SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY AUGUST 16th, 2020

Seattle police chief retires after vote to defund department
The Seattle chief of police has retired in response to the city council’s vote to defund the police force. Chief Carmen Best announced she will retire following the city council vote. The Seattle City Council voted to defund the police department budget by four million dollars and reduce the force by 100 officers. Supporters of police departments say the defunding across the nation will lead to mob rule and a rise in crime. The Seattle city council claims the money will be used towards Black, Latino and other minority communities in the city. Carmen Best was the first Black police chief in Seattle. Prior to the vote Chief Best wrote an open letter to the city council asking them not to defund the police department. Best says her retirement is due to a lack of respect by the City Council. Several city councils around the U.S. have voted to defund police departments claiming the act is to protect African American communities. According to a recent survey over 80 percent of African Americans say they do not want police defunded. 

Churches defy California Governor’s order hold open service to congregations
Several churches in California are defying the state governor’s executive order to remain closed. Several pastors and church leaders say they have been patient enough after months of being closed. Governor Gavin Newsom closed churches for a second time citing COVID-19 concerns. A Ventura County Superior Court Judge further supported the ban by the governor. Justice Matthew Guasco ordered the executive order to remain in effect until August 21st. The pastors holding services say the church is essential and the governor is violating religious freedoms. Pastors in defiance so far have reported no officers have shown up at services to enforce the governor’s executive order. 

Israel/ UAE sign historic peace treaty
President Trump announced a major peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The peace treaty was announced just this week by U.S. and Israeli officials. The UAE is only the third Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel since Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994. President Trump called the announcement a huge breakthrough and historic. President Trump’s comments were re-tweeted by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president says more peace treaties are expected between Israel and other Arab countries soon. Palestinian officials protested the treaty.  The leaders are still in opposition to Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. The annexation was temporarily halted due to the peace treaty. Israeli officials say they still plan to annex the West Bank but temporarily stopped plans at the request of the U.S. 

SNBC HEALTH report : health benefits of red bell peppers
Researchers are recommending a fruit that has more Vitamin C than an orange. The fruit; the red bell pepper. According to researchers even though red bell peppers are cooked as a vegetable they are actually a fruit according to scientists. The sweeter tasting bell pepper is a natural source of Vitamin C containing 117 milligrams of the nutrient. Red bell peppers contain 30 different antioxidants making it one of the most nutrient rich fruits. The nutrients found in the red bell pepper contribute to fighting inflammation, heart disease, improves eye health, memory function, and cognitive skills. Researchers advise buying red bell peppers organic to obtain the full amount of nutrients in the fruit. Supplements to obtain your daily recommended dose of Vitamin C is considered an option, but doctors in the study say they prefer people to consume fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet to receive the necessary nutrients. 

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY AUGUST 9th, 2020

Statue in Washington D.C. to honor Rev. Billy Graham
The Religious News service is reporting a new edition to the US Capitol’s Statuary Hall. According to reports there will be a statue added to the hall honoring Rev. Billy Graham. Statuary Hall in Washington is permanent statue display used to honor U.S. citizens. Each state is allowed two statues selected by that state’s representatives. Graham’s statue will replace a controversial figure Charles Aycock a former North Carolina governor. Rev. Graham’s son Rev. Franklin Graham said of the announcement, “my father would be very pleased that people thought of him in this way. But he would want people to give God the glory and not himself. The statue will be funded by private donations from being raised by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. (The statue will depict Rev. Graham similar to the picture above: ministering the Gospel with a Bible in his hand).

Activist says Christians in America need to wake up
A Christian activist says her recent actions are to wake up her fellow citizens in the U.S. Bevelyn Beatty made national headlines recently for painting over a Black Lives Matter artwork display. Beatty says her radical approach is an attempt to draw attention to the real agenda of the B.L.M. movement. Ms. Beatty says the organization fails to support black men and is not supportive of the black family (one man, one woman, married & raising children). She continued saying the organization does not address abortion as a threat to the Black community. Since Roe vs. Wade case was decided in the US Supreme Court 19 million black babies have been aborted in the U.S. Beatty says that Christians must stand up and fight for the future of the U.S. Bevelyn Beatty was recently arrested in New York along with another activist for a peaceful protest in front of a Planned Parenthood. Beatty is expected to appear in court next month concerning those charges. 

Christian World News: Countries on the African Continent (Cameroon, South Sudan & Nigeria), China, & UK  

Cameroon, South Sudan, and Nigeria: separate attacks by Islamic extremists are being reported recently in three nations. Christians and activist group in the nations of Cameroon, South Sudan, and Nigeria reported several villages were attacked. Some of the villages were attacked in the middle of the night by extremists. The attacks are being called a genocide of Christians by terrorist groups like Boko Haram. Pastors in these countries are asking for prayer and world wide attention to the persecution. A total of 186 people were reported killed and dozens more injured or left homeless by the attacks. 

China: pressure continues to mount on Christians in that nation from government officials. The U.S. State Department reports 100 officials were dispatched to remove crosses from churches in one village. The removal resulted in an altercation between church members and officials; an 80 year old man was reported injured in the altercation. Churches have also been mandated to meet a standard list with 42 requirements before reopening for services. The Chinese government claims the mandate is due to COVID-19 precautions.  According to the magazine Bitter Winter churches are required to open for only one hour and must give a pro-China sermon during the service. A pastor in China was quoted as saying there is no time to minister about Jesus with the government’s mandates. 

UK: A Christian group is using an iconic British symbol to spread the Good News of the Gospel. The group Worship the King has found a creative way to spread the Gospel by singing praise and worship music while riding on an open air Double Decker bus. The group has rode around on the open air version of the bus singing to encourage citizens all over the city of London.  The organizer of the event says the group wanted to use the opportunity to point their fellow Londoners to our Heavenly Father. The campaign is called “Take the Roof off” and hopes to continue ministering to those at home due to the lockdown. The event was covered by several news and media outlets in the UK and around the world.  

SNBC HEALTH report : the health benefits of
black raspberries
According to several studies, black raspberries are filled with various nutrients that are a benefit to the human body. These studies reported the berry is rich in Vitamin C, and various nutrients. One study in 2017 reported black raspberries fight against allergic reactions in the body. The berry provides antioxidants and protects the body from allergies. Inflammation was also reportedly lowered in subjects that had a Vitamin C rich diet. The research focused on black raspberries, but there are other berries that have the same benefit. Blackberries, and red raspberries which are more common in the U.S. have the same benefits as black raspberries. Researchers have previously encouraged Americans (who tend to consume more citrus fruits) to consume more berries for the health benefits.