BCNN 4 Youth

Djokovic Has That Unbeatable Feeling

2012-01-30T10:59:38Z

Novak Djokovic has that unbeatable feeling.

]]> And well he should.

The Serb outlasted Rafael Nadal to defend his Australian Open title in the longest ever Grand Slam final and become the fifth man to win three straight majors in the Open Era.

Djokovic now has the French Open - the one major to elude him - in his sights. He won't even rule out the ultimate: the Grand Slam.

"One player (Rod Laver) has done it, so it is possible," he said at the post-victory photo shoot in Melbourne Park on Monday. "Obviously the times are different and tennis nowadays is much more competitive and much more physical. And that makes that challenge more difficult to achieve. But everything is possible."

With the London Olympics to follow Wimbledon this year, Djokovic could even make it a Golden Slam by winning the gold medal at London 2012 to go with the four majors.

"The facts are that I'm at the peak of my career," Djokovic said. "I feel physically and mentally at the peak, I feel strong, I feel motivated, I feel eager to win more trophies."

Having slept for only a few hours, Djokovic dispensed with the band and the raucous dressing room celebrations that marked his victory last year, choosing to strum the air guitar and belt out a few lyrics from "Highway To Hell."

Djokovic recalled the brief celebrations after the match at Rod Laver Arena and made a half-hearted attempt to sing the refrain from the AC/DC rock anthem. His legs were too tired, and his throat a bit hoarse. "Oh man, I'm tired."

And so he should be. Djokovic completed a 5-hour, 53-minute 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory over Nadal at 1:37 a.m. - ending an epic match with a forehand winner that finally finished off the Spaniard.

He defied exhaustion to tear off his shirt and flex his bare torso as he made his way to celebrate with friends and family. He was still doing interviews after 4 a.m.

It didn't leave much time for celebrating. Unlike his victory at the 2011 Australian Open, when he beat his friend Andy Murray in straight sets and then kicked off an all-night party with a rock band in the locker room.

"I didn't have any more energy left to celebrate," Djokovic said Monday. "I was preferring my bed."

When he awoke not long after, his body reminded him not just of the incredible events of the previous evening, nearly six hours of physically punishing tennis against one of the game's most ferociously competitive athletes, but also of a near five-hour semifinal two nights earlier against Murray.

"I felt lots of pain all over the body," he said. "The adrenaline is still there and I still am very excited about what I have experienced here in the last two weeks and especially last night. I'm full of joy, but I think still I don't have a real sense of what's going on."

Djokovic wasn't the only one feeling a little dazed Monday. There were still 1.86 million people watching in Australia until after 1:30 a.m. The peak audience was 3.86 million, approaching about one-fifth of the population. When the last ball was struck, hardly any of the almost 15,000 spectators in Rod Laver Arena had left.

A historic final provided a fitting climax to a men's tournament that also featured riveting semifinals between Nadal and No. 3-ranked Roger Federer, and Djokovic and No. 4 Murray.

Tournament director Craig Tiley, celebrating a record attendance of 686,006 over two weeks, described the final as "the greatest match of all time."

A day after earning her first Grand Slam title, even Victoria Azarenka came out to watch the men's final. The 22-year-old Belarusian needed 82 minutes - two minutes more than the first set lasted between Nadal and Djokovic - to rout Maria Sharapova and claim both the trophy and the No. 1 ranking.

Djokovic's seventh straight win in a final over Nadal underlined his dominance of the men's game, which until last year had been headlined by Nadal and Federer.

Nadal got closer to ending the Serb's recent success against him, but after being a break up in the fifth set, couldn't get over the line. Despite a third straight loss in a Grand Slam final, Nadal leaves Melbourne more motivated than ever.

Less than 24 hours before the tournament began, he was in tears, believing a freak knee injury he sustained while sitting on a chair would prevent him from competing in the tournament.

To end it having pushed his nemesis to the limit was more than enough consolation for the 10-time Grand Slam champion.

"I wanted to win, but I am happy about how I did," he said. "I had my chances against the best player of the world today. I played one against one."

In the end, Djokovic's unshakable belief that began to develop when he won the Davis Cup with Serbia at the end of 2010, and strengthened when he went the first 41 matches of last season unbeaten, pulled him through.

Once the bridesmaid to Nadal and Federer, Djokovic understood exactly how his opponent felt.

"When I played three, four years ago against Rafa and Roger in Grand Slam semifinals and finals, I felt that they were just superior on the court, that they had this mental advantage," he said. "Because they just know that when the time comes, when the match is breaking down, fifth set, they will always prevail, because they believe more, they have more experience and they know what to do."

Now it's Djokovic's turn to feel like he's the one who can't lose.

SOURCE: The Associated Press

'Hate Religion, But Love Jesus' Creator Jefferson Bethke Discusses Controversial Viral Video On GBTV

2012-01-30T09:41:12Z

When 22-year-old Jefferson Bethke created "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus," the now-viral video about Jesus and religion, he had no idea the response would be so fervent.

]]> As of today, the short clip has been viewed 15.8 million times on YouTube and has gained wide-spread media attention. Christians and non-believers, alike, are buzzing about it, while showering the young artist with both praise and criticism.

On Friday, Bethke spoke with the Blaze's Editor-in-Chief Scott Baker on GBTV's "For the Record," addressing the controversy, his intentions and his strong faith perspective.

Here are a few of the lines from the original video that caused angst among some who felt that the artist's insinuations about religion were too harsh and unfair:

What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion? [...]
I mean, if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars?
Why does it build huge churches but fails to feed the poor? [...]
Not realizing religion's like spraying perfume on a casket
See, the problem with religion is it never gets to the core
It's just behavior modification, like a long list of chores

Supporters claim that his lyrics were likely intended to encourage viewers to focus faith upon Jesus rather than traditions, rituals and "works." But lines like those presented above (others, including "Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums" and "So know I hate religion, in fact I literally resent it" only added fuel to the fire) offended those who consider religious confines important to their worship experience.

For a refresher, here's the original video:

Click here to continue reading

SOURCE: the Blaze - Billy Hallowell

Nicole C. Mullen's "Holy Captivated" Hits No. 3 at Radio

2012-01-30T09:23:51Z

Mullen Plans Tour Dates In United States And Overseas In 2012

]]> Nicole C. Mullen's powerhouse single "Holy Captivated" climbed the charts to #3 this week at Lite AC/INSPO radio. The single gained momentum to break into the top of the charts as Mullen kicks off 2012 tour dates traveling the globe to share the Gospel and music from her CD, Captivated.

"'Holy Captivated' is a declaration of the awesomeness of God, regardless of our emotional climate," said Mullen. "This song reminds us all that God is holy, and He is worthy of worship in every season of life. I'm honored to see a great response from radio."

"Holy Captivated" is Mullen's second single from the album, Captivated, produced by Ed Cash. Written by Mullen and Antonio Neal, the song features Mullen's heartfelt vocals backed by equally powerful lyrics.

Kicking off 2012, Mullen continues to tour around the United States and abroad bringing her anointed talents to audiences across the globe alongside her talented Team NCM members. Tour stops include Ghana, Africa, Benton Harbor, Mich., Columbia, Tenn., Middleburg Heights, Ohio, South Barrington, Ill. and more to be added in the coming weeks.

Nicole has been recording her global tour experience for a video biography of her travels set to "Holy Captivated" which may be watched via this link: https://www.tesh.com/busa/index.php

Nicole C. Mullen possesses a diverse resume as a wife, mother, singer, songwriter, speaker, and successful businesswoman as well as a minister and mentor. She has written and recorded such classic songs as "Redeemer" and supplied signature songs to other worshiping artists. Songwriting has always been one of Mullen's most treasured gifts and she's used it as a vehicle to encourage, inspire and to teach. Her creativity and compassion have fueled a life of ministry with global impact, mentoring young people through her Baby Girls Club and Team NCM.

Maranatha! Music is a pioneer in praise and worship music resource publishing. Best known for the Praise Series, Praise Band Series, The Invitation CD and Top 25 Series; Maranatha! Music has sold more than 30 million records worldwide.

For more information, visit www.maranathamusic.com and www.nicolecmullen.com.

SOURCE: TKO Marketing

Rachel Chan's Go Takes Pop in a Positive Direction

2012-01-30T08:34:34Z

Artist: Rachel Chan

Title: Go

Label: in:ciite Media

Rachel Chan is a teenager, and her debut album is pop, but there's nothing about it to suggest comparisons with other good-time teen pop acts on the charts today.

]]> Chan's Go, made by the 16-year old daughter of Crazy Love author and Passion conference speaker Francis Chan, is a wholesome, and delightfully poised debut from this high school junior. Go invites comparisons to Rebecca St. James, or, another positive songstress with confessional lyrics: Taylor Swift. Chan's pop isn't yet on par with Swift's--which is okay, since few are--but her debut promises nice things.

Chan's at her best when she mixes her everygirl voice with quirky, confessional lyrics. Debut single "Prove It" is one of these numbers. Over a bouncy beat, she sings, "You could send me flowers, text me poetry for hours ... but I won't believe it's love, until you prove it to my Dad." She's talking about Francis, of course, continuing on the chorus, " 'Cause he's already loved me, for better and for worse, he makes it easy to identify a jerk." Francis Chan himself makes a cameo on a tongue-in-cheek rap on the bridge. It's a little cheesy, but that's part of the charm.

Also in this vein is the quirky, endearing "Lame" where Chan rattles off a list of sources of teen angst, including,"cheating, Tweeting, overeating," then assures the listener, "I'm not holier than you, I just can't stand these things we do, To me it's all the same, it's just lame." It's clear Chan doesn't take herself too seriously, which creates a sort of self-effacing, girl-next-door appeal.

Click here to continue reading

SOURCE: Crosswalk - Glenn McCarty

At PSU, Tension Over Ouster, Then Grief for JoePa

2012-01-23T22:04:07Z

Candles on the steps of Old Main on the Penn State University campus spell out "Joe" in remembrance of former football coach Joe Paterno during a memorial service on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, in State College, Pa. Paterno died Sunday at the age of 85 after battling lung cancer. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Anguished by an unthinkable scandal that shook a university and tarnished the proud football program, many in the Penn State community rallied around a common cause.

]]> They mourned coach Joe Paterno's dismissal and questioned the motives and tactics of school leaders who pushed out the Hall of Famer in November in the wake of child sex abuse charges against a retired assistant coach.

Alumni, fans and students already racked by emotions were jolted by a much greater loss when Paterno died Sunday of lung cancer at age 85 - and the grieving process again could be complicated following two tense months that often had the Paterno family and the school at odds.

"I feel like from the inside looking out that most people forget that he donated his whole life to the program. ... And everything that he donated to that school, people tend to look over that," defensive end Jack Crawford, who just completed his senior season with the Nittany Lions, said Sunday from Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Ala.

"It was tough to swallow. It was harder to swallow when he first got fired. It was a sad moment for the whole Penn State family."

A family seemingly torn Nov. 5 after retired defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was charged with the first of dozens of counts of abuse allegations. Sandusky has maintained his innocence and is awaiting trial. Paterno testified before a state grand jury investigating Sandusky, and authorities said he wasn't a target of the probe.

It ended up being his undoing anyway.

Paterno fulfilled his legal obligation by reporting a 2002 allegation relayed by a graduate assistant to his university superior. But the state's top cop chastised Paterno, among other school leaders, for failing to fulfill a moral duty to do more and take the allegation to police.

Paterno himself said he "wished he could have done more" when he announced his retirement plans the morning of Nov. 9 before getting ousted by the university Board of Trustees that evening.

"I am saddened to hear the news of Joe Paterno's passing. Joe was a genuinely good person," longtime Nebraska coach and current athletic director Tom Osborne said. "Anybody who knew Joe feels badly about the circumstances. I suspect the emotional turmoil of the last few weeks might have played into it."

That turmoil stretched to Paterno's final days.

Diagnosed with lung cancer days after getting fired, Paterno entered the hospital Jan. 13 for what his family then said was a minor complication from treatments that included radiation and chemotherapy. Mount Nittany Medical Center was barely a half-mile from Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions' home field that Paterno helped make into one of college football's shrines during his 46 seasons as Penn State head coach.

While in the hospital, trustees just a couple miles away at a campus hotel on Thursday told of why they fired Paterno and cited in part a failure to fulfill his moral responsibility in connection with the 2002 allegation. His lawyer, Wick Sollers, called the allegations self-serving and reiterated that Paterno fully reported what he knew to the people responsible for campus investigations.

"I think his legacy should be everything wonderful he did here for Penn State and for the community. That's what I hope," Karen Long, 70, of State College, said at the women's basketball game Sunday afternoon between Iowa and Penn State. "I don't think he was treated fairly, though. Just the way they handled firing him was awful."

Against that backdrop, school leaders, the Paterno family and the university community fractured by the scandal appear to be slowly mending relationships.

On Monday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett ordered the state's flags lowered to half-staff through Paterno's burial.

In recent weeks, university leaders have indicated they intend to honor Paterno's contributions on and off the field - a sharp contrast to tones sounded in the frantic first week of the scandal. Back then, for instance, school President Rodney Erickson said Paterno was welcome to football games just like any other member of the public.

Paterno won two national championships and a Division I record 409 victories to turn Penn State into a name-brand program. Off the field, Paterno and his wife, Sue, donated millions back to the university, including the library.

"His and Sue's contributions are as much about ensuring student success as the many endowments and the library bearing the Paterno name," said Barbara Dewey, Penn State's dean of University Libraries.

Memorial service and funeral plans weren't ready yet Sunday night, though it appeared the family and the school were coordinating efforts.

Perhaps one last chance to say goodbye for a Penn State community that often took its cues on fall weekends from JoePa.

"No matter what people say, you can't take away what he did for Penn State and college football," former cornerback D'Anton Lynn said. "I don't think there will ever be a college coach that will ever have that impact again."

SOURCE: The Associated Press

ReachLife Call Men to "Man Up" With New Conference

2012-01-23T22:02:24Z

THE PROBLEM

There's an ongoing war within urban culture.

]]> Confusion over what manhood is has plagued our cities, families and lives. The concept of a biblical man has been lost in our generation. Unfortunately, many churches struggle to provide its urban members, much less those beyond their walls, with a tangible definition of a real man.

THE CAMPAIGN

ReachLife Ministries in partnership with Reach Records, Man Up is a new campaign, calling men in the hip-hop culture to true biblical manhood through repentance and faith in Christ. It is our call for men in urban culture to repent for their failure to become the men that God has created them to be and for believers to live as who they truly are in Christ.

Last year, this campaign included a Man Up CD, a movie, and curriculum. This year, we are adding a new element to the campaign - a two-day conference event!

THE CONFERENCE

The conference will consist of 3 General Sessions and 4 workshops - each covering one of the issues that we believe are the biggest needs to be addressed in manhood today. This will be an opportunity to take what has been heard from the album, seen from the movie, and learned from the curriculum, to an even higher level.

CONFERENCE LOCATION

The conference will be held at the Thomas Humphrey Ballroom at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) in Building B. For a map of the GWCC, click here.

THE CONCERT FINALE

On Saturday night, April 14, 2012, Reach Records will host a free Man Up concert for all conference attendees. Last year, the Man Up concert series included six sold out Man Up! Concerts in various cities throughout the country.

This will be the final opportunity to see 116 performing all of the Man Up songs & others together in one night. You wont want to miss this!

Registration is now open and we are currently offering an EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT to all registrants before March 1, 2012. We also offer a group discount for groups of 10 or more.

To register, visit: http://www.manup2012.com

SOURCE: Man Up

Group 1 Crew Launches Into Orbit with Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition

2012-01-23T21:56:17Z

Breakout Urban sensation and Dove Award winning Group 1 Crew re-launches their third album, Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition on January 24. ]]> The album features more music along with the original 12 tracks. Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition will include eight additional tracks with remixes of their hit singles "Walking On The Stars" and "Live It Up" as well as four brand new songs. One of the new tracks on the album is "He Said," which features multi-award winning artist, Chris August.

Group 1 Crew is currently featured on the 2012 Winter Jam Tour alongside headlining acts: Building 429, Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Newsong, Sanctus Real and Skillet. For more information on tour dates, visit their website: www.Group1Crew.com.

Outta Space Love is Group 1 Crew's third Fervent Records release and originally debuted at No.1 on the Soundscan Christian Digital Chart and No. 4 on the overall Christian Album Chart. This album delivered the Top 5 hit "Walking On The Stars" and "Please Don't Let Me Go" as well as fan-favorite songs "Breakdown" and "Live It Up."

Group 1 Crew has become one of the leading Hip-Hop focused acts in the Christian music scene, broadening the parameters of faith-based music with songs that percolate with energy and resonate with the truth of God's grace. To date, the talented group has had three hit singles break into the Top 5 on Billboard's Christian CHR Charts, including "Keys To The Kingdom" and "Movin'." They have earned five Dove Awards; three for the Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year category and two for the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song with "Movin' " and "Walking on the Stars." Group 1 Crew made their national TV performance debut on The Mo'Nique Show and their music has been featured in a variety of popular television shows, including NBC's America's Got Talent, FOX's The Simple Life, Style Network's Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane, MTV's Run's House, and The CW's One Tree Hill.

Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition Track Listing:

1. Live It Up

2. Need Your Love

3. Walking On The Stars

4. Let's Go (Feat. TobyMac)

5. Lean On Me

6. Beautiful

7. Transcend

8. Outta Space Love

9. Please Don't Let Me Go

10. Wait

11. Breakdown

12. Manipulation

13. Control

14. Digirock

15. Take It There

16. He Said

17. Walking On The Stars (Garcia Glam Mix)

18. Live It Up (Dance Floor Mix)

For more information on Group 1 Crew, please visit www.Group1Crew.com

SOURCE: Warner Music Nashville

Fewer Teens Desperate to Drive

2012-01-23T21:56:16Z

Waubonsie Valley High School sophomore Manual Quay turns 16 in July, and -- surely -- all the Aurora teen can think about is getting his driver's license, sliding behind the steering wheel and driving as far away from his parents as possible.

]]> Right?

Nope.

"Driving is really not that big of a deal," Quay said, after his mom drove him to school last week. "I'm in no rush."

And neither, it seems, are plenty of other American 16-year-olds.

In 1983, about 46 percent of Americans that age had a driver's license, but by 2008, only 31 percent had one, according to a recent study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Older teens are also driving less: The number of 18-year-olds with licenses fell from 80 percent in 1983 to 65 percent in 2008, while the number of 17-year-olds on the road dropped from 69 percent to 50 percent.

In fact, the number of drivers all the way up to 29 has dropped, according to the study, which is based on data from the Federal Highway Administration.

Study co-author Michael Sivak says the Internet may be a big reason for the drop.

"Virtual contact through electronic means reduces the need for actual contact," Sivak wrote in an email to the Chicago Sun-Times, adding jokingly, "My favorite characterization of the social-media explanation (with some anecdotal evidence for it) is that 'driving interferes with texting.' "

Concerns about preserving the environment, the recent economic downturn and a migration of young people to the cities -- where public transportation is more readily available -- likely are all contributing to the lack of interest in driving, Sivak said.

Still, some Chicago area teens say getting a license remains a heady thrill.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times

STEFANO ESPOSITO

Things That Must be Believed (Part 4)

2012-01-23T00:45:29Z

SUNDAY EVENING EVANGELISTIC MESSAGE

WITH DANIEL WHYTE III

John 14:3 says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Philippians 3:20-21: "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." ]]>

Click the play button below to listen to this broadcast.

For more Sunday Evening
Evangelistic Messages, click here.

Last week, we finished part 3 of our series titled "Things That Must Be Believed." In this series, we are discussing the essentials of the Christian faith -- these are things that you cannot deny and still have Christianity. Just as a reminder, allow me to refresh your memory of the six essentials that we have already covered:

1. The Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ -- that Jesus Christ was not conceived by the natural union of a human man and woman, but supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. The Bible says in Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

2. The Deity of Jesus Christ -- that Jesus Christ is God. According to Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 Jesus Christ is "God with us". While He was on this earth, Christ showed that He was God by demonstrating his eternality, his equality with the Father, his omniscience, his omnipresence, and his omnipotence.

3. The Substitutionary Death of Jesus Christ -- that Jesus Christ died on the cross in the place of sinners who were guilty and condemned by God. The Bible says in II Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him -- Jesus Christ -- to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." If Jesus Christ did not die on a cross in the sinner's place to pay the sinner's debt, then we don't have a way to be saved.

4. The Physical Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead -- that Jesus literally, physically got up from the grave three days after He had been killed. The Bible says in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." That which separates Christianity from all other religions is the resurrection. Every religion has a founder who lived and died and is still in the tomb. But Christianity has a Founder who lived and died and was buried, and after three days and nights arose from the dead.

5. The Verbal Inspiration of the Bible -- that the Bible is God's Word through and through. Second Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." My friend, if you destroy the Bible, you destroy all other doctrines.

6. The Fact that Salvation For Lost Mankind Is Only by God's Grace Through Faith In Our Lord Jesus Christ Who Died On the Cross, Was Buried, and Rose Again For Our Sins. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." The Word of God clearly teaches that lost sinners are saved by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection.

Today, we are going to discuss the seventh and final essential in this series, which is: THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

If Jesus Christ does not come again, then many, many verses in the Bible would be untrue. In John 14:3, Jesus said, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." In Philippians 3:20, Paul said, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus is coming again.

There are 20 times as many references to the second coming of Christ in the Old Testament as there are to His first coming. Then in Paul's epistles, he speaks of baptism only 13 times but of the second coming at least 50 times.

Among the last words Jesus uttered before He left this world were the following in John 14:1-3: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

At His ascension in Acts 1:10, the Bible states, "And while they (the disciples) looked stedfastly toward heaven as Jesus went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

It is believed that these men in white apparel were angels, and that they said, "This same Jesus...shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." How did Jesus leave? Visibly. He will return visibly. He left in a body; He will return in a body. He left from the Mount of Olives; and as the Bible predicts in Acts 1:12 and Zechariah 14:4, He will return to the Mount of Olives.

Philippians 3:20 says, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." And Hebrews 9:28 says, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

The Bible is filled with promises of Jesus' second coming. In Revelation 22 -- once in verse 7, once in verse 12, and again in verse 20 -- Jesus says, "Behold I come quickly," "Behold, I come quickly," Surely I come quickly..." And the Bible closes with the Apostle John saying in Revelation 22:21, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

Friends, one verse in every thirty in the New Testament refers to the second coming.

An old-fashioned preacher brought a wonderful sermon on the second coming; and, at the close of the service, one of these little, young, modernistic, potato-string backbone, rose-water squirting preachers, who start nowhere and end up in the same place, said to the old preacher, "I want you to know that I can't get that out of the New Testament."

The old-fashioned preacher smiled and said, "You sure can't, Buddy. It's in there to stay!"

There are 259 chapters in the New Testament, and over 300 references to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Yes, the promise of the second coming of Christ is in the Bible to stay.

The second coming of Jesus Christ is an essential truth that must be believed.

Before we close, let's review one more time the essential truths of Christianity that we have looked at in this series. Ask yoiurself if you really believe what the Bible says about these matters. They are as follows:

The Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ
The Deity of Jesus Christ
The Substitutionary Death of Jesus Christ
The Physical Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead
The Verbal Inspiration of the Bible
The Fact that Salvation For Lost Mankind Is Only by God's Grace Through Faith In Our Lord Jesus Christ Who Died On the Cross, Was Buried, and Rose Again For Our Sins
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

-------

Now, if Jesus Christ were to return today, are you ready to meet Him? If you do not know for sure that you will go to heaven when you die, allow me to share with you from God's Word how you can accept the free gift that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead to give to you.

1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God's law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: "For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not." Romans 3:23 reads: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death..."

3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

6. With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

If you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me the following simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in twenty-three foreign countries. He is the author of seventeen books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional and the Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, and the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor's degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, and a Master's degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-five years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com.

Song: "Going Up Yonder"

Album: Gospel Legacy - Walter Hawkins

Artist: Walter Hawkins

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Song: "Glad I'm Saved"

Album: Live The Life

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Believing In Tim Tebow

2012-01-16T15:13:35Z

Tim Tebow with Jacob Rainey, one of the many people dealing with health problems Tebow hosted at Broncos games this season.

I've come to believe in Tim Tebow, but not for what he does on a football field, which is still three parts Dr. Jekyll and two parts Mr. Hyde.

]]> No, I've come to believe in Tim Tebow for what he does off a football field, which is represent the best parts of us, the parts I want to be and so rarely am.

Who among us is this selfless?

Every week, Tebow picks out someone who is suffering, or who is dying, or who is injured. He flies these people and their families to the Broncos game, rents them a car, puts them up in a nice hotel, buys them dinner (usually at a Dave & Buster's), gets them and their families pregame passes, visits with them just before kickoff (!), gets them 30-yard-line tickets down low, visits with them after the game (sometimes for an hour), has them walk him to his car, and sends them off with a basket of gifts.

Home or road, win or lose, hero or goat.

Remember last week, when the world was pulling its hair out in the hour after Tebow had stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers with an 80-yard OT touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas in the playoffs? And Twitter was exploding with 9,420 tweets about Tebow per second? When an ESPN poll was naming him the most popular athlete in America?

Tebow was spending that hour talking to 16-year-old Bailey Knaub about her 73 surgeries so far and what TV shows she likes.

"Here he'd just played the game of his life," recalls Bailey's mother, Kathy, of Loveland, Colo., "and the first thing he does after his press conference is come find Bailey and ask, 'Did you get anything to eat?' He acted like what he'd just done wasn't anything, like it was all about Bailey."

More than that, Tebow kept corralling people into the room for Bailey to meet. Hey, Demaryius, come in here a minute. Hey, Mr. Elway. Hey, Coach Fox.

Even though sometimes-fatal Wegener's granulomatosis has left Bailey with only one lung, the attention took her breath away.

"It was the best day of my life," she emailed. "It was a bright star among very gloomy and difficult days. Tim Tebow gave me the greatest gift I could ever imagine. He gave me the strength for the future. I know now that I can face any obstacle placed in front of me. Tim taught me to never give up because at the end of the day, today might seem bleak but it can't rain forever and tomorrow is a new day, with new promises."

I read that email to Tebow, and he was honestly floored.

"Why me? Why should I inspire her?" he said. "I just don't feel, I don't know, adequate. Really, hearing her story inspires me."

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SOURCE: ESPN.com

Rick Reilly

Young Christians Expressing Faith Through Tattoos and Body Piercings

2012-01-16T15:12:04Z

In a trend away from their straitlaced past, young Christians are finding new ways of expressing their faith]]> Go here for posting on Bieber's increasing Christian boldness. }

"Let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." --New Testament, Galatians 6:17

The large Celtic cross tattooed on the small of Amy Bonde's back testifies to how she sees Jesus Christ as her "lover."

The Hebrew letters encircling the young Vancouver woman's ornate cross are from the spiritually erotic Bible chapter, The Song of Solomon. They read "I am my beloved's, and he is mine."

The sentiment captures Bonde's desire to be in an intimate relationship with Jesus. The lanky 23-year-old, who wears bluejeans and black platform shoes, is one of a growing subculture of evangelical Christians who are flouting their religion's straight-laced past and adorning their bodies with permanent religious tattoos.

In a room at Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Langley -- which shakes on Friday nights with free-spirited rock-gospel music and about 150 young people speaking in the ecstatic language called glossolalia -- Peter Davyduck, a burly 24-year-old with a hedgehog haircut, shows the tattoo on his ankle.

It is a stylized version of the word "SIN."

To Davyduck, it is his way of reminding judgmental Christians that everyone is a sinner and should be accepted in spite of it. Christians, Davyduck says, don't have to live in guilt behind "white picket fences." They are freed by Jesus Christ, he says, to be creative, expressive human beings.

Davyduck endorses how young Christians are adorning their bodies with crosses, sacred hearts, portraits of Jesus, plus a host of blended sacred and profane images, such as "Warriors for Jesus" logos, or the Star Wars' character Yoda beside an image of Moses parting the Red Sea.

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SOURCE: Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun

eCheating: Students Find High-tech Ways to Deceive Teachers

2012-01-16T15:09:10Z

Everything's going digital these days -- including cheating.]]> As students gain access to sophisticated gadgets both at school and at home, educators are on the lookout for new kinds of cheating. From digitally inserting answers into soft drink labels to texting each other test answers and photos of exams, kids are finding new ways to get ahead when they haven't studied.

YouTube alone has dozens of videos that lay out step-by-step instructions: One three-minute segment shows how to digitally scan the wrapper of a soft drink bottle, then use photo editing software to erase the nutrition information and replace it with test answers or handy formulas. The video has gotten nearly 7 million hits.

"There's an epidemic of cheating," says Robert Bramucci, vice chancellor for technology and learning services at South Orange Community College District in Mission Viejo, Calif. "We're not catching them. We're not even sure it's going on."

Several security-related companies, such as Spycheatstuff.com, will even overnight-mail a kit that turns a cellphone or iPod into a hands-free personal cheating device, featuring tiny wireless earbuds, that allows a test-taker to discreetly "phone a friend" during a test and get answers remotely without putting down the pencil.

One Toronto firm named ExamEar shut down its website after authorities investigated how it was selling $300 Bluetooth devices to desperate exam candidates.

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SOURCE: Greg Toppo, USA TODAY

Why Young Adults Leave the Church

2012-01-16T15:09:07Z

Many say they find the church judgmental, unwelcoming or irrelevant.

]]> Tonisha Greer, 31, grew up in church. As she went out on her own, God was still important in her life.

Church, not so much.

The single Kansas City, Kan., mother says church focused more on tradition and people telling young people: "You shouldn't do this." "When we were your age we didn't do that." "You have to dress like this when you come to church."

"Older members try to push their religion on you," she says. "But you have to find your own relationship with God and know who he is for yourself.

"You don't want to be judged when you walk in the church. You want to feel God."

Although Greer visits churches, she says she'd rather stay home and have her own relationship with God.

To get young adults in church, she says, it needs to make them feel welcome, be more open-minded and accept those living worldly lives.

The Barna Group, a Christian polling company based in California, spent five years studying why young Christians like Greer leave church. Teenagers, young adults, parents, youth pastors and senior pastors were interviewed.

The study of young adults focused on those who had been regular churchgoers and then disconnected from the church in their later teen years. It revealed that almost 3 out of every 5 young Christians (59 percent) left permanently or for an extended period of time after age 15.

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SOURCE: The Kansas City Star

Justin Bieber: 'I Don't Have to Go to Church' to Talk to God

2012-01-16T15:07:35Z

Justin Bieber recently got the face of Christ tattooed on the back of his calf and thanked his savior during his VMAs speech last August.]]> Despite the fact that The Biebs is an out and proud Christian, the teen sensation isn't spending every Sunday in church.

In fact, Bieber is more interested in a personal relationship with God and Jesus and maintains it through prayer, as opposed to sitting in a church pew each week. We guess you could call The Biebs a modern, reformist Christian!

In his V Magazine feature (courtesy of The New York Post), The Biebs offered his commentary on people who follow the "letter of the law" as opposed to the "spirit of the law." That is, those who are more focused on attending church and making a show of it than doing good works and emulating God in their everyday lives. "A lot of people who are religious, I think they get lost. They go to church just to go to church," the 'Baby' singer said. "I'm not trying to disrespect them ... But for me, I focus more on praying and talking to Him. I don't have to go to church."

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SOURCE: PopCrush

Teens Attempt to Set Record for Largest Spiral of Dominoes

2012-01-16T15:05:13Z

Patrick Sinner, 2nd left, convinced his friends, Julian, Jan-Eric, Lukas, Dustin and Christian, to help him build the world's largest domino spiral. The boys spent many hours practicing before setting out on their four-day domino-building adventure.

Creation measured 26-feet and used around 30,000 multi-colored tiles

]]> When Patrick Sinner was 12 years old, he decided that one day he would break a domino world record. Three years and 10 attempts later, Sinner's wish looks like it may be granted after building a domino spiral measuring 26-feet wide.

Together with his friends Julian, Jan-Eric, Lukas, Dustin and Christian, the 15-year-old from Kefenrod, Germany created the spiral using 30,000 multi-colored dominoes. It took the boys four days to finish it off before they flicked the last domino and watched the tiles tumble to the ground.

All that's left is the official confirmation of their feat from the Guinness Book of World Records, which can take eight to 12 weeks.

The team also built a 4-foot, 7-inch wall, but the 32,000-domino construction fell short in the end.

"Before we built the spiral we spent a lot of time thinking about how we would do it," Sinner, who came up with the idea after watching a TV show about dominoes, told TODAY.com. "Then we practiced how to do it without the whole thing falling apart. It is really unbelievable what a small idea can turn into."

Despite his status as a probable world record holder, Sinner isn't going to give up on building the world's largest domino wall and plans to make another attempt at securing that record in the next six months.

Sinner and friends aren't the first domino record holders from Germany. The world's tallest domino structure was created by students from Buchloe in September 2010 and reached a height of 16 feet, 8 inches before it was toppled. Those students also created the longest domino wall stretching nearly 89 feet, and consisting of 28,371 dominoes.

SOURCE: Today Show

Rachel Elbaum