A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – An Egyptian military court on Thursday sentenced 17 Islamic militants to death for involvement in deadly attacks on Christians, a rights lawyer said.

The court in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria also issued life sentences to 19 defendants and sentenced another nine to 15 years in prison on terror-related charges, lawyer Khaled el-Masry said. Another defendant got a 10-year term, he said.

Military prosecutors had accused the defendants of belonging to the Islamic State group and plotting attacks against Christian churches and security forces, el-Masry said. The verdict, which came after an approval from Egypt’s top religious authority, the Grand Mufi, can be appealed. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – The disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has hardened resistance in the U.S. Congress to selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, already a sore point for many lawmakers concerned about the humanitarian crisis created by Yemen’s civil war.

Even before Turkish reports said Khashoggi was killed at a Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Democratic U.S. lawmakers had placed “holds” on at least four military equipment deals, largely because of Saudi attacks that have killed Yemeni civilians.

President Donald Trump was wary of halting arms sales over the case, saying on Thursday the kingdom would just move its money into Russia and China. [ Source: Reuters (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – The population of self-identified witches has risen dramatically in the United States in recent decades, as interest in astrology and witchcraft practices have become increasingly mainstreamed.

While data is sparse, Quartz noted, the practice of witchcraft has grown significantly in recent decades; those who identify as witches has risen concurrently with the rise of the “witch aesthetic.”

“While the U.S. government doesn’t regularly collect detailed religious data, because of concerns that it may violate the separation of church and state, several organizations have tried to fill the data gap,” Quartz reported. [ Source: Christian Post (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – Hundreds of minority Christians in Myanmar are being forced to sign papers vowing to limit their faith and not pray in churches, pastors have warned.

A church leader identified as the Rev. Lazarus, general secretary of the Lahu Baptist Convention in Kyaing Tong, eastern Shan State, told UCA News on Wednesday that close to 100 Wa Christians were released by the United Wa State Army after they agreed to the orders.

Christians who signed the pledges are now mandated to only pray privately in their homes and not in churches. [ Source: Christian Post (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – A slim majority of pastors say they approve of the job President Donald Trump has done in the White House, but many are unsure.

A new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research of Protestant senior pastors found 51 percent approve of how Trump has handled the presidency, with 25 percent strongly approving.

“After almost two years of actions and statements from the White House, most pastors likely consider some positive and others negative,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. [ Source (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – President Trump touted prison reform on Thursday ahead of his meeting with rapper and designer Kanye West, and steamrolled over any objection his attorney general may have on the issue.

When asked in an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” about Attorney General Jeff Sessions not wanting prison reform, Mr. Trump said it wasn’t up to him.

Mr. Trump will discuss prison reform and violence in Chicago in a meeting with Mr. West later in the day. The president said the crime rate in Chicago was “ridiculous,” and there was “no reason for it.” [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – U.S. stocks were whipsawed for a second straight session Thursday, a day after the Dow Jones Industrial Average registered its third-largest point drop in its history.

The blue-chip index tumbled about 546 points, or 2.13 percent, as investors continued to trade on concerns over rising interest rates. The Dow lost about 832 points in Wednesday trading.

The broader S&P 500 dipped 57 points, about 2 percent, while the Nasdaq was down 93 points, or 1.25 percent. [ Source: Fox Business (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – In the initial hours after Hurricane Michael struck the Florida Panhandle, church leaders in the hardest hit areas and in nearby Pensacola have been some of the first responders to help assess needs, assist those who chose to ride out the storm, and begin to clear debris.

Pastor Buford Lipscomb leads Liberty Network International, an apostolic network of ministries and churches based in Pensacola, and has used his contacts with pastors in the Panhandle to quickly reach out and provide early help.

Lipscomb told CBN News “we believe it’s our local people and the body of Christ that can get there before the government does and can make a difference.” [ Source: CBN News (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – Hurricane Michael all but erased the tiny community of Mexico Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast, reducing some homes to mere concrete slabs and leaving others in shreds.

Rescuers and residents struggled Thursday to get into town to assess the damage and search for the missing after it was slammed by 155 mph (250 kph) winds and a 9-foot (2.7-meter) storm surge.

The town of about 1,200 residents had been a quiet weekend retreat for tourists and residents of the state capital, Tallahassee, offering a handful of independent hotels and restaurants. Many of those buildings are now destroyed. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – The Senate confirmed 15 of President Trump’s judicial picks Thursday night after GOP leaders reached a deal with Democrats, clearing about a third of the backlog and closing up shop through Election Day to give senators a chance to campaign.

Three of the judges are for the powerful circuit courts of appeals, while the other 12 were for district court positions.

Many cleared on near-party line votes, while others were approved by voice votes. They were the first judicial confirmations since last weekend’s battle over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

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