Australian high jumper Nicola Olyslagers (née McDermott), known for her outspoken Christian faith, has shared the podium in Switzerland despite adverse conditions.
Defying the pouring rain, Aussie athlete Nicola Olyslangers took a single jump to clear 1.91 metres in the high jump competition at the Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The conditions were less than optimal, causing world high jump champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) to bow out after two failed attempts. But the soaked track didn’t stop Olyslangers from taking the risk—and it paid off, as she cleared the bar on her first and only attempt.
“On a night where rain battered the stadium and Olympic champions faltered, dual Olympic medallist Nicola Olyslagers rose above the conditions to share the top spot in the Women’s High Jump at the Lausanne Diamond League, a highlight in a string of gritty Australian performances in Switzerland.” — Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
The New South Wales-based Olympian, who in 2021 became the first woman to clear 2 metres and last year won silver in the Paris Olympics, shared the podium with Poland’s Maria Zodzic and Germany’s Christina Honsel.
Characteristically, Olyslangers left no question as to who deserved the praise, telling reporters that God is the reason she doesn’t flag under adverse conditions.
“… the joy that’s inside of me can’t get drowned out because it’s from a source that doesn’t get diluted with circumstances, because I have God’s joy inside of me…” — Nicola Olyslangers
Olyslangers posted photos of the pouring rain on Instagram with the caption, “The floodgates opened over Lausanne 💙 When it’s worship, it’s a treasured moment no matter the weather.”
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.” 1 Corinthians 1:19-20
“For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:21-25
Preaching Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles.
This Scripture should make us realize that salvation is all about God and that the disciple’s role is like when Jesus sent out the seventy disciples, one of obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Sending Out the Seventy
“Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a money bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t be moving from house to house. When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’ When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘We are wiping off as a witness against you even the dust of your town that clings to our feet. Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.” Luke 10: 3-12
The Cost of Following Jesus
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, and even his own life — he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple... In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say goodbye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple… “. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!”Luke 14:26-27, 33,35
Jesus tells us we must love our enemies so it is the extent of the comparison that Jesus is making here: we need to love Jesus much more than we love our family or ourselves, not hate our families. Hating is a Semitic expression for loving less.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37
Without the power of the Holy Spirit which Jesus enabled our Heavenly Father to send to indwell our spirit to be our Counsellor, our Teacher, and our Comforter, it would be impossible to be a follower of Jesus Christ. If you do not have the evidence of the Holy Spirit in your life: the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and self-control then you need to get on your knees, repent, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Also, only then will the gifts of the Spirit be available to you for ministry: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, you will have available the power and wisdom of God.
The Ray Comfort movie below shows that the majority of people do not believe that God destroyed the world with the flood of Noah’s day. This is just one of the Biblical end times signs. The apostle Peter tells us that prior to Jesus’ return scoffers will come.
“Knowing this, first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the “ungodly.” 2 Peter 3:3-7
In times of great political change, major cultural transformation, and social upheaval like you and I see today, we have to remember that God is in control.
Great article by Martyn Iles, God has raised up the Martyn Iles for His purposes in these last days.
This is of extraordinary comfort to the Christian. God knows His people and He cares for them.
That is the story of Scripture and of history. And that is your story. He will not leave or forsake you – that is one thing you can be certain about.
There is not one square inch of all creation over which God is not sovereign. He governs all things; He ordains all things. He sits above and behind all things and gives all things their meaning – including the government.
Daniel 2:21 tells us: “He changes times and seasons, deposes kings, and sets up kings.”
Romans 13:1: Paul said: “there is no authority except God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.”
God can’t be shut out of government.
Some want to say, “No, this is a secular society and God cannot come in.” But it’s not possible. It matters not whether the people in government have faith or not. God was, and is, already there.
And you and I are in a rare situation today – it’s called a democracy.
That means as Christians in this nation, you and I can be a voice of righteousness when leaders are weak, failing, or evil. It means you and I have an opportunity to speak up. We can tell the truth. We can mobilise.
Some may say, “Does political action really matter? Shouldn’t we just preach the Gospel?” My response would be: “Why can’t we do both?”
You and I need to be whole Christians. We need to be Christians who live and speak the Gospel in the workplace, in the community, and in the public squares. That’s when people will ask, “What’s different about you?” and they’ll come on the journey towards Christ.
That is desperately needed right now. YOU are needed right now – to be salt and light in a society that is gripped by uncertainty.
In difficult times the work of God becomes more urgent, not less. People need to hear the truth with more urgency and clarity because the stakes are higher.
You and I are called to speak of Christ, represent Christ, and do good. To be salt to stop the decay, and light to drive out the darkness.
Democracy is a precious gift we can use to be the voice that our leaders sometimes are not.
And that leads me to the upcoming elections. If you want to know how you should vote, I will tell you … Vote for righteousness.
Don’t vote for the widest motorway or the biggest welfare cheque. Vote at a macro level for right and wrong.
Obviously, it’s never a perfect choice. But vote for the one who you truly believe will promote that which is good, and restrain that which is evil, more than the other. That’s what the government is meant to do!
ACL is here to inform you, equip you, and mobilise you to be a voice of truth and righteousness at a time when there are many conflicting messages, and when our government is making critical decisions for our nation.
CS Lewis writes in Mere Christianity: Christ says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money, and so much of your worth: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there. I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out.”
Lewis could only write these thoughts because he understood Jesus’ words:
”Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self,” Luke 9:23-25
Lewis also understood that our actions must speak louder than our words.
”But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:22-24
What do our lives look like to others? Do they know you will stand up for God’s truth regardless of the consequences? Do they know you care for them? Do they know God cares for them even more than you do?
A Pakistani teenager has reportedly led his entire tribe to embrace Jesus, a remarkable story shared this week by Mission News Network (MNN).
A 17-year-old going by the pseudonym “Rehan” for security reasons was working as a waiter when he met Safdar, a truck driver, and partner with a missions group called Foursquare Missions International (FMI).
Safdar gave Rehan an audio Bible after they met, and the teen listened. Then, he started meeting with Safdar to talk about God and the Bible. Soon, he became a Christian and was baptized, according to Missions Network News MNN.
Rehan soon shared the Gospel message with his family and community members. Considering the sweeping and intense persecution Christians face in Pakistan, these actions were dangerous and, without a doubt, courageous.
Pakistan (MNN) — In Pakistan, a 17-year-old boy led his entire tribe to follow Jesus.
At first, Rehan’s parents, who were receptive to the Gospel, were scared. But he reportedly forged on.
A man named Nehemiah, who works for FMI, explained that Rehan wasn’t dissuaded. He invited missionaries to minister to his tribe and share the Gospel – and the results were incredible.
Rehan’s 60-person tribe reportedly stopped participating in Muslim prayer and turned toward Jesus.
“One evening, he gathered all the tribe’s members under one big tent. First, Rehan showed a movie about Jesus,” Nehemiah told MNN. “Then, an FMI partner shared a 15-minute devotion about new hope in Christ. That day, a 17-year-old boy led his whole tribe to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Now, the missions groups ask for prayer for this tribe and others in the region.
This story is especially remarkable, considering the hostile arena in which Rehan boldly shared the Gospel. As Open Doors USA’s “2022 World Watch List” notes, Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a Christian. The nation ranks eighth on the list, with Islamic oppression serving as the primary form of persecution.
“In Pakistan, Christians are considered second-class citizens and are discriminated against in every aspect of life,” Open Doors reported. “Church leaders can be arrested if they don’t abide by the authorities’ wishes. These arrests act as warnings to the Christian minority and intimidate them further.”
Regardless, God is at work as Rehan’s story demonstrates it just requires willing workers that God can use.
Christian MP says prosecution for tweeting Bible verse on homosexuality is a ‘privilege’
Finnish Parliament Member Päivi Räsänen authored a 2004 booklet on sexual ethics describing marriage as between one man and one woman. She also expressed her views on a 2019 radio show and tweeted church leadership on the matter.
Päivi Räsänen, who was interrogated by police for over 13 hours and questioned on how she interprets the Apostle Paul’s letters in the Bible, will appear in court next Monday over criminal charges for voicing her belief on marriage and sexuality. She faces the possibility of six years in prison for sharing her deeply held biblical beliefs on sexuality and marriage. Räsänen shows amazing courage in saying that it’s “quite a privilege” to be interrogated for her religious beliefs.
“I could never have imagined when I worked as the minister of the interior and was in charge of the police that I would be interrogated and asked that kind of questions in a police station,” the lawmaker who led the Christian Democrats party from 2004 to 2015 said.
She said police also asked her if she was ready to “renounce” her writings. “But I answered that I will stand on what I believe and I will speak about these things and write about these things also in the future because they are a matter of conviction, not only an opinion,” she said.
“I thought it was quite a privilege to have these kinds of discussions with the police,” Räsänen said in an interview with Alliance Defending Freedom International, a legal nonprofit that specializes in religious freedom cases and is supporting the 62-year-old former interior minister.
“I had many times during these hours the possibility to tell to the police the message of the Gospel, what the Bible teaches about the value of human beings, that all people are created in the image of God and that is why they all are valuable.”
It was like “giving Bible studies to the police,” she remarked.
Persecution of Christians is only going to escalate as the final prophesied tribulation that precedes the rapture of the Saints (trumpet blast at the opening of the seventh seal) and God’s wrath being poured out (Trumpet and Bowl judgements) on the unrepentant, unfold. We need to be prepared to be part of God’s disciples like Päivi Räsänen who will proclaim the gospel of the kingdom to all the world.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14
Do you struggle with knowing what to say and how to say it when a controversial topic such as abortion comes up?
“Challenging Conversations”, hosted by author and Christian worldview expert Jason Jimenez ia a conversational podcast designed to help Christians overcome their fears and learn to respectfully engage people of a different view or belief system. You will gain insight as Jason and his guests get into deep conversations about the Christain faith and discuss how Christians ought to be defending the Gospel as they speak the truth in love to those around them.
Click on the link below to hear Jason on How to defend the unborn.
Another amazing video from Torben. This video is of Torben’s last week living for Christ in Florida. Letting the Holy Spirit guide his steps. This is how we all should live the Christian life.
You will love this video! Watch the first minute, and you will want to see more!
Torben’s message:
“Our heart is that people out there will experience Christ, get born again, and then start to live this amazing everyday life led by the Holy Spirit. They will see miracles! This is for you. If you don’t know where to start, then visit http://www.TheLastReformation.com/ start and watch some of the movies, or go through the online Pioneer School. Read our book The Last Reformation about how we need a reformation of the church back to this life. Don’t stop before this is your life!”
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26-27
We all bear the Image of the Godhead, however marred it may be from the treason in Eden. Yet as Jesus saves us and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, He conforms us into the image of Jesus—thus those of us who call upon Him also bear His Name. In the words of Paul, we are then to bear His Message. Scripture places a unique stewardship of the Message of Jesus on those He has saved. We are all called to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
When the heart and mind of the Godhead first decreed the creation of humankind, They purposed that man—both male and female—would bear the Image of the beautiful One who inhabits eternity. With this holy dignity came a profound burden of responsibility; to align our affections and allegiances with anything other than our Maker, our “Source,” is more than simple “sin,” to “miss the mark” as if your arrow flew past the target and you could shoot another one instead. It is treason. This is why “the wages of sin are death.” Violations of goodness and justice may not dwell alongside the truth Adam and Eve determined by word and deed to forfeit forever.
The Godhead was never going to give up on the creature they had made in their own image. In fact, the following Scriptures reveals that they knew beforehand both that mankind would need to be redeemed and that only by a member of the Godhead, God the Son paying the price for our redemption could it be achieved.
“He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1 Peter 1:20-21
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” Ephesians 1:3-5.
What a wonderful God we have. He loves us in a way it is hard for us to comprehend. Our Heavenly Father was prepared to ask His Son to die that we might be restored back into a right relationship with Him and inherit eternal life.
He is worthy of all our praise and worship above all else. We know we have eternal life and that God will be with us whatever He calls us to do. The big question is what are we prepared to sacrifice for our Lord?
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” 1 Corinthians 7:17
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.“
“And they have conquered him (The Accuser/Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelation 12:11
Brian Tetsuro Ivie
Young Christian filmmaker Brian Tetsuro Ivie says Christians are losing relevancy in modern-day society for not speaking to people’s spiritual and physical needs as Jesus did. To change that, Ivie has teamed up with NBA all-star Steph Curry to create films with original content that will inspire Christians to do both.
Ivie’s testimony is inspiring and is typical of how God works with His new children:
“When I became a Christian, I thought I was gonna leave the film industry entirely because I figured once you became a Christian, you had to go to Africa, or you had to give up all of your dreams,” Ivie told The Christian Post in a recent interview. “I think, in some ways, that was good because it taught me how to just walk with God and not look at my career as something that was going to ultimately fulfill me because it’s not.”
At the beginning of his faith walk, Ivie took part in philanthropy and social work for a few years, a season he pegged as a “desert.” He worked in South Korea and other parts of the world, which is how his film “The Drop Box” came about. The movie, made in partnership with Focus on the Family, told the story of South Korean Pastor Lee Jong-rak, who, after gaining a reputation for his willingness to care for disabled children, built a box into his home’s wall because he did not want any babies to be discarded and left for dead.
Years later, Ivie was asked to make “Emanuel,” which tells the story of the 2015 church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. It was then that he and Steph Curry became acquainted, and soon after, Curry joined the film as an executive producer.
So when the famous athlete thought about launching his own production company, he brought in Ivie to help create the faith content that would be overtly Christian and inspiring to viewers.
“It felt like it was the realization of the dream — the new dream and the new vision God had put into my heart when I became a Christian. It felt like the moment where the old dream and the new dream came together. And it felt like, ‘OK, this is God’s plan for my life,’” Ivie said.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 