Faith Nation: January 20, 2023

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel announced Monday that it is ramping up its attacks against Hezbollah's stockpile of Russian-made missiles in Lebanon. It follows a weekend rocket barrage against northern Israel and reprisal strikes by the Israel Air Force.

Early Monday, Israel Defense Forces issued a statement saying it's doing everything in its power to warn Lebanese civilians to get away from homes and buildings where DR-3 Cruise missiles are located.

It read, "The IDF will engage in extensive, precise strikes against terror targets which have been embedded widely throughout Lebanon. We advise civilians from Lebanese villages located in and next to buildings in areas used by Hezbollah for military purposes, such as those used to store weapons to immediately move out of harm's way for their own safety."

Showing an animated satellite map with closeups of buildings, IDF Chief Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari explained how the Russian-made cruise missiles are embedded in civilian homes and are ready to launch.

The scripture, "God made them male and female," is being ignored by a culture that encourages and celebrates being transgender. For many who went far enough to take steps, including surgery to alter their gender, the regret is enormous. Now, many of them are warning others not to make the same mistake.

Eighteen-year-old Chloe Cole, a self-described "former trans kid", is leading the fight to protect children from transgender surgeries. Chloe de-transitioned following years of taking puberty blockers and an irreversible double mastectomy at the age of 15.

"We need to stop telling 12-year-olds that they were born wrong, that they are right to reject their own bodies and feel uncomfortable in their own skin. We need to stop telling children that puberty is an option, that they can choose what kind of puberty they will go through. My childhood was ruined along with thousands of de-transitioners that I know through our networks. This needs to stop," she said.

In her new book, Detrans: True Stories of Escaping the Gender Ideology Cult, Mary Margaret Olohan writes many of these young people wanted to "find themselves" and had no idea of the impact transitioning would have on them.

"They were told that the reason that they didn't feel comfortable at school, the reason they didn't have a lot of friends, the reason that they didn't feel special is because they weren't in the right body. And that if they got into this right body that all of their problems would disappear, and they would feel happy and content and fulfilled. And of course, this is a lie," Olohan told CBN News.

FULL STORY:
https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/former-trans-kids-warn-others-dont-do-it

Olympics ‘Gaslighting’ Christians After Last Supper Blasphemy

The opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics mocked the sacred Last Supper of Jesus Christ with a blasphemous drag queen presentation over the weekend, fueling global outrage that finally forced Olympics organizers to issue a partial apology on Sunday.

Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps claimed on Sunday, "Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group... If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.”

Christians around the world were stunned by the disturbing image of seeing a sexualized recreation of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous "The Last Supper" painting.

From the Speaker of the House to billionaire Elon Musk to evangelist Franklin Graham, condemnation was swift and severe.

Graham warned, "Even more than being disrespectful to Christians, I would be concerned about being disrespectful to God. His Word tells us, 'Be not deceived, God is not mocked' (Galatians 6:7). Whether you're Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, or Protestant, it is offensive."

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The French Bishop's Conference, representing the country's Catholic bishops, called it a "mockery and derision of Christianity."

SpaceX, Tesla and X owner Elon Musk called it "extremely disrespectful to Christians."

And House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) posted, "Last night's mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail. 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.' (John 1:5)"

Even Christian Actress Candace Cameron Bure felt compelled to comment on the monumental mockery of the faith.

"I didn't really want to weigh in on the Olympics opening ceremony publicly because I always risk becoming a headline," she said in an Instagram post on Sunday. "But it felt too important not to."

"The Olympic Games have always brought me so much joy. It's the best of the best athletes in the world competing for the title," she said. "So to watch such an incredible and wonderful event that's going to take place over the next two weeks and see the opening ceremonies completely blaspheme and mock the Christian faith with their interpretations of the Last Supper was disgusting. And it made me so sad."

But she went on to add a positive twist, sharing, "God loves each and every one of you and His desire is for you to know Him. I won't stop praying and calling on Jesus' name. Share the gospel message. Let this be an encouragement to be bold in your faith. Let us rend our hearts back to God, father of Abraham. Let us pray. And pray for the Christian athletes to shine their light for the glory of God."