexual CANCELLED

Click to read original article from One News Now

A public outcry is being credited with getting a university in Texas to cancel a controversial play depicting Christ as a homosexual.

Critics say the play Corpus Christi is blasphemous. But the student at Tarleton State University in Stephenville who was directing the production said he chose it to help homosexual youths who may be struggling with their faith.
David Harris, a local preacher, was one of first to find out about the play at the school. Harris helped inform the public about the planned production through his local radio program. "We as Christians are the only advocates that Jesus Christ has," says the pastor. "And if we don't speak up for him, no one will."
Harris says when he protested to officials at Tarleton State, their initial response was that they had no choice but to protect students' First Amendment rights. The pastor questions that rationale.
"Had the play been as demeaning to one of the black leaders, or one of the Jewish leaders, or one of the leaders of Islam, they never would have allowed it to happen," he asserts. "So there is an unequal distribution of this First Amendment right."
The school eventually canceled the play, citing security reasons. But Harris says he knew of no threats -- just anger.
"Even Jesus had righteous indignation over things that were absolutely wrong and demeaning to his father," he points out. "And I don't know that it's wrong for a Christian to have righteous indignation over things that are wrong to Christianity and Christ in general."
The school says the production will not be rescheduled.

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JMC Ministries Response

We shared this story here on Eternal Flame News Via a Video from CNN.

To see that U.S Citizens are speaking up and taking action and not just sitting by any longer shows that People are fet up and will no longer be silent.

We applaud this preacher and all who protested. Because they cannot ignore the cries of the people!

Click to see past ETF Article on this topic

U.S City Allows 1 Home bible Study Group to Continue While Possibly shutting down others

Click to read full Story from World Net Daily

By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily

Officials in the city of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., who had ordered participants of a home Bible study either to purchase an unobtainable city permit to meet or shut down, now are relenting a little.

City officials have said the Bible study targeted earlier for banishment can continue to meet, but they are reserving the right to shut down other Bible studies.

WND reported when the dispute was developing.

Brad Dacus, whose Pacific Justice Institute is working on the case, said then it appeared city officials were deliberately choosing to close down the study, which had been ordered to cease by Good Friday.

But the institute now has confirmed Rancho Cucamonga has dropped its pending enforcement action against the group, although the way is not yet clear for others to meet.

Pacific Justice reported the mayor and other city officials even visited the Friday night Bible study last week.

Rancho Cucamonga officials had demanded that the small home Bible-study group stop meeting or apply to purchase a Conditional Use Permit that also would be required for a full church operation. Dacus said the study group has been meeting Friday nights and averages about 15 people. Members are affiliated with Shiloh Tabernacle, which rents a community center for Sunday services.

The city's letter insisted the study is not allowed because it is a "church," Dacus said. In the city, churches are required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit in residential areas.

"The city has also indicated that no CUP would be granted and the gatherings must cease by Good Friday, April 2," PJI said.

"However, while the city has dropped its enforcement action against the Bible study group, the city has indicated that it did so only because it determined that the Friday night group did not appear to be a 'church,'" according to a new Justice Institute report.

Past Story about this article from Eternal Flame News

Little Children Reenact “Scarface”

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JMC Ministries Response

As we see on the news more and more of children shooting each other being hooked on drugs. This clearly will only influence children when they see this to want to go and do these horrible things that are portrayed by these little children.

To hear the man who put this “play” on supporting what he did and saying there is nothing wrong with children pretending to kill others and do drugs. Is so appalling. Not only that but what were the parents of these children thinking letting their kids participate in such a thing? We think that the reporter should not only have interviewed the guy who put on the “play” but also some of the parents and ask them why they thought it was good to allow their children to be be in this violent, murderous play?

Mainstream Media Defaming Christians

Click to read original article from

Christian News Wire

FORT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Many mainstream media outlets, like ABC and CNN, are irresponsibly reporting that those arrested in Michigan in the alleged plot to murder law enforcement officers are 'Christians,'" said Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission. "Even if they identify themselves as Christians, what they were allegedly planning is absolutely contrary to Christianity. They may have illicitly co-opted the Christian faith to justify their murderous intentions, but it is defamatory for the media to keep referring to them as Christians. They are simply terrorists."
According to ABC news website, "[a] family of four was behind an anti-government militia plot to kill law enforcement officers with improvised explosive devices and projectiles before being foiled by an FBI raid Sunday that netted nine members of a Christian extremist group, ... the fringe Christian militia group called the Hutaree [conspired] to kill a Michigan law enforcement officer and then ambush the officer's colleagues who would have gathered for the funeral...." CNN news website displayed the headline, "Christian Warrior" Militia Accused in Plot to Kill Police.
"I find it hypocritical that news organizations will not call someone who carries out Jihad in accordance to his faith what he really is, an Islamic terrorist, for fear of offending Muslims. But when some insane person claims to be a Christian and does something completely contrary to the Christian faith, the media keeps making the libelous association," said Cass. "It's time for the news media to stop this transparent double standard."

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JMC Ministries Response

Jesus himself said that many would say they come in HIS name but are like wolves in sheep's clothing. To us this is just one example of people claiming to be “Christians” but doing such terrible things that Jesus himself said to not do. Even the 10 commandments say to not kill.

But these “extremists” sought out to kill and destroy people who they think is a threat to them. 

Jesus said, “if they have persecuted me they will persecute you.” So we know that as Christians we are not above what our own Lord and Savior suffered to just share love, compassion, and hope to a dying and hurting world.

Extremists are in every religion. We hear mostly about Muslim extremists, but there are also Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Christians, etc. that only seek to have peace and love in the world.

To put people who are obviously disturbed in the same category as Christians who are not about killing people and destroying those they think or feel are a threat is just wrong. Just as many still put these Muslim Terrorists in the same category as the Muslims who do not seek to kill every one that does not follow their beliefs. As many of the terrorists do.

The “mainstream Media” has a responsibility to stop putting everyone in the same category and show that just because these people may say they are “Christians” They clearly are not following the teaching of Jesus. Jesus was about peace, love, compassion, and helping those in need. Not getting your weapons and killing people. Oh yes Jesus could have, he could have stopped his suffering on the Cross and shown all that he would not be treated so. But, he didn’t.

He bore that cross for us so that we may live, and then rose again on the 3rd day. To save us from hell and damnation. Through his sacrifice we can live. Not to live to kill others but live to share the hope and love that Christ has put within us.

Students want "Our Lord" Removed From Diploma's

Click to read original article from my San Antonio.com
A group of students at Trinity University is lobbying trustees to drop a reference to “Our Lord” on their diplomas, arguing it does not respect the diversity of religions on campus.
“A diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly display it in their offices and homes,” said Sidra Qureshi, president of Trinity Diversity Connection. “By having the phrase ‘In the Year of Our Lord,' it is directly referencing Jesus Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus Christ.”
Qureshi, who is Muslim, has led the charge to tweak the wording, winning support from student government and a campus commencement committee. Trustees are expected to consider the students' request at a May board meeting.
Other students and President Dennis Ahlburg have defended the wording, arguing that references to the school's Presbyterian roots are appropriate and unobtrusive.
Founded by Presbyterians in 1869, Trinity has been governed by an independent board of trustees since 1969 but maintains a “covenant relationship” with the church.
“Any cultural reference, even if it is religious, our first instinct should not be to remove it, but to accept it and tolerate it,” said Brendan McNamara, president of the College Republicans.
McNamara pointed out that Trinity displays other signs of its Christian heritage, including a chapel on campus, a chaplain, Christmas vespers and a Bible etching on the Trinity seal.
“Once you remove that phrase, where do you draw the line?” McNamara asked.
The debate started last year when Isaac Medina, a Muslim convert from Guadalajara, Mexico, noticed the wording while looking at pre-made diploma frames in the Trinity bookstore. When Medina applied to Trinity, university staff told him it wasn't a religious institution and that it maintained only a historical bond to the Presbyterian Church.
So the godly reference “came as a big surprise,” said Medina, who graduated in December. “I felt I was a victim of a bait and switch.”
At first, Qureshi and Medina sought a change only for students who desired it. But university staff told them the school would not print custom diplomas, so they requested dropping the words “Our Lord” from all diplomas issued.
In January, the student government and the Trinity Diversity Connection co-sponsored a forum to debate the issue. And in February, the Association of Student Representatives and the university's commencement and convocation committee both voted to support the change, Qureshi said.
“I honestly feel like nobody actually noticed it before,” Medina said. “Now that it has been brought up, the institution is trying to find its own identity. Are we or are we not a religious institution?”
Though Trinity has historically enrolled mostly Anglo Christians, the university has taken pains to increase diversity in recent years. Since 1999, the share of international students has increased from 1 percent to 9 percent.
Medina, a former international student, said he always has felt welcome at Trinity. The chaplain on campus caters to students of all religions, and the university recently dedicated a Muslim prayer space in Parker Chapel.
“I never had the experience that Trinity was a closeted Christian institution,” Medina said.
Ahlburg, who took the helm in January, said Trinity should continue to foster a diverse environment but should not ignore its cultural and religious roots.
“The fundamental issue is not so much what is on the diploma. The fundamental question is, ‘Is Trinity a place that is accepting and supportive of all faiths?'” Ahlburg said.
Current students are not Trinity's only stakeholders, Ahlburg said. The university also has thousands of alumni and donors to appease, many of whom have called Ahlburg to tell him they oppose the change.
“Democracy is not letting a small number of people have their way,” Ahlburg said. “Democracy is listening to the different voices and making an informed decision.”

Iowa Town Tries to Rename Good Friday As "Spring Holiday"

Click to read full article from ABC News


One week before the most solemn day in the Christian year, the city of Davenport, Iowa removed Good Friday from its municipal calendar, setting off a storm of complaints from Christians and union members whose contracts give them that day off.
Taking a recommendation by the Davenport Civil Rights Commission to change the holiday's name to something more ecumenical, City Administrator Craig Malin sent a memo to municipal employees announcing Good Friday would officially be known as "Spring Holiday."
"My phone has been ringing off the hook since Saturday," said city council alderman Bill Edmond. "People are genuinely upset because this is nothing but political correctness run amok."
Edmond said the city administrator made the change unilaterally and did not bring it to the council for a vote, a requirement for a change in policy.
"The city council didn't know anything about the change. We were blind sided and now we've got to clean this mess up. How do you tell people the city renamed a 2,000 year old holiday?" said Edmond.
It didn't take long for the city the resurrect the name Good Friday. Malin was overruled today and the words "Spring Holiday" disappeared.
Good Friday commemorates the day Jesus was crucified and died. Christians celebrate his resurrection the following Sunday, Easter.
The Civil Rights Commission said it recommended changing the name to better reflect the city's diversity and maintain a separation of church and state when it came to official municipal holidays.
"We merely made a recommendation that the name be changed to something other than Good Friday," said Tim Hart, the commission's chairman. "Our Constitution calls for separation of church and state. Davenport touts itself as a diverse city and given all the different types of religious and ethnic backgrounds we represent, we suggested the change."
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JMC Ministries Response

The "Separation of Church and State" was never in the original U.S Constitution it was put there hundreds of years later by people who are against "religion". Our founding Fathers placed God First when founding this country and to try and slowly take God or religion out of everything is UNConstitutional. Read your 1st amendment!

It seems that every year that a Christian Holiday comes around more and more people are trying to either get rid of it completely or rename it to suit them. What about our rights? Don't we have those too or does it only apply to those who appose any religious thing?

More and more there are stories showing up everyday of this nature here in the U.S we must continue to pray and fight for our rights. And pray for those who seek to destroy our rights as U.S Citizens