Day: August 18, 2022

News Of The Day – August 18th

Pastor Curses Out Congregation For Not buying Him A Luxury Watch

A Missouri pastor berated his ‘poor’ congregation for not honoring him with a new expensive watch he asked for a year ago while reportedly delivering a sermon about taking care of God’s shepherd. Pastor Carlton Funderburke called his congregation “poor, broke, busted, and disgusted” after they still hadn’t bought him an expensive Movado watch, which ranges in price from $395 to $3,295. ‘”‘I’m not worth your McDonald’s money? I’m not worth your Red Lobster money?”, he asked the Church at the Well congregation. Funderburke has since apologized. Read about his tantrum here. 

 

Church’s Food Pantry Destroyed By Firebombing

A church food pantry storing non-perishable items for a ministry serving the poor has been firebombed in what the pastor describes as an act of “pure evil.” Pastor Curtiss Ostosh of the Detroit-area Harvest Time Christian Church in Warren, Michigan, announced that someone “firebombed” or “set on fire” the church’s food storage container holding “countless tons” of food distributed daily to those in need. He added that the firebombing caused thousands of dollars in damage and resulted in a “total loss.”  Harvest Time Christian Church will continue serving the community despite the firebombing, Ostosh said, thanks to “a number of other partner pantries in our area that have stepped up.” Read more about the firebombing here.

 

Pastor John Gray Returns to Pulpit After Hospitalization

South Carolina megachurch Pastor John Gray returned to the pulpit Sunday after he was hospitalized for a pulmonary embolism last month, thanking God for keeping him from a death that had been “scheduled in Hell.” Gray suffered a rare and very severe saddle pulmonary embolism, a term used to describe when a blood clot gets lodged at the intersection where the main pulmonary artery branches into the lungs. After pray from his his congregatio, Gray was released from the hospital after over a week. This past Sunday, as the pastor took to the stage at his church to preach a sermon for the first time since his sick leave. Read more about his return here.

 

Archeologists Uncover Mosaic With Inscription To Peter

Archaeologists have uncovered a 1,500-year-old mosaic with an inscription to the apostle Peter. They believe the discovery is further evidence that the site at El-Araj in Israel is the location of the house of Peter and the town of Bethsaida recorded in the Bible. The large Greek inscription was found during excavations at a Byzantine-era basilica known as the “Church of the Apostles” because it is traditionally believed to have been built over the house of the Apostles Peter and Andrew. The mosaic was found within a larger mosaic on the floor of the church’s sacristy and is partly decorated with floral patterns. Read more about the discovery here.

August 18th – 2 Corinthians 3:18

2 Corinthians 3:18

Because of His great love, God shows His kindness by refusing to leave us as He found us. Which is why at the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells our hearts. Immediately He gets to work transforming us into the likeness of Christ, from glory to glory. One step at a time. Not an easy transformation. Because the Christian walk isn’t a weekend getaway, it’s a lifelong journey of growth and change. And there will be times when that change is hard, frustrating, and painful. Days when it’s two steps forward and three steps back. But if we keep seeking God, and allow the Holy Spirit to work both in and through us, change will come. We are all God’s glorious works in progress. And one day we will be perfect reflections of His image and glory. But until then, keep trusting the Lord and moving forward. And praise God that although we may not be where we want to be, we’re not where we used to be!