Latest news with #Scriptures
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Have Serious Questions About Justin Bieber's Pal-Turned-Spiritual Guru As He Faces 'Cult' Accusations
It was only a matter of time before Churchome — the buzzy, Beverly Hills-based church led by Justin Bieber's longtime spiritual advisor, Pastor Judah Smith — landed back in the headlines. On May 2, Smith found himself ambushed by paparazzi after stepping out of his car, a moment he later recounted in an Instagram-posted sermon. 'I got out of my car and was immediately surrounded by paparazzi — that's a first for me,' Smith quipped in a clip from an Instagram-posted sermon. When a 'nice lady' whipped out her camera and asked point-blank, 'So is this a cult or not?' he deadpanned, 'Oh my word, I wasn't expecting that question,' before joking, 'If we're a cult, we are the worst cult in the history of all cults. We meet once a month, guys.' More from SheKnows Hailey Bieber Shares Snuggly Easter Photo With Son Jack & He's Getting So Big Sure, it's a punchline — but the cult allegations circling Churchome aren't exactly new. Founded in 1992 by Smith's parents in Seattle and later rebranded and relocated to L.A., Churchome has become a go-to for the pray and slay crowd. With its slick app, trendy branding, and celeb-heavy front rows (think Kourtney Kardashian, Ciara, Russell Wilson, and Selena Gomez), Churchome looks less like a house of worship and more like a spiritual Soho House — minus the cocktails. At the center of it all is Smith, whose relationship with Bieber goes back to 2010. The pastor's youthful sermons and casual style helped shape Bieber's post-teen-idol spiritual identity, with Smith even telling E! News in 2013 that the two 'share Scriptures on a regular basis.' That connection was back on display in April, when Bieber posted a vulnerable message on Instagram: 'They treat me like ass out here, but I remember that I am flawed and God forgave me.' He added, 'When I'm really honest, I can be mean and hurtful too.' But it's not just Bieber's honesty that's raising eyebrows. '1000000000% a creep. That whole church is creepy. Very sinister energy from what I can tell,' one fan commented on a video of Smith saying Bieber 'is literally like family to me.' Even Bieber's wife, Hailey Bieber, has been cryptically commenting on religion, writing 'posters and preaches really love to just put words together with the same letter and act like it's HITTING so crazy… 'There's blessing in the brokenness,' 'there's grace in gratitude,' s*** drives me bananas,' on her Ingram stories back in March. In 2023, whistleblower docs revealed Churchome was shelling out up to $100,000 a year in 'membership fees' to stay part of Hillsong's elite Family network — the same Hillsong plagued by scandal, cover-ups, and Carl Lentz's infamous fall from grace. Oh, and did we mention Churchome reportedly raked in $17 million in tithes in 2017 alone? That's a lot of Venmo-for-Jesus. Churchome cut ties with Hillsong in 2022, but the similarities linger: the velvet ropes, the glossy branding, the proximity to celebrity, and yes — the accusations of being 'cult-like.' Critics say it walks and talks like a cult, just with better lighting and verified followers. We're not saying it's a cult. But when a megachurch markets itself like a VIP experience, pays six figures to join a scandal-scarred network, and seems to prioritize fame over faith — like another ostensibly religiously affiliated organization that happens to be very big in Hollywood — fans absolutely have of SheKnows The Very Best Looks at the Met Gala of All Time 13 Things to Know About Beyoncé & Jay-Z's Oldest Daughter Blue Ivy Carter Heidi Klum, Amanda Seyfried, & More Celebrities Who Gracefully Handled Wardrobe Malfunctions
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Devoted mother and father's act of love ends in horror and their five children orphaned
A Michigan mom and dad have been killed after they were mown down at a bus stop, leaving their five children orphaned. Kwasi Agbottah, 43, and Elizabeth Agbottah, 41, died after an SUV driven by Dejah Latre Berry plowed into them, Detroit Police Department said. The couple were on their way to get groceries on Friday when Berry allegedly lost control of her vehicle and slammed into the devoted parents. They were rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to their injuries. Berry, 33, continued along the stretch 'at high speed' after ploughing through the bus stop before slamming into another vehicle at a gas station pump along the road, police said. She is now facing two counts of reckless driving causing death and driving with a suspended license causing death. The Agbottahs were beloved members of their community, where they were well known for their missionary work. They leave behind their five sons, who range in age from two to 15-years-old. 'Elizabeth and Kwasi lived a humble but rich life full of service, fellowship, and creativity,' a tribute on their GoFundMe states. 'Above all, Elizabeth and Kwasi were committed, intentional parents who fostered in their children a love of community, discipleship, and caring for God's creation. 'We know their legacy — of service, education, faith, and radical generosity — lives on through their sons, their writing and music, and in the countless lives they touched.' The couple met as youth counselors for Bay Shore Ministries Summer youth program in East Palo Alto, California. Their passion for education and service took them across the country and then finally back to Detroit where they had been living and working since 2019. Kwasi's best friend Michael Krauter paid tribute to the late father and his wife. 'Kwasi's humility is an example. Elizabeth's joy infectious,' he wrote. 'There was never a short story with either of them, always long with all the details - but we never cared because their stories were better than ours. 'And when they spoke to us, or spit, or rhymed, or sang, or read, or sat in quiet-you grew us closer to God by pouring into us the words of Christ and the Scriptures. The couple were at a Detroit bus stop on their way to get groceries when Berry plowed into them on Friday, prosecutors said 'Their pride in the privilege of getting to be parents and raising sons was overflowing. They loved you and were so proud of you boys. 'They honored and loved their parents, siblings, and family - it was always on their lips.' Berry was arraigned on Monday and had her bond set at $50,000. Her next court date is May 7. If convicted, she the offenses are punishable by 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Herald Malaysia
25-04-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Rosary in memory of Pope Francis led by Cardinal Tagle
Filipino Cardinal Louis Antonio Gokim Tagle leads the fourth recitation of the Rosary in memory of Pope Francis at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on Thursday evening, 24 April. Apr 25, 2025 Cardinal Tagle leading Thursday evening's Rosary VATICAN: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led the fourth evening Rosary in remembering Pope Francis on Thursday evening, 24 April. The prayer took place once again at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where Pope Francis will be brought for burial following the funeral on Saturday, 26 April. In his introductory words before leading the Rosary, Cardinal Tagle recalled the words in today's Gospel of the Risen Jesus when He appears among His disciples still in shock after the events of his Passion, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?" Jesus encouraged them and helped open their hearts by explaining the Scriptures "to free them from the fear of death," Cardinal Tagle explained. "These words of the Risen Christ are addressed to each of us to give hope and certainty to our lives," he said, since the "Master and Lord came to give us life, a life that will have no end." In conclusion, Cardinal Tagle encouraged the faithful that with this spirit we "pray for our beloved Holy Father Francis, entrusting him to the tender hands of Mary Most Holy, Salus Populi Romani " and may Mary, "Gate of Heaven, Pray for us."--Vatican News
Fox News
18-04-2025
- General
- Fox News
Why is Good Friday ‘Good'?
Two thousand years ago, humanity failed. A representative of the most powerful nation in the world folded to popular pressure and executed a religious teacher without blame. That man's own people had turned on him. Some of his closest disciples abandoned or denied him. Angry crowds accused and convicted him. Soldiers mocked, beat and taunted him. This teacher was crucified, enduring one of the most excruciating executions imaginable. Yet the murdered man never returned the anger of those around him. Instead, he did as he always had. He overlooked all the pain, misery and anger directed toward him and offered forgiveness and grace. That day an innocent man died in a horrific way. The Christian Gospel of Matthew tells us that nature itself reacted in anguish, saying, "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open." The man Christians revere as the Son of God – a part of the Trinity himself – descended into the darkest, loneliest and most evil of places to absorb the punishment for the sins of an entire world. In the Christian tradition, we now refer to this event as "Good Friday." What, exactly, about that Friday seems good?Christians believe the story of Jesus is the story of an all-powerful God humbling himself to become incarnate with His fallen creation. He did so by being born to two poor teenagers. He arrived in a stable for animals. His coming was announced not to kings, queens or religious authorities but to a few simple shepherds. He lived most of his life in obscurity, a blue-collar professional dedicated to learning a craft, loving others, and learning the Scriptures. When he turned to ministry, it lasted only three years. He never wrote a book. He spent little time with the wealthy and powerful, choosing instead the company of those stricken by disease, hunger, and thirst. In a time of genuine patriarchy and discrimination, he chose to consort with women, outcasts, prostitutes and the sick. The apostles he chose were not the strongest, but the weakest. Many were illiterate. But their weakness was the point. God has a sense of humor. He doesn't need strength or power, only faith. The Jewish people had expected a messiah with military authority. But Jesus never raised an army or wielded a weapon. When one of His followers took up arms and cut the ear from a soldier, Jesus scolded that follower and healed the wounded man. Then, this all-powerful God-made-flesh, died the death of a criminal outside a city on the periphery of empire in front of a few followers and a tormenting crowd. Everything about Jesus was the opposite of what He was supposed to be. So, isn't it perfect that we now consider the single darkest day humanity ever experienced "good"? Etymologically, the "good" in Good Friday may have originally meant "God" or perhaps "Holy," but even those terms would represent a radical reclamation of the day. Even those who deny Jesus' divinity admit that His execution was brutal and unwarranted. But just as His early followers turned one of the most frightening symbols of violence in history – the Roman cross – into a sign of faithfulness and redemption, we have also chosen to see that Friday not for its failures but for its grace. Humanity was at its worst. But the all-powerful God of the universe was at His best. He suffered for us as a sign and a sacrifice. He took on the sin we, ourselves, could not erase. He endured a pain and humiliation we can never fully know to reach across the chasm of the universe and remind us there is nothing we can ever do so bad that it cannot be redeemed. And three days after His execution he rose again, victorious over death itself. And that is why Good Friday was and is good. Because in our greatest despair, there is reason to believe. In our darkest hours, there is light. Faced with all the evil that the natural and supernatural realms could muster, the carpenter on the cross overcame. God's message to us is not that life will be perfect. Far from it. The night is dark and full of terrors. There is evil in this world and an enemy who prowls like a lion. We will suffer. But our suffering matters. Our sadness matters. Our souls matter. As we enter this holy weekend, there is much to fear. Our world, as ever, is deeply imperfect. There are those filled with evil and bent on destruction. Our bodies, despite our best efforts in longevity and wellness, are fading away. Great nations will fall. Our victories are temporary. But our suffering is temporary as well. Our failures will not persist. Evil won't win. The darkness will never extinguish the light. And there is a perfect Creator of the universe who is with us, who has faced greater evil than we have, who is committed to facing our demons with us each day. A great Christian minister once spoke to us of living together in peace and harmony. He called for a time when "justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Good Friday is good, because that minister was right. We may not see it in our lifetimes. We may go through generations of darkness and despair. But those generations are a vapor. Good Friday is good, because it was the day all expectations and standards were turned upside down and humanity was forever redeemed. And the ever-paradoxical faith of Christianity holds that we can now see that day of death for what it truly offered: everlasting life.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What would César Chávez say about the plight of immigrant farmworkers today?
Usually, when we commemorate the holidays dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. or César Chávez, we talk about their individual histories and their organizing struggles for justice. That is fitting; they are national heroes and an inspiration to us. I want to take a different tact, however, for this year's César Chávez holiday. I want to offer what I think César would be saying about the current situation of immigrant farmworkers in Texas (and around the country, for that matter). I'm drawing on my experience working with him for 18 years as his lawyer in Texas and marching with him for six days across the Rio Grande Valley in 1982 for just wages. No one seriously doubts that the agriculture industry would crash were it not for the tens of thousands of immigrants working long days in the hot sun, bent over, and climbing rickety ladders to harvest the food we buy for our tables. Were that crash to happen, it would take a millisecond to reverse and rearrange our laws to ensure that we had enough food to eat and at a reasonable price. There is a double whammy at play here. Not only is the current war on immigrant farmworkers irrational, but it is also a mechanism for agribusiness to doubly exploit workers and suppress their wages even more. People living in constant fear of being deported are willing to work for even less to support their kids. That is not fair or just. What I say here, of course, is not just true of farmworkers, but true of the people who do our construction, work in our restaurants, clean our buildings and houses, and do that menial work that most Americans will not do. It's a farce, and we all know it, to say they are taking jobs away from people in this country. Immigrants have their jobs precisely because Americans won't do hard, gritty farmwork. There have been repeated experiments in the fields, keeping the jobs only for local people. Those experiments have failed and failed quickly, within days, because Americans will not do that work. It's too hard, too oppressive, too injurious to health, too much exposure to pesticides — all besides the pitifully low wages. Maybe this year when we commemorate the life of César Chávez on March 31, we might take some time to add a bit of realism to what we're talking about in terms of food on our tables and farm laborers' livelihood. We are the ones, not the farmworkers, who benefit from their labor. They sustain our lives, while barely supporting their own families. I could quote the Scriptures or cite learned writings and eloquent speeches of our political leaders of the past (and some of the present), but we all know them already. They are not unknown or strange to us. The problem is that we let our less-than-noble instincts get the better of us and continue to abuse the people who support our lives. And we need to do more than just get our thoughts straight and our sense of justice in line. We need to take action. We need to let politicians hear that they are leading us astray for their personal political gain, not for the general good. They are not supporting the working people of this country. They're not supporting farm laborers. They're ignoring the consequences of what they're doing; the workers, and we all, will suffer. There's too much selfishness afoot in the land these days and too little respect for those who help support us. That is not the American ideal; that is not what our country is committed to. César Chávez lived up to that ideal, as should we. Jim Harrington, a human rights attorney, is the retired founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project. UT Press will publish his memoir in September. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What would César Chávez say about farmworkers' plight today? | Opinion
