(MENAFN - CDN Newswire) A recent comprehensive study titled Global Elemental Sulfur Market 2020 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forec... ......

Sanderson Limited v Simtom Food Products Limited [2019] EWHC 442 (TCC) Summary Whatever the sector, IT transformation can deliver superior services, development of dynamic business models, increased customer satisfaction, returns and cost savings. ...

Please note that this is a developing situation and we will update this note on a regular basis when further information is available. Across the budget on 11 March 2020 and the subsequent COVID-19 briefing meetings the Chancellor of the Exchequer h...

Please note that further information is expected and we will update this note when this is available. Set out below is a summary of measures that have been announced by governments in various jurisdictions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. ...

The mining sector in Africa is facing radical change as youth activists take action against the environmental degradation caused by mining industries. Tensions between activists and the mining industry have raised, however, concerns over human rights abuses. Kenya’s National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders reported, for instance, cases of harassment and intimidation “against at least […]

The post Growing Youth Activism for Environmental Protection in Africa appeared first on Inter Press Service.

[The Herald] Johannesburg -Khama Billiat is heading for arguably his worst season in the South African Absa Premiership football and apart from injuries hampering his form, there have been questions about the player's mentality.

The chief executive of the Mental Health Commission says 16 people in the sector have died with Covid-19.

In the lead-up to the Truth Matters conference in October, we will be focusing our attention on the sufficiency, authority, and clarity of Scripture. One of our previous blog series, Looking for Truth in All the Wrong Places, strongly emphasizes those doctrines. The following entry from that series originally appeared on June 12, 2017. -ed.

You have undoubtedly heard people say things like, “God is calling me to the mission field,” or “God led me to attend this college,” or “We feel God wants us to get married.” Perhaps you have even said such things yourself.

Christians who use expressions like those often mean they have had an impression or a strong feeling that they interpret as a disclosure of the divine will. Even people who believe prophecy and divine revelation have ceased sometimes fall into the trap of thinking God speaks directly to us through subjective means.

Normally people who make such claims have no intention of equating their mental impressions with divine revelation. They regard the subjective “leading of the Lord” as something far less than prophetic. Yet they believe God somehow communicates His will personally to individuals through inner promptings, signs, feelings of peace or uneasiness, strong impressions on the mind, or other similar means.

For reasons we shall examine, it is not wise to seek divine guidance through subjective impressions like these. Nowhere does Scripture encourage us to attempt to discern God’s will through such means. As we shall see, that sort of decision making can lead to confusion, disappointment, and sometimes spiritual tragedy.

And the truth is that treating subjective impressions as messages from the Holy Spirit is not really much different from claiming to receive divine revelation. Though most Christians who follow subjective impressions would not dream of listening to extrabiblical “prophecies,” in effect they are doing the same thing.

In fact, some advocates of modern prophetic revelation want to erase any distinction between subjective impressions and the gift of prophecy mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12–14. Professor Wayne Grudem, for example, who has produced the most thorough theological defense of the modern prophecy movement, believes God is giving revelation today chiefly through mental impressions. He even defines revelation as “something God brings to mind.” ^[1] Wayne Grudem, The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1988), 42, 115. He suggests that when God providentially brings a thought to a believer’s mind, that is the New Testament gift of prophecy in operation. Thus he has elevated mental impressions to the level of prophetic revelation.

Grudem’s work has had widespread influence. And it is in many respects a fine study. He shows biblically why important distinctions must be made between Old Testament prophecy, apostolic prophecy, and the New Testament gift of prophecy. In places (but not everywhere) his exegesis of the pertinent texts is very helpful. He includes a crucial appendix on the sufficiency of Scripture which, if heeded by his friends in the modern prophecy movement, would provide a remedy against the serious abuses that have so plagued the movement. And he offers another important appendix showing that the canon of Scripture is closed.

But it is at this very point that Grudem’s position seems most inconsistent. If the canon of Scripture is really closed; if (as Grudem rightly suggests) “it is in Scripture alone that we are to search for God’s words to us”; ^[2] The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, 299. and if, in his words, “the Bible is sufficient to equip us for living the Christian life” ^[3] The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, 300. —then what point is there in seeking additional “revelations” like the prophetic messages Grudem advocates? It is unfortunate that Grudem relegated his thoughts on the canon of Scripture and the sufficiency of Scripture to the book’s final appendixes. If this had been the starting point for his study of prophecy, perhaps he would have reached very different conclusions.

Grudem’s defense of prophetic revelation has opened the door to a host of bizarre and misleading “prophecies” that have plagued evangelical Christianity over the past several years. Scores of churches worldwide have implemented Grudem’s theology and are encouraging people to share mere mental impressions as if they were prophetic messages from God. Ironically, Grudem’s work is frequently summoned to defend even the most outlandish aspects of a movement that has utterly ignored his many clear warnings against abuse of the prophetic gifts.

To his credit, Grudem appeals for a view of prophecy that “would still include a strong affirmation of the closing of the New Testament canon (so that no new words of equal authority are given today), of the sufficiency of Scripture, and of the supremacy and unique authority of the Bible in guidance.”^[4] The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, 15. He writes, “I am asking that charismatics . . . stop calling [prophecy] ‘a word from the Lord’—simply because that label makes it sound exactly like the Bible in authority.” ^[5] The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, 14. Elsewhere he writes, “Remember that what is spoken in any prophecy today is not the word of God, but is simply a human being reporting in merely human words something which God has brought to mind.” ^[6] The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, 262. He also warns that modern prophecy

should not be thought of as “God’s very words,” nor should the speaker preface his or her remarks with words which would give that impression, such as, “Thus says the Lord,” or, “Hear the words of God,” etc.—those statements should be reserved for Scripture alone. Something like, “I think the Lord is showing me that . . .” or, “I think the Lord is indicating that . . .” or, “It seems that the Lord is putting on my heart a concern that . . .” would all be much more appropriate, and far less misleading. ^[7] The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, 133.

If those warnings were consistently heeded, charismatic “prophets” could save their churches much grief and confusion.

But even in the denomination Grudem himself once identified with—the Association of Vineyard Churches—his words of caution are frequently ignored in the prophets’ actual practice.

James Ryle is himself a Vineyard pastor [Ryle passed away in 2015, Ed.]. He does give lip service to Grudem’s caution. He writes,

How often have you heard someone say casually, “The Lord spoke to me,” or “The Lord told me” to do this or that?

. . . Many within the church use these terms to justify their own desires and opinions. Possibly they feel that this puts what they are saying beyond challenge. After all, how does one argue with a “word from the Lord”?

In light of this problem I have found it a good policy to avoid such expressions and simply say, “It occurred to me” when I am sharing some insight which I’ve received in prayer or devotions. This removes unnecessary stumbling blocks and allows more people to hear the message without being distracted with the way the word is being presented. ^[8] James Ryle, Hippo in the Garden (Lake Mary, FL: Creation House, 1993), 30-31.

But note the significant difference between Grudem’s position and Ryle’s. Grudem believes prophecy is merely “something God brought to mind”—not “God’s very words.” He seems eager to avoid confusion on this point. Ryle’s perspective is markedly different. He says he employs terminology like “It occurred to me” to avoid “unnecessary stumbling blocks.” But he clearly does think of prophecy as God’s very words. After analyzing the dangers of saying things like “God spoke to me,” he states, “Nonetheless, the Lord does speak to us today.” In practice he cannot avoid placing modern words of prophecy on the same level with the written Word of God.

Ryle does this perhaps without even realizing it. He repeatedly cites Matthew 4:4 in defense of modern prophecy: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” ^[9] Hippo in the Garden, 32, 39, 62 (emphasis added).—taking a verse that clearly speaks of Scripture and applying it to modern words of prophecy.

Furthermore, despite his stated preference for expressions like, “It occurred to me,” Ryle never once uses that expression or any like it in his book. Instead, the book is filled with statements like, “I heard the voice of the Lord,” “The voice of the Lord spoke to me,” “God was speaking to me again,” “The Lord Himself was standing before me . . . speaking directly to me,” “Again I heard the voice of the Lord. . . . The Lord continued [speaking]. . . . The Lord seemed to pause. . . . Then He delivered the knockout blow,” “The Lord was saying to me,” “The Lord spoke to him, telling him to call [me],” “He speaks to me,” “I received a word from the Lord,” “I sensed the Holy Spirit say to me,” “I treasure these words from the Lord, holding them in my heart with the deepest regard,” “These were the exact words I was given,” “The prophetic word from the heart of the Lord was spoken,” “This is what the Holy Spirit showed me,” and similar expressions. ^[10] Hippo in the Garden, 13-14, 15, 18, 20, 25-29, 83, 91, 113, 115-116, 142. All Ryle’s interpretations of his own dreams and visions are stated with dogmatic conviction.

Ryle continually uses terminology that suggests he has canonized modern prophecy—at least in his own mind. “The Holy Spirit inspires us to speak through any number of means,” he says, referring to his prophecies as “inspired utterance.” ^[11] Hippo in the Garden, 99.] At the end of the book, Ryle suggests that when the hippo of modern prophecy comes into the garden of mainstream evangelicalism, “the church will be found in the midst of the world, speaking forth the words of God to a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we will shine as light, holding forth the word of life.” ^[12] Hippo in the Garden, 292 (emphasis added).

So in practice, Ryle finds it impossible not to equate his own prophecies with the words of Scripture, even though he appears to be trying to avoid this error. (In one place, Ryle says, “We must stop putting our own words in the Lord’s mouth. . . . Scripture alone is our sure foundation.” ^[13] Hippo in the Garden, 54-55. To that I add a hearty amen.)

He is not alone in this failing. Anyone who is truly convinced that God is speaking fresh words of revelation will inevitably view the later prophecies as somehow more relevant and more personal than the message of Scripture, which is more than two thousand years old. Inevitably, wherever personal prophecy has been stressed, Scripture has been deemphasized. Two thousand years of church history confirms that this is true.

(Adapted from Reckless Faith.)

Chronic shortage of psychiatrists, inadequate funding and societal ignorance among challenges

1

1

For sustainable development, universal wellbeing should be the goal, rather than endless growth. Minimizing further growth in human populations is only part of the solution, but an essential part. 

Environmental monitoring reports describe the environmental issues or mitigation measures of a project. This document dated May 2020 is provided for the ADB project 43319-022 in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Even though the central government issues strict regulation policies, it is the local governments’ discretion to adjust and enforce compliance.

This brief presents recommendations to further encourage public-private partnerships for the environmental protection industry in the People's Republic of China, as the country seeks to address the negative impact of rapid urbanization.

Even though the central government issues strict regulation policies, it is the local governments’ discretion to adjust and enforce compliance.

Even though the central government issues strict regulation policies, it is the local governments’ discretion to adjust and enforce compliance.

If you're struggling to understand the mysteries of quantum physics and relativity, you need all the help you can get – even borrowing Buddhist mysticism, shows a new book

June 16 - With attention focused on the world's greatest soccer stars in Brazil, conservationists are working hard to promote the plight of the animal being used as the official World Cup mascot. Known as Fuleco on posters and banners throughout the country, the three-banded armadillo is in decline, and conservation groups say FIFA and the Brazilian government should be doing more during the World Cup to ensure the animal's long term survival. Rob Muir reports.

These images showcase the incredible ways mushrooms can be used for everything from boosting well-being to fashioning baroque high heels

The covid-19 pandemic has many of us stuck at home. The result could completely reshape how we use the internet, writes Annalee Newitz

The discovery of a link between anxiety, depression, OCD and more is set to revolutionise how we think about these conditions – and offer new treatments

From social isolation to working on the front line, the mental health challenges of the pandemic are wide reaching. We ask experts how to protect ourselves

Whether you are at home alone or juggling work and family, those working in mental health share their advice on how to cope with the covid-19 pandemic

Lessons learned from natural disasters and the military can help guide our responses to help people's mental health during the covid-19 pandemic

We are already seeing the pandemic's effects on mental health, and we need to act urgently to avoid a full-blown crisis, says Sam Howells  

As many as 86 per cent of people meet the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis by middle age – and in many cases, a different diagnosis at some other time

Title: Mentally Ill Kids Face Widespread Stigma
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2007 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Title: Experimental Drug Offers Hope for Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2010 6:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2010 12:00:00 AM

Title: Twins Study Points to Environmental Cause for MS
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2010 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2010 12:00:00 AM

Title: Experimental AIDS Vaccine Targets Hidden Virus
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2015 12:00:00 AM

Title: No Link Between Anti-Smoking Drugs, Mental Health Issues: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 4/22/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: 'You've Got Cancer' Can Take Devastating Mental Toll
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: Are Smartphones Helping or Harming Kids' Mental Health?
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2017 12:00:00 AM

Title: Mental Health Myths Abound in the U.S.
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2017 12:00:00 AM

Title: Most U.S. Adults Support More Mental Health Services for Kids
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM

Title: Kids of Youngest, Oldest Moms at Risk of Developmental Issues: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM

Title: For Kids, Obesity and Mental Health Woes Often Go Hand-in-Hand
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: Mental Prep for Better Performance
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: How Do You Give a Mental Nerve Block?
Category: Procedures and Tests
Created: 4/21/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/21/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Mental Health Problems After First Baby Reduce Likelihood of More Children: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 4/3/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/6/2020 12:00:00 AM

Americans are reporting high levels of emotional distress from the coronavirus pandemic – levels that some experts warn may lead to national mental health crisis.

PMC has updated the Associated Data box to display unique identifiers assigned to supplemental material files by the publisher when available (e.g., DOI; see PMC6351104). In cases where the publisher has not assigned a unique ID to a supplemental file, NLM will generate and display a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID; see PMC6351564). This update aims to support the reporting of datasets as well as the citation and discovery of this content.

Publishers that are interested in supplying unique IDs for supplemental material files with their PMC submissions should visit the Tagging Guidelines.

Title: Experimental Drug Shows Promise for Schizophrenia
Category: Health News
Created: 4/16/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Did the Movie 'Joker' Reinforce Prejudice Against Mentally Ill?
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Heavy Pot Use Linked to Mental Problems, Even After Quitting
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AM