Shroud of Turin, Authenticated Again: Libya's horrific slave trade...more

 The Shroud of Turin, Authenticated Again

...Remarkably, two ancient pieces of cloth, the Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium of Oviedo, are extant today. Both are revered as relics, and each bears the name of the city where it currently resides. 

 First and foremost is the Shroud of Turin. Secured in a vault in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, the Shroud is believed by millions to be the burial cloth of Jesus. It is a fine linen cloth, measuring 14.5 feet by 3.5 feet, and mysteriously displays a finely detailed negative photographic image — front and back, head to toe, of an anatomically correct man who appears to have been tortured, beaten, and crucified. Note that, in their accounts of Christ’s suffering and death on the cross, all four Gospels mention a “fine linen cloth.”

Perhaps it is a coincidence, but clearly seen on the body of the crucified man in the Shroud are gruesome markings consistent with the Gospel accounts of Christ’s Passion. You can count over 100 whip marks, possibly from scourging by Roman flagra, and identify on his wrists and feet obvious wounds that could have been from large spikes. Other markings are compatible with what could have been a crown of thorns. On closer examination, you can spot bruises (from beatings?) on his face, knees (from falling?), and the back of his shoulders (from carrying a heavy cross?), and a large bloody mark (from a spear?) in his side. Like the crucified Jesus in Gospel accounts, the man in the Shroud had no broken bones. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but clearly seen on the body of the crucified man in the Shroud are gruesome markings consistent with the Gospel accounts of Christ’s Passion... image

5 Reasons Reformation Anglicanism Is Relevant
The church is meant to be a beacon, marking out the safe path to true wholeness and hope. Sadly, however, the church today often capitulates to the world’s narrative without ever being aware of it. Our preaching can easily reinforce that we are what we do, telling people they must focus on doing things pleasing to God so he will continue to accept them. Yet true Christianity bases all its hope on what God has promised to do in, through, and for us because of his love—not on what we must try to do to earn it.

Here is the core message of Reformation Anglicanism. Forged in a time when the Western church had lost its way, its five characteristics illumine the authentic gospel once again for the 21st century....

 

After Church Bombings, Egyptian Christians Are Resigned but Resolute   When the bomb went off at St. Mark’s Cathedral one week ago, William Frances had one thought: “Oh, my God, it’s happening again.”

 

Six years earlier, Mr. Frances lost his mother, his sister and a cousin in a bombing at another Alexandria church that left him devastated. Now he prayed he hadn’t lost anyone else.

 

“I had enough,” he recalled. “I said: ‘Please, God, no more. Please.’”...

"Spit on the Cross or Die": Muslim Persecution of Christians, January 2017  Muslim Persecution of Christians, January 2017

 

5 facts on how Americans view the Bible and other religious texts  ...Both Passover and Easter are based on biblical accounts. Passover commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, as described in the Hebrew Scriptures. Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus, as described in the Christian Gospels. In this important season for both traditions, here are five key facts about Americans and their holy texts...

Libya Revives Horrific Slave Trade as International Community Largely Remains Silent   Perhaps it is battle fatigue or outrage fatigue or tragedy fatigue, but the horrific resurgence of the African slave trade in Libya has been met largely with silence from the international community after a lone report from the U.N. on Libya’s enslavement of migrants desperately trying to reach Europe.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says migrants from across the continent are making their way to Libya in hopes of finding transportation to Europe, primarily Italy and Spain. Upon arrival many are taken captive by traffickers and traders, imprisoned and held ransom. Those that cannot receive money from their families for their release are sold in market squares. Men are sold for labor according to their skill set. Women are sold for sex...

Confirmed: John Brennan Colluded With Foreign Spies to Defeat Trump    An article in the Guardian last week  provides more confirmation that John Brennan was the American progenitor of political espionage aimed at defeating Donald Trump. One side did collude with foreign powers to tip the election — Hillary’s.

Seeking to retain his position as CIA director under Hillary, Brennan teamed up with British spies and Estonian spies to cripple Trump’s candidacy. He used their phony intelligence as a pretext for a multi-agency investigation into Trump, which led the FBI to probe a computer server connected to Trump Tower and gave cover to Susan Rice, among other Hillary supporters, to spy on Trump and his people...