“An Open Door” follows a woman named Nadia as she struggles with financial hardship. With nowhere left to look, she decides to pray for a sign from God.
“This film was created in the midst of a very tough season in my life, and I hope it can be used to inspire and uplift others who may be facing struggles, show the grace of God, or even be used as a supplemental tool for Bible studies”, says Ray Jones.
Great job and message, teammate Ray! Check it out, Team!
Salt Lake City, 1985. A series of pipe bombs kill two people and severely injures another, jolting the epicenter of the LDS Church. The murders send further shockwaves through the community when a trove of early Mormon letters and diaries are found destroyed in the vehicle of the third victim, Mark Hofmann, a renowned collector of rare documents, including the infamous White Salamander Letter — an artifact whose contents threatened to shake the very foundations of Mormonism.
As Hofmann fights for his life, investigators race to uncover the truth. Directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) and Tyler Measom (An Honest Liar), MURDER AMONG THE MORMONS is the first comprehensive look at one of the most shocking crimes to have ever taken place among the Mormon community and the criminal mastermind behind it all.
Murder Among the Mormons is a BBC Studios Production. The series is directed by Jared Hess and Tyler Measom. Executive producers are Joe Berlinger, Ryan O’Dowd, Jared Hess and Tyler Measom.
If you enjoy true-crime-documentary series, tune in for the (obvious) answer to “What do you think about lying for the Lord?”
Any athlete who competes long enough will experience an injury. Some injuries sideline them for a day or two, some a week, some a year, and some are career-ending. But every one of them is difficult to deal with and must be treated. Some even go so far as requiring surgery.
Just as physical injuries require treatment, so do emotional injuries. Crutches, bandages, and ice packs won’t heal these emotional wounds. So how do you bounce back from these injuries?
Sometimes, the only solution is the surgery of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not approving or excusing what someone did, and it’s not necessarily reconciling with the person who caused the injury. It’s not pretending you aren’t hurt and it is not forgetting what happened.
For example, if you have surgery on your physical body, you have a scar to remind you of what took place. Emotional scars exist as well, even after the surgery of forgiveness. Over time, the scar’s prominence fades, but if the scar is bumped, the pain returns. For that reason, we can also understand that forgiveness is not a one-time thing. You may have to forgive a person over and over again until you feel relief.
In life, we should forgive because God forgives us and commands us to forgive one another in Ephesians 4:32 and Matthew 6:14-15. Why does God ask us to forgive? Because He knows that forgiveness is the only way to break the power of anger, bitterness, and pain. The difference between “bitter” and “better” is the letter “i.” I get to choose which I become.
In Romans 12:19, God says that vengeance is His, not ours. That means we can let God deal with the other person because they are not our responsibility. Our responsibility is simply to forgive. Refusing to forgive only hurts us and allows the injury to fester until its poison seeps in, spreads, and shuts down our effectiveness for Christ.
Today, don’t allow unforgiveness to sideline you. Submit to the surgery of forgiveness and let the healing begin. Think about it.
So, What’s The Play Call?
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23
“Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19
“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” – Ephesians 4:32
The United States has undergone a recent transition of leadership. This historical transition has caused a turbulent wave for Christians. The Body of Christ is currently divided by which “king” is pleasing to God. As a result, the Lord has put it in my heart to write to you.
Different names recognize those who lead countries throughout the world. Some are called presidents, kings, queens, prime ministers, chancellors, sultans, etc. No matter their title, they all reign under the greatest government of all, the Kingdom of Heaven reigned by the King of kings, Jesus. As God, the Father has established Jesus to rule forever (Isaiah 9:7). He has also allowed the earth’s leaders to lead for a time, over a specific people.
Now, I do understand that not all world leaders will be Christians. But, does a failure to accept Christ release people from accountability? Certainly not. Through Christ, God will hold the world accountable for their deeds (Revelation 20:12).
As you may know, after Moses, God placed judges over the children of Israel. Seeking to be like other nations, the children of Israel cried out for a king and rejected the last judge, Samuel’s sons. 1 Samuel 8 details this transition from judges to kings. In God’s acquiesce to the request of the people, He selects a king. Thus, we have the first anointing of a king of Israel, Saul (1 Samuel 10:1).
King Saul is a direct result of the people’s prayer, so I like to call him “the people’s choice.” But as the Word of God declares, our ways are not God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8). So the people’s prayer and rejection of Samuel’s sons was received unto God as a rejection of Himself (1 Samuel 8:7).
As we continue through the Word of God, the history of kings is documented. Following Solomon, Israel is divided into a northern and southern kingdom. The north territory retained the name of “Israel,” and the south took “Judah.”
Unfortunately, our current political structure has tainted the view of what it means to be a good leader. Good leaders are usually determined by how well they please the people. In contrast, God expects leaders to please Him. In doing so, they keep His ways and ensure that the nation they govern does the same. If a king did not fulfill this task, they were deemed evil in the sight of God. We have to remember that although God may permit a king to take office, it doesn’t mean He is pleased with the choice. King Saul is an excellent example of this.
The Bible says in 1 Kings 15:26, “…and he [King Nadab of Israel] did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel sin.” This is a powerful insight into what is defined as an evil king. Not only did this king do evil personally, but he was also responsible for the sins of the nation. This Scripture helps us understand something powerful – that God expects earth’s leaders to uphold His law personally and nationally.
Sometimes, believers can stray away from God unknowingly. I have been there. It takes the Word of God to help us find our way. I want so much for you to compare everything to God and His Word. In these last days, we must not look at what is permitted to happen but what God says in His Word. Jesus even told us about it concerning divorce. Matthew 19:8 says, “He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning, it was not so.” It was never God’s design for husbands and wives to divorce, but Moses, being persuaded by the people, instituted a law that was not the will of God.
Here is the truth, democracy has never been the way of God. God is God, He establishes His law and gives free will for all to accept or reject. Each choice comes with a consequence—the end.
Allowing the flesh to choose leads to destruction. Since the beginning of time, humans have had the innate predisposition to choose sin. Our carnal mind is at enmity with God (Romans 8:7). Without the help of God, people will choose unrighteousness. It was proven in the garden of Eden and ever since. I know this is a hard saying, but it is the truth.
Seeing that God has permitted me to live in a country that operates under democracy, I, as a person submitted to God, should never cast a vote for a law or person that would increase this nation’s sin.
Josiah is a king of Judah, remembered as good in the sight of God. The Bible says in 2 Kings 23:25, “And like unto him [Josiah] was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”
When you read about King Josiah, you will see that he corrected his nation. He removed all idols, temples, and anything contrary to God. Of course, the way King Josiah rid Judah of evil is not the same way a good leader would do it today. The Bible says our warfare weapons are not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4), so physically destroying idols is not the cleansing I am suggesting. But, there are ways to silence the voice of idols, abominations, and sin without physical contact.
So, What’s The Play Call?
We need leaders who are fighting to please God over people. A nation that corporately practices evil kindles the anger of God. We see this in the days of Noah when the earth was corrupt and filled with violence (Genesis 6) and the nations of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were filled with haughtiness and homosexuality (Genesis 18:20, Ezekiel 16:50).
There is no perfect king but Jesus Christ. Therefore, all leaders will have some type of error. But, choosing the lesser of two evils has Biblical backing, as Jesus told the Pharisees they “omitted the weightier matters of the law” (Matthew 23:23). So yes, every sin is NOT weighted the same. But they have to be weighed according to God and not personal opinion.
The fulfillment of the Scriptures concerning the antichrist is inevitable. So, I am not at all surprised by the way this world is moving. As this nation and the world continue to make provisions for people to sin against God, things won’t get better. As leaders pass laws that liberate sin and silence righteousness, it is evident that we are inching closer to the return of Jesus Christ.
This article is written to bring much thought to the heart of God’s people. I pray that you consider the times we are in and do what the Bible says – watch and pray that you are found worthy to escape what is coming to this world (Luke 21:36).
We cannot get distracted by what is popular or comfortable.
I love you all.
My dad was a tailor – excuse me – a master tailor. He was the best and he believed how good he was. It was his gift, a true calling.
Sewing clothes presented many opportunities for my dad to meet and minister to people. He never preached to them, but he shared his knowledge and his heart. He had many customers, including some that decided to go elsewhere. Some of those that left chose another tailor because they were “well known”, not necessarily because they were better. Of course, it was upsetting for him to lose customers to someone else, especially when he’d taken the time to get to know them and perfect their preferences.
One thing I noticed, though, was that this never altered what my dad knew of himself. He knew what he was gifted to do and people walking away didn’t stop or change that. I’m sure he became discouraged a time or twelve, but he never quit, and he always reminded us of how good he was and how great we could be.
Now, this is not about my dad. Nope, it’s about you. Never let people walking away cause you to forget who God created you to be. Never let others who forget what you’re capable of make you neglect your gift. Believe in what God has deposited into you.
Yes, I have had moments where I have allowed outside factors to cause me to want to quit. And, I have had to think back, for myself, to recall what I was taught. In fact, I decided to share this because I had moments where I felt what I do wasn’t as important due to circumstances and people that I cannot control. I sat and thought about how I watched my father prove himself to be all that God called him to be.
So, What’s the Play Call?
It gets rough when it seems that someone else is better at what you do, but remember that nobody can get it done the way you can! Here are a few things to keep in mind when it feels like everyone is going elsewhere:
The moral of my story is for you to never forget who God has gifted you to be. You were called and specifically chosen to do what God has called you to do.
Did you know that your dreams, goals, and passions can be used to glorify God, win souls, and make His name great? It may sound like a tall order, but there are teammates on Team Jesus who are doing just that!
Bishop Ezekiel Williams of the Netflix documentary, Voices of Fire, describes how he achieved this beautiful feat, to see his dream of the world’s best, most diverse gospel choir come to fruition.
Take a listen and see how your personal goals and pursuits can be aligned to show love and honor for God and win souls for the Kingdom.
Don’t forget to check out Voices of Fire’s debut single “Hit The Refresh” available now on all digital platforms!
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, there are a lot of weddings on the calendar. Are you prepared to tie the knot or just really excited about your wedding day?
Let’s be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to marriage. We often prepare for “the wedding” but not the marriage. Marriage is so much more than wedding dresses, tuxedos, and the word “love.” Love has to be built on something stronger.
A marriage will only last if it’s intentionally built on a solid foundation of transparency, trust, and communication. Before you say “I do,” have you considered that once the wedding is over – that’s when the marriage begins?
Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine if the relationship is on solid ground or if you are headed for quicksand.
Here are some examples of core values that people might have about life, including:
So, What’s the Play Call?
Marriage is a wonderful thing if it is as important as a beautiful wedding. The wedding will be over, and you will be married. How you start is how you ultimately finish.
So, be proactive instead of reactive and you can be on the road to success of a life of bliss forever.
About the Guest Contributor
Tray Kearney is a servant leader whose assignment is to help others heal from matters of the heart. She is known for her method of helping others heal through her transparency and truth. Her testimony of going through the storm of infidelity on both sides of not only being the offender but also the recipient of betrayal gives men and women the safe haven they need to be transparent and honest with themselves without judgment. Connect with Teammate Tray at www.traykearney.com
Todd Dulaney’s “Revelation 4” and Throne WorshipStellar Award winner and celebrated praise and worship anthem writer, Todd Dulaney, returns with a brand-new single, “Revelation 4,” inspired spontaneously by the Word of God. This new single finds Dulaney leading listeners back to the scriptures for hope, comfort, answers, instructions, and everything to live life according to the Bible. “The book of Revelation gives us very specific visuals of what’s happening around God’s throne. I’m honored to be able to turn those words into a chorus that the whole world will sing for generations to come,” says Dulaney. “Revelation 4” is available now at all major digital retailers and streaming outlets.
Dynamic worship leader, husband, father, and prolific songwriter are all terms that embody who Todd Dulaney is. At the age of 18, Dulaney was drafted by the New York Mets, but to the surprise of many, left the sports world behind to pursue a career as a Gospel recording artist. Dulaney has delivered some of the biggest worship anthems of the past four years with his remake of the Planet Shakers’, “The Anthem,” and “Victory Belongs To Jesus,” which Dulaney penned. Pre-pandemic his singles, “You’re Doing it all Again” and “Psalms 18” peaked #1 at Gospel Radio.
Take a listen above. Dulaney’s new single, “Revelation 4” is available now at all major digital retailers and streaming outlets. Follow Todd Dulaney on Instagram using the handle @ToddDulaney1; Twitter @ToddDulaney and on Facebook by visiting Facebook.com/ToddDulaneyLand.
Entertainment One Ltd. (eOne) is a talent-driven independent studio that specializes in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. As part of global play and entertainment company Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS), eOne’s expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales; family programming, merchandising and licensing; digital content; and live entertainment. Through its extensive reach and scale, and a deep commitment to high-quality entertainment, eOne unlocks the power and value of creativity.
eOne brings to market both original and existing content, sourcing IP from Hasbro’s portfolio of 1500+ brands, and through a diversified network of creative partners and eOne companies including: international feature film distribution company Sierra/Affinity; Amblin Partners with DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, and Reliance Entertainment; Makeready with Brad Weston; unscripted television production companies Renegade 83, Daisybeck, Blackfin and Whizz Kid Entertainment; live entertainment leaders Round Room Live; world-class music companies Audio Network, Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang; and award-winning emerging content and technology studio Secret Location.
www.entertainmentone.com
The Supreme Court is telling California that it can’t bar indoor church services because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it can keep for now a ban on singing and chanting indoors.
The high court issued orders in two cases where churches had sued over coronavirus-related restrictions in the state. The high court said that for now, California can’t ban indoor worship as it had in almost all of the state because virus cases are high.
The justices said the state can cap indoor church services at 25 percent of a building’s capacity. The justices also declined to stop California from enforcing a ban put in place last summer on indoor singing and chanting. California had put the restrictions in place because the virus is more easily transmitted indoors and singing releases tiny droplets that can carry the disease.
“This is a huge win for religious liberty,” wrote Eric Rassbach, an attorney with the religious liberty firm Becket Fund, noting that the state was the only one with a total ban on indoor worship. “Forty million people live in CA, and most haven’t been able to worship together for half a year. SCOTUS has vindicated a core First Amendment right.”
The justices were acting on emergency requests to halt the restrictions from South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista and Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry, which has more than 160 churches across the state.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that “federal courts owe significant deference to politically accountable officials” when it comes to public health restrictions, but he said deference “has its limits.”
Roberts wrote that California’s determination “that …
Have you ever asked that question? I bet there have been moments of frustration in your life when you’ve wondered what the Lord was up to. While I can’t give you a specific answer for each particular situation, I can point you to the BIG picture of what God is doing.
We often get so hyper-focused on trying to figure out the details of life that we miss the larger context.
It’s kind of like walking the streets of a city and then seeing that same city from 30,000 feet in the sky. Seeing the BIG picture of what’s going on around you gives you a fresh perspective on where you are.
Paul zooms out and reminds us of the BIG picture of what God is doing in the world:
“God is reconciling the world to Himself in Christ.”
Reconciliation is the restoration of friendly relations. Humanity’s sin causes a ‘brokenness’ in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God the Father offers us an opportunity to be restored to a right relationship with Him.
Some will accept this invitation and others will reject it. Those who receive Christ experience a complete change in their relationship with Him. Where there once was enmity, there is now harmony. Reconciliation is truly an astonishing act of the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus.
Reflect on several practical implications of how this reconciliation shapes our everyday life:
Being mindful of the BIG picture of what God is doing in the world can help sustain you when it’s unclear what He’s doing in your life. Take heart. A lot might not make sense right now. But if you’ve been reconciled to God, you have a reason to worship, a purpose to live for, and a basis to hold onto hope. Think about It.
So, What’s The Play Call?
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