SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY JANUARY 10th, 2020

Congressman prayers Amen and “woman”

A Congressman’s controversial prayer has him at the center of criticism. Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver delivered the prayer for the first session of Congress for 2021. The Congressman’s prayer included references to scriptures and then began to take a turn. Cleaver referenced the Hindu god Braham. Cleaver referred to God as being known by many names by many different faiths. The congressman then ended the prayer by saying Amen and “a woman”. Other congressmen and critics quickly criticized Cleaver pointing out that Amen means “So be it” it Latin and has nothing to do with gender. Congressman Cleaver claims his prayers was misinterpreted. Cleaver went on to say the end of the prayer was a lighthearted joe to acknowledge the number of women now serving in the U.S. Congress. 

Sudan and Morocco join Abraham Accords
The Nations of Sudan and Morocco have officially signed peace deals with Israel. Israel’s deal with Morocco had previously been announced, but was made official this week. A delegation led by the U.S. participated in the signing of Morocco to the Abraham Accords. The nation of Sudan announced last week their nation had also signed the Abraham Accords. The Sudanese government released a statement concerning the signing during a recent visit by U.S officials. The nation was visited for the first time in 15 years by U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo last year. 

In Christian World News: Pakistan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia
A Christian in Pakistan has been acquitted of blasphemy and released from prison. The man according the family had already served 10 years. The family says his release was not expected. The family is currently in hiding for their safety and protection, but say they release is an answer to their prayers. 

Nigeria: 300 abducted boys have been rescued. The children were abducted as apart of an attack on a school in December. The Nigerian government reported negotiations with the attackers prior to their release. No further details were given but the attackers are believed to be connected to the terrorist group Boko Haram. 

Saudi Arabia:  The nation of Saudi Arabia is continuing its efforts to strengthen ties with Israel. The nation’s school textbooks are now being revised concerning Israel. The government is now removing mentions of Anti-Israel and Anti-Semitism from those books. A report released this year says the nation is making a clear change in textbook content compared to previous editors. The CEO of IMACT Marcus Sheff, says Saudi authorities have begun the process of voting out Anti-Jewish hate.

SNBC Health News: the benefits of cocoa flavanols
Flavanols are beneficial to the brain and can be found in a variety of foods. According to a 2017 study, cocoa flavanols assist in brain oxygenation. Flavanols especially found in dark chocolate have several health benefits. It’s rich in fiber, protein, carbohydrates. Flavanols in dark chocolate improve insulin sensitivity. It is considered beneficials for its healthy fats, antioxidant properties, mineral and assists in stress reduction. The health benefits according to experts are found in chocolate with a 70 percent cacao ratio or higher. The health benefits of chocolate reduce when other ingredients are added. 

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY JANUARY 3rd, 2020

Churches fined by state for holding Christmas Eve services
Two churches in New Mexico were scolded by the state’s governor for holding Christmas Eve services. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham scolded church leadership and members of Legacy Church and Calvary Church in Albuquerque. Government officials took action after the two churches posted video and photos of their services online. Each church was fined 10-thousand dollars by the state. The governor in her statement called the churches leaders pro-virus. Grisham continued the verbal assault calling the members who attended the services selfish adding the services were illegal to attend. The governor of New Mexico had previously ordered all citizens of the state to wear masks in areas that are in considered red zones and keep attendance to 25 percent capacity for worship services. Both churches released statements saying their first authority is to God and the state government has overstepped their bounds. Both churches also said they did follow restrictions mandated by the governor. Supporters of the churches say the governor is ignoring the recent Supreme Court rulings in favor of faith based organizations that were previously restricted in California, New York and Colorado. 

Senator pledges to contest electoral college certification
The Supreme Court’s decision not to rule in the latest election lawsuits has prompted action from several representatives in Congress. Senator Ted Cruz has announced he will contest the electoral college certification in the upcoming joint session on January 6th. The Trump administration had previously filed lawsuits in response to voter fraud allegations from poll workers and others who witnessed tampering with election results.  Federal courts had previously turned away these claims saying there is no evidence. The growing number of witnesses and videos surfacing has prompted a growing number of Republican officials to contest the certification of certain states. Cruz says that he will push for an emergency 10 day audit of election results. Those supporting Senator Cruz referenced previous elections in 1877, 1969 and 2005 where fraud was suspected and the elected Congress at those times took the same action to verify election results.Ten other GOP members have agreed to back the Senator in pushing to verify the results due to fraud allegations. In addition to these officials contesting the election results, Senator Josh Hawley has announced that he will officially contest election results in the state of Pennsylvania. The joint session of Congress needs one Senator and one member of the House to contest the electoral college certification of each state for the audit to proceed. 

Israel welcomes record number of immigrants from all over the world in 2020
The nation of Israel is celebrating a big milestone in that nation. According to officials the nation welcomed 20-thousand immigrants from 70 different nations in 2020. The Jewish Agency says the immigrants are apart of Biblical prophecy being fulfilled. According to the organization the majority of immigrants came from the former Soviet Union, Western Europe, and North America. The Jewish Agency reported over 40-thousand applications were filed by those seeking to move to Israel; twice the number of applicants that applied in 2019. It is estimated by the organization that Israel could welcome as many at 250-thousand immigrants in the next three to five years. The nation has already welcomed its first group of immigrants this year; according to CUFI (Christians United for Israel) 300 immigrants from Ethiopia were the first to be admitted to Israel this year on New Year’s Day as part of Operation Rock of Israel.  

SNBC HEALTH REPORT: Exercise and the human body
Exercise and consistent activity is  beneficial to the human body in a number of ways. Experts have long reported adding exercise to your daily regimen is part of a balanced lifestyle. Two separate groups report vigorous or shorter segments of exercising positively affects the body in various ways. The overall health of a person is improved when they exercise consistently, and the body shows improvements at every level. Researchers report exercise helps not only with cardiovascular health, and  mental health, but it affects the body on a metabolic level. Immunity, muscle health, lowered risk of illness, increased oxygen intake and other benefits are associated with regular exercise. Experts advise getting at least 150 to 300 minutes of exercise a week which breaks down to about between 20 and 40 minutes of exercise each day (if working out seven days a week). 

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY DECEMBER 27th, 2020

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year on behalf of the SNBC NEWS Ministry Team!

SNBC NEWS live broadcast was canceled for Sunday December 27th; please enjoy these web exclusive stories… SNBC NEWS will return with more stories in 2021!

California County lifts restrictions off of churches
Great news was announced for churches in California!
Just in time for Christmas the Los Angeles County Health Department announced they will no longer require COVID restrictions for religious gatherings. The ordinance removal will also include removing limitations on worship services. Attorneys for the Liberty Counsel representing some churches in LA County say the county’s health department issued a revised temporary order Monday December 21st. The order says there will now be no COVID-19 capacity requirements of any kind; social distancing is still required for all houses of worship in LA County. The announcement comes following the US Supreme Court’s decision in favor of places of worship in New York. The court ruled that the Governor’s ban on religious gatherings was not allowed by law. The court also struck down a lower court’s decision in California banning houses of worship from opening citing state coronavirus restrictions. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Matt Staver said of the ruling, “the Supreme Court made it very clear…no pastor, church, or parishioner in America should have to choose between worship and prison.”

SNBC HEALTH NEWS: Health Benefits of Kiwi
This small fruit is mighty when it comes to nutrients. Once known as the Chinese gooseberry the kiwi was used in Ancient times in China. The fruit was used in Ancient China, not only consumed in the normal manner, but for its medicinal properties and to tenderize meats. The fruit was renamed kiwi in modern times in honor of the flightless bird in New Zealand the kiwi. The fruit comes in two colors golden and the more commonly recognized green color. Both variations of the fruit are loaded with nutrients that are beneficial to the human body. Kiwi according to researchers is a great source of Vitamin C, A, K, B6, and E. These nutrients help the body in various ways: vitamin C provides immunity protection. Vitamin A is beneficial to the skin, vision, and respiratory system. Vitamin K assists in bone and heart health. Vitamin B6 is beneficial to the immune system, and Vitamin E is known to help with regulating blood pressure. This fruit is also a source of fiber. The kiwi even though sometimes associated with summer is actually harvested and considered in season October through May.

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY DECEMBER 20th, 2020

Supporters of President participate in Jericho March in Washington, DC
Conservatives, pro-Trump supporters, and people of faith gathered in Washington recently as part of a March in support of the president. The Jericho March was held December 12th drawing large crowds to the rally. The speakers and supporters involved encouraged those at the rally and watching on live stream to continue fighting and praying for the truth to be heard. There has been evidence of voter fraud released through video, and by first account testimonies from election workers who witnessed questionable acts at election day facilities. Those speaking at the rally and showing support say they just want the truth to be revealed and the election to be fair. Critics in articles following the rally called Trump supporters attending the Jericho March delusional, and conspiracy theorists who refuse to accept the election loss. One critic continued calling the belief in election fraud and use of faith to back these claims up as , “a dangerous precedent”. Supporters attending the rally say there is clear evidence of fraud and there must be investigations into evidence presented regardless of what political party a person may support. The event according to reports estimated crowds in the thousands no exact figure was officially given by organizers.

US Supreme Court rules in favor of Colorado churches
The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Colorado churches. The supreme court ruled the Colorado state government and health department could not restrict the number of people attending religious gatherings. According to Supreme Court justices who authored the dissent to the ruling, Colorado state officials did relax restrictions following the court’s ruling on churches in New York and there was not need for this ruling. The lawsuit was filed originally by High Plains Harvest Church in Ault, Colorado. Churches in that state have been restricted to 50 people since earlier this year.  Eric Dreibrand one of the church’s attorneys says Colorado officials have no good reason not to trust congregants to use care in the same way they trust restaurant owners, accountants, or realtors. The ruling is also good news for Andrew Wommack ministries. The ministry was being sued by the health department in Colorado. The health department claimed Wommack violated Covid-19 restrictions by not obeying capacity limits, social distancing and the state’s indoor mask mandate. Richard Harris attorney for Andrew Wommack ministries said, “The governor finally realized that his actions were unconstitutional and rescinded those restrictions on our fundamental liberties”. The governor relaxed the restrictions on December 7th, but the state is still recommending that churches limited attendance, social distance and require masks when possible. 

Cartoon Network debuts controversial ads on social media
Cartoon network is receiving criticism for its advertisements targeting children. The most recent campaign on the network’s social media account features dialogue telling children how to address different gender identities. Featured on the company’s Twitter page, the captions on the pictures show several of their popular cartoon characters asking to be addressed by their preferred pronouns. Some characters say they prefer she or her, him or he, them or they, and ze or zir (for those who are not familiar with ze or zir it is A non-gender specific pronoun used instead of “she” and “he.”) Cartoon Network released a caption with the pictures: “Here’s to not only normalizing gender pronouns, but respecting them, too. Whether you use he/she/them or something else, we acknowledge and LOVE you!” Cartoon Network also features in the caption of the artwork: “We can’t tell someone’s gender just by looking at them and shouldn’t assume we know. There are many gender identities, beyond girl or boy. Some people don’t identify as any gender.” This campaign was created in cooperation with the National Black Justice Coalition a Pro-LGBT organization. Critics say this type of advertisement towards children is indoctrination and inappropriate for young impressionable children. Most say these subjects should be reserved for parents to discuss with children due to people’s personal and religious beliefs. This is not the first time Cartoon Network has used its platform to influence children. The characters featured in the ad are from a show called Steven Universe which is known for its LGBT characters and themes. Cartoon Network has commented on the controversy. 

SNBC HEALTH REPORT: the health benefits of bay leaves
 According to researchers the bay leaf is not just for cooking. It is also full of nutrients that benefit the body in various ways. There are several types of bay leaves and each one has specific properties benefits. This list of benefits will highlight bay leaves in general. The herb is used for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.Bay leaves were found to lower  the risk of gout and diabetes in patients according to one study. Researchers reported in another study bay leaves helped lower blood pressure in pregnant women. The herb is also used to help heal wounds, and is anti-inflammatory. Bay leaves reduces stress, promote heart health, and help with respiratory issues. They can also be brewed as a tea and produce the same health benefits to the human body. 

SNBC NEWS FOR LIFE SUNDAY DECEMBER 13th, 2020

Texas attorney general files lawsuit against states over election controversy
The Texas State Attorney General officially filed a lawsuit against four states. Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit against Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. The four states had controversial results during the election showing the President winning in each state, and later showing former Vice President Biden taking a large lead with no additional votes going towards President Trump. The Attorney General of Texas was later joined in the lawsuit by 17 other state attorney generals and the President’s legal council. Paxton said the irregularities due to claims of new pandemic protocol put the integrity of the election in question. Critics responded by calling Paxton’s efforts stupid, ludicrous, a publicity stunt and a national embarrassment. Some even went as far as accusing Republicans of attempting to steal the election. Supporters say evidence of voter fraud should be enough to take this legal claim and others seriously. Critics still deny or question the evidence that has been discovered. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. There is still the final approval of the Electoral College certifications by Congress on January 6th. If one Senator and one Congressman each object to a state’s voter certification the issue will then be taken to the Congress for further vote and consideration. 

State AG claims offense after Christmas greeting in store
Another state attorney general is being criticized for her claims of a painful experience recently. Michigan state attorney general Dana Nessel claims her and her son were deeply hurt by an interaction with a store clerk. The clerk’s hurtful deed; wishing Nessel and her son a Merry Christmas. Nessel who does not celebrate Christmas says her and her son were, “devastated” after the clerk’s remark. The backlash against Nessel was swift on social media. Followers of all faiths criticized Nessel, who quickly deleted the tweet. The attorney general later responded saying Happy Holidays was now the universally accepted term in the U.S. Nessel claims this greeting respects diversity in America. Hundreds of Nessel’s Twitter followers responded to her comments by saying Merry Christmas.
One follower remarked that the phrase Merry Christmas is meant to be kind with good intentions and is a phrase of goodwill. The follower continued saying  if Nessel was offended at the phrase being said to celebrate a Christian holiday during the Christmas season that it was Nessel’s own personal choice to be offended. 
Side Note on this story: (AG Nessel is openly gay and has a history of hostility towards churches in the state of Michigan. Her disdain towards the phrase Merry Christmas, since it is a Christian holiday, maybe connected to her personal lifestyle choice and her hostile relationship with churches in Michigan).

Israel announces normalization of ties with Morocco
Two more nations have announced normalizing ties with Israel. The Nation of Morocco was the first to be announced. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the announcement a historic day. The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his efforts to expand peace. Morocco’s first act to restore its diplomatic relationship with Israel will be to reopen its embassy in Tel Aviv. 

Israel announces normalization of ties with Bhutan
Israeli officials also announced full diplomatic ties with the nation of Bhutan. Prime Minster Netanyahu called ties with that nation a welcome addition to growing peace agreements. The nation of Bhutan and Israel’s lack of relationships was due to Bhutan’s isolationist policies. Israel and several majority Muslim countries have agreed to diplomatic ties. The Abraham Accords between Bahrain, the UAE, the US ,and Israel was signed earlier this year leading the way for several countries to be more open with their efforts to pursue diplomatic ties with Israel. 

SNBC Health report: the health benefits of astaxanthin
This nutrient according to research is beneficial to brain health. The nutrient was studied by doctors during an Alzheimer’s study and is known to improve brain function and cognitive skills. Study participants were found to have improved brain and cognitive skills when the nutrient was added to a subject’s diet. This nutrient is called by some researchers the king of nutrients. It is considered an antioxidant and is more beneficial than lycopene, and vitamins A and E. Astaxanthin has other nutritional benefits noted by researchers. A 2015 study by NASA found the nutrient protected astronauts from radiation exposure. It provides protections to the skin preventing damage, and helps reduce the effects of stress on the body. This nutrient can be found naturally in seafood, cranberries, and blueberries. Side note about this story: one easy way to tell if this nutrient is in seafood is by looking at the item in question’s flesh; astaxanthin is literally what makes some the flesh pink in some seafood.