Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper is considered an American icon. But decades ago, the young musician was spiraling out of control allowing fame, fortune, and partying to drive him to the brink of destruction – that is until God stepped in and turned his life completely around.

“Everything that could go wrong was shutting down inside of me,” Cooper once told the New York Daily News. “I was drinking with Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix and trying to keep up with Keith Moon and they all died at 27.”

Living on the edge of despair and desperation, Cooper was faced with two choices: either allow his alcohol addiction to kill him or give it all to Jesus.

“It was on the road – with all that dead time – when I would really drink too much,” Cooper told Classic Rock. “I didn’t have an off switch. And finally, it caught up with me.”

The year was 1977 and Cooper was at the height of his career, but delving deep into the bottom of the bottom.

“I woke up one morning, threw up blood,” Cooper told Greg Laurie on TBN’s Praise segment. He told the evangelist that his wife Sheryl looked at him and simply said, “Party’s over.”

She and Cooper’s manager, Shep Gordon, held an intervention telling him, “We couldn’t love you more, and this is tough love.”

The world-famous rock star found himself at Cornell Medical Center, a sanitarium located near the city of White Plains in Westchester County, New York.

“This was pretty much at the height of my career,” he recounted. “But in that hospital, none of the other patients had any idea who Alice Cooper was. And the reason for that was very simple. The other patients were all insane!”

Cooper said God did the impossible while he was at the institute. He believes God supernaturally took his desire for alcohol.

“After two days, I felt great,” he told Laurie. “I came out of there, never once had a fallback…Never fell back on alcohol. Never fell back on drugs.”

“[It’s been] 39 years, 38 years. So God just literally took it away from me,” he said.

“So you don’t describe it as you were cured,” Laurie asked. “You say you were healed?”

“People say, ‘You’re a cured alcoholic.’ And I go, ‘No, I was a healed alcoholic.’ God took it away from me,” he explained. “Even the doctor said, ‘It’s impossible that you don’t at least fall off the wagon at least three or four times because you’re the classic alcoholic.’ And I said ‘What you don’t understand is God took it away from me…It’s a miracle.'”

Cooper continued, “After a while, they went, ‘You know what? God took it away from you…Everything about your life should be deception. That’s  an alcoholic and a drug addict does. They put on this air that they’re cured, but back here they’re doing this and they’re doing that.'”

The rock star added that never happened to him and it led his doctors to recognize the divine in his transformation.

“Even the doctors were [saying],’ miracle. You’re a one-in-a-million case.’ And I said well, ‘You know God works like that.'”

If you don’t know Cooper’s conversion story, it is indeed “one in a million.”

Laurie told  that Cooper found himself using cocaine alone in his room one day at the height of his dysfunction.

“He was snorting it, and he looked in the mirror, and he said, ‘I saw blood coming out of my eyes. I don’t know if it was a hallucination or if it was really happening, but all I knew was I was going to die,'” Cooper recalled.

At that moment, Cooper “called out to God” and his entire life changed.

“My wife and I are both Christian now,” the then 70-year-old performer explained. “My father was a pastor, my grandfather was an evangelist. I grew up in the church, went as far away as I could from it — almost died — and then came back to the church.”

Cooper is now using his platform to help young people understand that God loves them and that the devil is real.

“Be careful! Satan is not a myth. Don’t sit around pretending like Satan is just a joke,” Cooper said. “I think my job is to warn about Satan.”

In a recent interview with Laurie, Cooper said he wants more people to know who Jesus Christ is.

“Most people I know, most young people think Jesus Christ is a swear word…they have no idea who Jesus Christ is. He is not preached enough…the most written-about character of all time, in history. And yet people go out of their way to not believe in Him.”

Laurie asked, “Why do you think that is?”

Cooper replied, “I think it’s because they don’t want to give up their godship. They believe the Hollywood version of ‘I do more good than bad’. And I say Satan has got you right where he wants you. ‘[Jesus said] I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but by Me.’ Those are the truest words ever spoken. How can you deny that?”
Sources:CBN News

http://theendtimeradio.com

According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 23 million Americans live in what’s known as food deserts. These areas, usually in low-income communities, don’t provide residents access to affordable, healthy food options, like fresh produce.

When you take a closer look into a city like Norfolk, VA, you might be surprised that an area like this exists where residents often live more than a mile from the nearest supermarket.

E. Palmer Supermarket is in the Berkely section of the city. Complete with fresh fruit and vegetables it has become a beacon of hope for an area that went years without a full-service grocery store like it.

“There’s a lot of seniors in the area, a lot of senior walkup traffic. So, we thought this would be a good area to really get the people, the healthy food options that they need,” said Esron Palmer, co-owner of E. Palmer Supermarket.

Palmer and his Dad, Michael, obtained a grant and loan from the city to launch the business three years ago.

“None of the big box retailers wanted to come in, your Food Lions, such names like that,” Palmer told . “So, they provided the opportunity with a grant to get it started. So, once I graduated from VCU, my father let me know the opportunity. We drafted up a business plan and we were running from there.”

People in food deserts often have little choice other than to buy unhealthy processed food available at nearby convenience stores.

“Most of the food in these establishments are ready to eat, or commercially packaged goods, are highly processed foods,” said Dr. Darin Detwiler, a teaching professor of Global Economics of Food and Agriculture at Northeastern University. “You typically don’t find ease of access to raw fruits and vegetables or whole ingredients.”

Detwiler also shared that people living in such areas face a greater risk of diet-related health conditions.

“When we’re looking specifically at the health impacts, we have everything from foodborne illnesses to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, and other concerns,” Detwiler explained.

Those health concerns are a major reason E. Palmer offers its customers, many who live on a fixed income, incentives for purchasing healthy food.

“We try to keep up with our produce as best as we can, getting the freshest produce possible at the good price for our customers,” said Palmer. “We also offer to our EBT customers 50 percent off their fruits and vegetables anytime they shop.”

“I saw the fresh fruits, the fresh vegetables, the fresh meats, the prices,” said customer April Taylor. “Within this area, if you didn’t have this, you have to go way out to get it.”

Detwiler said there are a number of reasons why food deserts exist.

“Lack of supermarket investment, high real estate costs and zoning laws, supply chain challenges, but also there’s some systemic elements, housing discrimination, underdeveloped neighborhoods, even the idea of structural inequalities within communities that have historical and systemic basis in racism,” Detwiler explained.

These are all issues the Palmers are helping to overcome through hard work and faith.

“Can’t do anything without Christ,” Palmer commented. “Everything through God. And he just helped us throughout the way, keeping faith, making sure that we have everything that we need as far as the knowledge and the strength to continue.”

Customers are beyond grateful, such as longtime resident Joan Spaulding.

“All the other stores are so far, I guess they don’t want to come in this neighborhood,” Spaulding said. “But these people here have came in our neighborhood. They give us the best food that we could ever ask for. We have fresh fruits, vegetables, everything. I come here every day, it’s like home and I love it so much.”

Others highlight the family-like atmosphere, such as a weekly free breakfast for seniors at the store’s on-site restaurant.

“The store is very important. Without this store, the community wouldn’t be a community,” said regular shopper Ralph Finklea.

That kind of feedback is what fills Palmer with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that he is meeting the needs of many, hopefully for years to come.

“It feels great coming here to see the smiling faces on people. The products we offer are with our healthy food options and everything like that. It is really great to know that we have that here for them to come and get whatever they need,” Palmer said.
Sources:CBN News

http://theendtimeradio.com

ഒട്ടാവ: വിസ നിയമങ്ങളിൽ കാനഡ മാറ്റം വരുത്തിയതോടെ ആശങ്കയിലായി ഇന്ത്യൻ വിദ്യാർഥികളും തൊഴിലാളികളും. വലിയരീതിയിലുള്ള കുടിയേറ്റം തടയുകയെന്ന ലക്ഷ്യത്തോടെയാണ്​ പുതിയ നിബന്ധനകൾ കൊണ്ടുവന്നിട്ടുള്ളത്​. ഇത്​ ജോലിക്കും റെസിഡൻറ്​ പെർമിറ്റിനും അപേക്ഷിക്കുന്നവരെയടക്കം പ്രതികൂലമായി ബാധിക്കും.

വിദ്യാർഥികൾ, തൊഴിലാളികൾ, കുടിയേറ്റക്കാർ എന്നിവരുടെ വിസ സ്റ്റാറ്റസിൽ എപ്പോൾ വേണമെങ്കിലും മാറ്റം വരുത്താൻ കനേഡിയൻ അതിർത്തി ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥർക്ക് അധികാരം നൽകുന്നതാണ്​ പുതിയ നിയമം. ഫെബ്രുവരി ആദ്യം മുതലാണ്​ ഇത്​ പ്രാബല്യത്തിൽ വന്നത്​

പുതിയ ഇമിഗ്രേഷൻ ആൻഡ് റെഫ്യൂജി പ്രൊട്ടക്ഷൻ റെഗുലേഷൻസ് പ്രകാരം ഇലക്ട്രോണിക് യാത്രാ അനുമതികൾ, ഇടിഎകൾ, താൽക്കാലിക റസിഡന്റ് വിസകൾ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ടിആർവികൾ പോലുള്ള താൽക്കാലിക റസിഡന്റ് രേഖകൾ നിരസിക്കാൻ കനേഡിയൻ അതിർത്തി ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥർക്ക് അധികാരമുണ്ട്. അതേമസയം, പെർമിറ്റുകളും വിസകളും നിരസിക്കുന്നതിന് ചില മാർഗനിർദ്ദേശങ്ങൾ പാലിക്കേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. അംഗീകൃത താമസ കാലാവധി കഴിഞ്ഞാൽ വ്യക്തി കാനഡ വിടുമെന്ന് ഒരു ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് ബോധ്യപ്പെട്ടില്ലെങ്കിൽ കാനഡയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്ന സമയത്ത് പോലും പ്രവേശനം നിരസിക്കാനോ പെർമിറ്റ് റദ്ദാക്കാനോ കഴിയും. അത്തരം കാര്യങ്ങളിൽ തീരുമാനമെടുക്കാനുള്ള വിവേചനാധികാരം പൂർണമായും ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥനിൽ നിക്ഷിപ്തമാണ്.
Sources:globalindiannews

http://theendtimeradio.com

Canada has introduced big changes to its immigration regulations. The new Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, which came into effect on January 31, authorise border officials to cancel temporary resident documents such as electronic travel authorisations (eTAs) and temporary resident visas (TRVs).

The new regulations are likely to impact thousands of foreign nationals, including Indians, annually. The changes will impact students, employees, and temporary resident visitors, many of whom are from India.

Canada is a top destination for Indian students opting to pursue their higher education abroad. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), there are around 4,27,000 Indian students studying in Canada.

The amended rules follow a series of changes to Ottawa’s immigration framework, including the cancellation of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa programme in late 2024.

CANADIAN BORDER OFFICIALS CAN CANCEL VISAS ON SEVERAL GROUNDS
The amended rules give Canadian immigration and border officers enhanced authority to cancel eTAs, TRVs, work permits, and study permits under specific circumstances. These include cases where:

An individual’s status or circumstances change, making them ineligible or inadmissible, such as providing false information, having a criminal record, or being deceased.
An officer is not convinced that the individual will leave Canada upon the expiration of their authorised stay.
The document is lost, stolen, destroyed, or issued based on an administrative error.
A temporary resident becomes a permanent resident.

he changes also enable officers to cancel TRVs, eTAs, work permits and study permits issued to people when

They become a permanent resident.
They are deceased, or
The document was issued based on an administrative error.
According to the amended rules, students, including those from India, can have their immigration papers cancelled if they are denied a work or study visa. The policy also guarantees that the immigration and border authorities are the only ones who can cancel these visas, to avoid any unauthorised intervention.

IMPLICATIONS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS AND STUDENTS
The amended rules would result in the cancellation of approximately 7,000 additional temporary resident visas, work permits, and study permits, according to reports.

Foreigners, including Indians, whose permits are cancelled could face issues, including being prohibited from entering Canadian ports or having to leave Canada.

Apart from the 4,27,000 students studying, Canada also sees lakhs of tourists from India annually. Between January and July 2024, Canada issued 3,65,750 visitor visas to Indians, which was more than the 345,631 issued during the same period in 2023.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has indicated that individuals who are impacted will be informed via their IRCC account or email, but there are still concerns regarding the potential financial losses of travellers and students who have their documents cancelled.

CANADA CONTINUES TO TIGHTEN IMMIGRATION POLICY

These changes to the rules are in line with Canada’s strategy to tighten immigration rules.

Only a few months ago, in November 2024, Canada suspended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program, which Indian students preferred to avail themselves of to study in Canada.

The SDS began in 2018 and accelerated visa processing for students from some countries, including India, by requiring them to demonstrate money upfront, such as tuition fees and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) for living expenses.

At first, people worried that cancelling SDS would cause delays. But officials clarified that students would continue to be able to apply for the Regular Study Permit, under which they can pay tuition in instalments. However, international students, including Indians, could face more problems with the new rule for the cancellation of temporary resident documents.

Under the new rules, if study permits are revoked, students will have trouble finishing their studies or moving to work permits after graduation.
http://theendtimeradio.com