| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"• Ninure Saunders" |
| Date: |
24 Apr 2006 07:30:36 PM |
| Object: |
Pray for the World: 24 April 2006 |
Pray for the World: 24 April 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
2 WOMEN ARRESTED IN INDIA FOR DISTRIBUTING CHRISTIAN PAMPHLETS
PERSECUTION OF ERITREAN CHRISTIANS CONTINUES TO INCREASE
CHRISTIAN MAN IN LAOS IMPRISONED FOR REFUSING TO DENY HIS FAITH
WORLD VISION PROJECTS BRING RENEWED HOPE AMID DROUGHT IN AFRICA
Today's Top Stories:
2 WOMEN ARRESTED IN INDIA FOR DISTRIBUTING CHRISTIAN PAMPHLETS
Two women in the Jabalpur district of central India's Madhya Pradesh state
were arrested on Friday, April 14, for allegedly violating state laws
against preaching. "The women were distributing pamphlets telling people
how they can overcome their problems by following the Bible," said Police
Chief D. Srinivas Rao. He said the women had not received prior permission
to preach. The women were identified as Mariamma Mathew, 36, and B.
Godwil, 65. Bishop Gerald Almeida of Jabalpur also reported that police
registered cases against seven Christians on Friday, April 7, for
allegedly violating the state's anti-conversion laws. (Voice of the
Martyrs)
PERSECUTION OF ERITREAN CHRISTIANS CONTINUES TO INCREASE
Human rights groups in the East African country of Eritrea report that an
increasing number of Christians are being imprisoned because of their
faith. Border tensions and a relatively equal ratio of Christians to
Muslims has made Eritrea's government cautious about foreign influence and
possible changes in that ratio that would lead to violence. By law, the
only non-Muslim religious groups allowed to meet are Catholics, Orthodox
Christians and Evangelical Lutherans. Despite official government denial,
Tina Lambert of Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported that "recently,
even the three legal groups have faced repression." British evangelist
Gerald Godson was recently imprisoned for three days for distributing
Bibles for the Orthodox Church. In prison he met many young Christians who
were being held without charges. The Evangelical Pentecostal church
expanded among the young people who had been fighting in Eritrea's border
war with Ethiopia. BBC correspondent Alex Last reported that after the
war, these young people had become an "anathema" to the government. When
he asked the former intelligence chief in Eritrea why authorities were
going after Pentecostal churches, he was told they were a "destabilizing
influence" and were "proselytizing in Muslim areas." (WorldWide Religious
News/BBC)
CHRISTIAN MAN IN LAOS IMPRISONED FOR REFUSING TO DENY HIS FAITH
Christian Aid Mission reported that a Christian in the village of Tabeng,
Laos, was ordered by the local chief to sign an affidavit renouncing his
Christian faith. When Mr. Lapao refused, he was arrested and has been
bound in hand and foot stocks since April 1. According to the report,
there were four Christian families in the village. Two of the families
were expelled. The fate of the other two families is uncertain. (Voice of
the Martyrs)
WORLD VISION PROJECTS BRING RENEWED HOPE AMID DROUGHT IN AFRICA
Drought, coupled with extreme poverty and the eroded social structure due
to the AIDS pandemic, are setting the stage for a wide-scale famine not
seen since the African famines of the 1980s. Last year's crop failure and
this year's lack of rain has left 14 million farmers and nomadic cattle
herders in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Burundi hungry and
thirsty. World Vision is planning to distribute food to save lives in the
short term, but is also encouraged to see the success of many of their
long-term plans as well. Low-tech solutions such as rainwater catchments
and drip irrigation are allowing farmers to use water more wisely. In
addition, larger-scale World Vision projects like irrigation plans and
flood control have allowed areas to remain viable for food production
throughout the drought. (World Vision)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Pax Christi,
• Ninure Saunders aka Rainbow Christian
Jesus is my Shepherd and He knows I'm Gay
http://Ninure-Saunders.tk
My Yahoo Group
http://Ninure.tk
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
http://www.MCCchurch.org
The Bible Site - help provide free scripture
http://www.thebiblesite.org
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
|
| Title: Pray for the World: 26 April 2006 |
25 Apr 2006 09:02:25 PM |
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Pray for the World: 26 April 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS URGED TO CANCEL EXECUTION OF CHRISTIAN
PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN CLEARED OF 'BLASPHEMY' AFTER 5 YEARS IN JAIL
MUSLIM MOB SUSPECTED OF ATTACKING CHURCH LEADER'S HOME IN NIGERIA
ASSESSMENT TEAM VISITS INDONESIAN CITY 16 MONTHS AFTER TSUNAMI
HIGH-TECH OUTREACH HELPS PEOPLE 'STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FAITH'
* HCJB WORLD RADIO HONORS LATE MOODY BROADCASTING NETWORK HEAD
Today's Top Stories:
NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS URGED TO CANCEL EXECUTION OF CHRISTIAN
Family members and activists have appealed to the international community
to intervene in the planned execution of Son Jong Nam, 48, a North Korean
Christian who has been sentenced to public execution. Multiple agencies
protested Saturday, April 22, outside the government complex in South
Korea, calling for efforts to rescue Son Jong Nam. This is the first time
that an appeal has been issued to prevent the known execution of a named
individual in North Korea from taking place. The execution was expected to
take place before the end of this month. Son is imprisoned in the basement
of the National Security Agency in Pyongyang where he has been tortured.
He is accused of betraying his country and sharing information with South
Koreans. The charges apparently stem from his visit to China where he met
with his brother and spoke about life in North Korea and his connection to
Christianity. In 1997 Son, together with his wife, son and brother,
defected to China where he became a Christian -- both serious crimes in
North Korea. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN CLEARED OF 'BLASPHEMY' AFTER 5 YEARS IN JAIL
Local sources in Pakistan reported that Pakistani Christian Parvez Masih
has been found not guilty of "blasphemy" and released after spending the
last five years in prison. Masih was arrested in April 2001. As headmaster
of a Christian school in Lahore, he was accused of blaspheming the Islamic
prophet Mohammed after some of his students asked him about Mohammed's
9-year-old wife Aisha. He simply mentioned her name and told them to look
up more information in the Koran.
Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs says such cases are not unusual.
"The blasphemy law in Pakistan often is used as a weapon if you have a
dispute, if it's a property dispute, if you have an argument," he
explained. "The police are open to locking up Christians. They're open to
hearing these charges. In the case of Parvez Masih, it then took five
years to work through the court system to allow him to be released."
Despite the situation being faced by Christians, outreach in the country
continues to grow. "Christians obviously know they're facing persecution,
and they know that this law is out there," Nettleton said. "They just have
to be cautious and be graceful in the way they communicate while at the
same time being very clear with the message of the gospel, being very
clear about what they believe." (Voice of the Martyrs/Mission Network
News)
MUSLIM MOB SUSPECTED OF ATTACKING CHURCH LEADER'S HOME IN NIGERIA
The latest attack on Rev. Ali Buba Lamido, 47, the Anglican bishop of the
Wusasa diocese in Nigeria's Kaduna state, began as the past year's
previous three did. Armed men whom he believes were Muslim militants asked
the guards at his home where he was, and announced that they were going to
kill him. This time, on Friday, March 10, a guest of one of his guard was
shot dead. The guard and another worker were seriously injured. The four
attacks on his house in the last year never involved an attempted robbery.
"It is difficult to believe that it was not religiously motivated because
some bishops have been attacked and one priest was murdered in a similar
way," he said. "And the killers never stole any thing from their houses."
(Compass Direct)
ASSESSMENT TEAM VISITS INDONESIAN CITY 16 MONTHS AFTER TSUNAMI
One-third of the residents of the Indonesian city of Meulaboh were killed
in the December 2004 tsunami and earthquake. In the 16 months since, Food
for the Hungry has been in the region helping to rebuild Meulaboh together
with the City of Phoenix in Arizona and others that formed the Phoenix
Rising to Help partnership. This partnership has raised more than $350,000
to help rebuild Meulaboh. Phoenix Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten is part of a
Food for the Hungry assessment team that is in Indonesia helping with the
education system, creating and maintaining jobs in the area and meeting
with leaders to assess how the redevelopment effort is going. Food for the
Hungry is committed to meet not only people's physical needs, but also
their spiritual ones. (Mission Network News)
HIGH-TECH OUTREACH HELPS PEOPLE 'STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FAITH'
Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.,
has announced that has partnered with Proteus, Inc., to bring faith-based
content to wireless telephones through the company's mobile storefront
(pdlmobilestore.com). This month also marks the launch of a premium
text-messaging service called "40 Days of Purpose Mobile." The service
presents two new ways for people to "stay in touch with their faith, no
matter where they are." The mobile storefront offers wireless users the
ability to personalize their mobile phones with the "Verse to Remember"
series of graphic wallpapers. Users can also sign up for the "Mobile Daily
Devotional" service that sends inspirational text messages to users'
phones. "Today's society is busier than ever, making it difficult for
individuals to stay in touch with the things that matter to them," said
Guy Vidra, vice president of business development at Proteus. "We
recognize how the mobile channel can help bridge this gap . . . giving
people another way to connect to their faith." (Evangelical News/Christian
Communication Network) =================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: 'How to Read the Bible' Through History |
26 Apr 2006 09:31:26 AM |
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'How to Read the Bible' Through History
by Terry Gross
Author and scholar Marc Zvi Brettler.
Fresh Air from WHYY, January 30, 2006 ·
The modern Bible is the product of translations and interpretations that
span centuries. But a true understanding of its meaning should take into
account its origins in Jewish culture, according to biblical scholar Marc
Zvi Brettler, author of How to Read the Bible.
In his 400-page volume, Brettler examines the historical context -- the
conventions and ideology -- that prevailed at the time the biblical
scriptures were written. His approach underscores the literary workings of
the text, and ties biblical stories to specific events.
With its emphasis on the historical-critical method, How to Read the Bible
provides insight into the history of the Jewish Bible as well as that of
Israel itself. The book has been hailed for its relevance to scholars and
casual students alike.
Brettler, a professor of biblical literature, is the chair of the
Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University.
Read and hear more: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5174963
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 27 April 2006 |
27 Apr 2006 07:10:10 AM |
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Pray for the World: 27 April 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
CHURCH GROWTH IN ETHIOPIA, SUDAN AMAZES NAZARENE MISSIONARY
MUSLIM GROUP THREATENS CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION IN INDONESIA
VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES INCREASE PRESSURE ON HMONG CHRISTIANS
CHURCH GROWTH IN ETHIOPIA, SUDAN AMAZES NAZARENE MISSIONARY
Explosive church growth and evangelism in Ethiopia and Sudan has caused
Nazarene missionary Howie Shute to call this "the greatest movement of God
that I have seen in my lifetime. Churches are planting churches that are
planting churches." The Nazarene south central district (including
Ethiopia and Sudan) reported 200 churches in the last one-and-a-half
years. In addition, more than 50 Bible study groups are in the process of
becoming churches. "There are evangelists on the road and in the bush
everywhere, all planting Bible studies and churches," he said. "They
continue despite a lack of money." The denomination expects to plant more
than 400 new churches this year while the Ethiopian leadership has a
target of 1,000 new churches. "Pastors and congregations are being
persecuted, but they are faithful to God's call to preach this message,"
Shute said. "The great miracle of Pentecost was 3,000 new believers in one
day, but we have had 20,000 in one day praying for their sins to be
forgiven!" (Evangelical
News/www.thehoanaznews.org)
MUSLIM GROUP THREATENS CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION IN INDONESIA
A Muslim community group called Majlis Taklim entered the premises of a
Christian social institution in West Java, Indonesia, Sunday, April 9,
demanding its closure for the fifth time this year. The Apostolic Nation
Building Foundation (ABB) operates from a residential building in West
Java's West Bekasi district. About 70 Majlis Taklim members came to the
ABB headquarters and told the foundation to cease all activities, accusing
them of running an "illegal church" and trying to "Christianize" the
community. Staff immediately called the police, and some officers arrived
to monitor the situation and prevent any violence. Majlis Taklim
coordinator Radesman Saragih said church members should take the warning
seriously or be prepared to face unspecified negative consequences.
(Compass Direct)
VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES INCREASE PRESSURE ON HMONG CHRISTIANS
At least 22 Hmong Christian leaders are being sought after by Vietnamese
police for evangelizing outside official structures, reported the Center
of Religious Freedom. Other worshipers are being threatened to force them
to recant; some have been expelled from their homes and villages. The
charges are based on original documents and information that the human
rights organization obtained from Vietnam. One document titled, "The Plan
on Assigning Forces to Fight and Control the Individuals Who Lead Illegal
Religious Propagation" lists the names and addresses of 22 Christian
leaders being sought by local authorities. In March, Giang A. Teng, a
Hmong Christian from Vi Lau village, said police and border guards tried
to force him to abandon his faith and to return to his ancestral cult.
When he refused, the police expelled him from his home and land.
(WorldWide Religious News/AsiaNews)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 28 April 2006 |
27 Apr 2006 07:34:11 PM |
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Pray for the World: 28 April 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
PRAYER URGED FOR 200,000 IMPRISONED NORTH KOREAN CHRISTIANS
MALAYSIAN CHRISTIAN CONVERT TO APPEAL MUSLIM STATUS ON ID CARD
UPDATE: BAIL GRANTED FOR FOUNDER OF MISSION BOARD IN INDIA
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY SPEEDS DISTRIBUTION OF BIBLES IN ARAB WORLD
Today's Top Stories:
PRAYER URGED FOR 200,000 IMPRISONED NORTH KOREAN CHRISTIANS
Rev. Carl Moeller, president of the persecution watchdog group Open Doors
USA, says an estimated 200,000 Christians are imprisoned in North Korean
labor camps where many face torture and execution. Escapees will testify
this week at congressional hearings and demonstrations in Washington as part
of North Korea Freedom Week. The goal, he says, is to appeal for prayer and
international pressure on the communist regime. For the fourth year in a
row, Open Doors has ranked North Korea as the worst violator of religious
rights in the world. Moeller calls it "one large concentration camp with the
entire population trapped in a nightmare that doesn't end." He urges
American Christians in particular to pray for their fellow believers in
North Korea. (AgapePress/Associated Press)
MALAYSIAN CHRISTIAN CONVERT TO APPEAL MUSLIM STATUS ON ID CARD
Malaysian believer Lina Joy recently won Federal Court permission to appeal
the Malaysian government's refusal to remove her Muslim status from her
identity card after her conversion to Christianity. Joy, previously known as
Azlina binti Jailani, converted to Christianity in 1990 and was granted a
name change reflecting her new faith. However, her religious status was
still listed as Muslim, disqualifying her from marrying a Christian,
attaining Christian status for her children, or having a Christian burial.
Her groundbreaking appeal, along with deciding her own fate and religious
freedom, brings to issue whether Islamic courts have the sole right to
decide cases of Muslims who leave their religion. In Malaysia conversion
from Islam is considered apostasy and is punishable by fine or imprisonment.
Many Malaysian Christians are forced to keep their faith secret and maintain
the outward appearances of the Muslim faith. (Compass Direct)
UPDATE: BAIL GRANTED FOR FOUNDER OF MISSION BOARD IN INDIA
M.A. Thomas, 70, founder of New Delhi-based Emmanuel Mission International
(EMI), was granted anticipatory bail on Friday, April 21. Thomas, who was
forced to go into hiding more than two months ago because of threats from
Hindu militants, has been charged with publishing a book that allegedly
belittles Hindu gods. Several EMI members were arrested and held despite the
mission's denial of the charges. Soon after the arrests, Hindu extremists
offered a $26,000 reward for the head of Thomas and a matching reward for
his son, EMI President Samuel Thomas. At last word the government
registration of EMI and associated ministries remained canceled, and their
bank accounts continue to be frozen. The senior Thomas was awarded the Padam
Shri, the highest civilian award in the country, in 2001. (Compass Direct)
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY SPEEDS DISTRIBUTION OF BIBLES IN ARAB WORLD
In many Muslim countries, it's dangerous to even carry a Bible. That's why
the World Bible Translation Center's Gary Bishop says the ministry is
excited to be distributing the Arabic New Testament on CD. It's usable on a
computer, so it doesn't have the appearance of carrying around the printed
Bible. Staff members at the center are working on a second version of the CD
with both text and audio versions of the Bible, making it easier to put in
other digital media devices and reproduced. Bishop says there are great
opportunities for this resource to use the technology. "This will make it
more widely available to anyone in an Arabic-speaking country who wants to
choose to listen to God's Word. So many of them are curious right now, and
it's a perfect time to do that." With unrest throughout the Muslim world,
Bishop says the situation is primed for God to work through His Word. "Only
the love of God and only His redeeming message of redemption and restoration
of man to God and forgiveness and peace, will be the thing that changes
those hearts. And so, we're excited for the opportunity to get God's Word
there, to actually change the hearts of Islamic and Arabic people," he said.
(Mission Network News)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
.
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 29 April 2006 |
29 Apr 2006 07:48:03 AM |
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Pray for the World: 29 April 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
PEACE AGREEMENTS IN SUDAN OPEN DOORS TO SHARE GOSPEL MESSAGE
PHILIPPINE ARMY CAPTURES MUSLIM SUSPECTED IN BURNHAM KIDNAPPING
PRO-LIFE GROUP LAUNCHES WEBSITE FOR 'DEATH ROE SURVIVORS'
UPDATE: COMMITTEE REVIEWS SRI LANKA'S PROPOSED ANTI-CONVERSION LAW
Today's Top Stories:
PEACE AGREEMENTS IN SUDAN OPEN DOORS TO SHARE GOSPEL MESSAGE
Recent peace agreements in Sudan have created a fresh opening for
Christian outreach in the non-Muslim southern part of the country, says
SIM's Steve Strauss. While churches in southern Sudan have been brutalized
by two decades of civil war, the ministry's national partners in Ethiopia
and Nigeria have sent in missionaries to help Sudanese believers get back
on their feet. "They're actually going to be training school teachers in
[the region], helping Sudanese schoolteachers be better equipped to train
their own children and adults who haven't had a chance for education, and
then working with the southern Sudanese church in evangelism and
discipleship as well," Strauss explains. The ongoing violence in western
Sudan's Darfur region hasn't hampered SIM's work, but Sudan's future hangs
in the balance. Strauss asks prayer for the church to be built up. "The
work in southern Sudan will be with people who are from an animistic
background, some of them nominal Christians," he says. "Other stronger
Christians are helping them get a much more thorough grounding in their
faith, and sharing the gospel with those that don't know the Lord yet."
(Mission Network News)
PHILIPPINE ARMY CAPTURES MUSLIM SUSPECTED IN BURNHAM KIDNAPPING
The Philippine Army says it has captured a suspected Muslim militant
accused in the 2001 kidnapping of American missionaries Martin and Gracia
Burnham. The militant, known as Abu Omar, is also accused of deadly
bombings in the southern Philippines. A third American who was kidnapped
with the Burnhams, Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf
rebels. Martin was killed during an army commando mission a year later in
which his wife, Gracia, was wounded and rescued. In her book, In the
Presence of My Enemies, Gracia identifies Omar as a militant who spent 11
months among their rebel captors. (AgapePress/Associated Press)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
.
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: (~) MISTAKEN IDENTITY |
01 May 2006 08:15:43 PM |
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(~) MISTAKEN IDENTITY
A man exiting a grocery store was very surprised when a rather
good-looking and perky young lady greeted him cheerfully by saying, "Good
evening!" Her face was beaming. At least she was smiling until he gave
her that "Who are you?" look. He couldn't remember having ever seen her
before. Then she obviously realized that a mistake had been made and
apologized. She explained, "Oh, I'm so sorry. When I first saw you I
thought you were the father of one of my children." She walked on her way
into the store.
The man was left staring dumbfounded after her. More than a bit puzzled,
he thought to himself, "What is the world coming to, an attractive woman
who doesn't even keep track of what the father of her children look
like." However, he was also a bit flattered that he might resemble one of
her former suitors, but also hoped that nobody overheard her saying that
she mistook him for being the father of one of her children.
A bit stunned, he walked to his car. He still did not realize, of
course, that....she was a second grade teacher.
A case of mistaken identity. Have you ever done that? You see someone in
the store or on the street that you think you know and you call out and
wave only to realize that it's not really them at all. First glances can
be deceiving.
I've done the same thing spiritually, too. I've judged people at a
glance as being stuck-up only to find out later on that they are only
shy. I've judged people for their irritability only to find out later
what burdens they had been carrying that caused them to be a bit short
with me. I've judged some people as "hopeless sinners" only to discover
in time a humble heart and a spirit that wants to surrender to God.
This is what the Pharisees in the time of Jesus just couldn't seem to
understand. They couldn't get past the first appearances. They couldn't
get beyond the outside to look at the heart. And they didn't much care to
get to know any of "those people" long enough to learn anything about
their problems, their struggles, or their heart.
"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (I Samuel 16:7).
Father, help me to take a "second look", to learn to look beyond the
outward appearance, to look at the heart of the people around me. In
Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
.. =====================
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 2 May 2006 |
01 May 2006 08:18:04 PM |
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Pray for the World: 2 May 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
UZBEK COURT FINES 4 U.S. ENGLISH TEACHERS FOR 'MISSIONARY ACTIVITY'
CHANGES IN NEPAL'S POLITICAL SITUATION ENCOURAGE BELIEVERS
UPDATE: BAIL GRANTED TO SAUDI CHRISTIAN ACCUSED OF 'BLASPHEMY'
NORWAY CONSIDERS DROPPING LUTHERANISM AS OFFICIAL RELIGION
ANOTHER STUDY LINKS INCREASED LONGEVITY TO CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Today's Top Stories:
UZBEK COURT FINES 4 U.S. ENGLISH TEACHERS FOR 'MISSIONARY ACTIVITY'
Four Americans have been fined for "missionary activity" in the Central
Asian republic of Uzbekistan. An Uzbek court fined the four English
language teachers from the nonprofit group, Global Involvement Through
Education, $400 each for "urging local students to change their
traditional confession to a religion of Protestant character." Uzbek
President Islam Karimov, who has ruled the country for 17 years, tolerates
no dissent and permits no religious activity, including Islam, outside of
state-controlled
institutions. Earlier this month police broke up meetings of Jehovah's
Witnesses in seven Uzbek cities, arresting more than 100 local converts.
(AgapePress/Associated Press)
CHANGES IN NEPAL'S POLITICAL SITUATION ENCOURAGE BELIEVERS
Nepal's parliament met for the first time in four years, a testament to
change and a step toward democracy. The political body's key goal was to
push for elections to a constituent assembly, a body that could redraw
Nepal's 1990 constitution and cut the powers of the king. It's good news
for those who've been squeezed between the rebel insurgency and government
forces, says a representative of Mission to Unreached Peoples which has a
team in Nepal. "We can't travel as we need to," she explains. "Often we're
caught at home or caught at the office and are unable to either go home or
go to the office. So, there's a lot of uncertainty when we're trying to do
our work." The mission's outreach involves health and community
development, allowing team members to interact closely with the people
they help. "We've seen some opportunities as well. You have some people
who are feeling hopeless, and in a hopeless situation, hope shines
brighter," she says. The spokesperson urges prayer for believers who are
caught in the crossfire. (Mission Network News)
UPDATE: BAIL GRANTED TO SAUDI CHRISTIAN ACCUSED OF 'BLASPHEMY'
Naseem Bibi, a Christian woman charged with desecrating a poster of Khana
Kaba, the Muslim holy place in Saudi Arabia, was released from jail on
bail Sunday, April 22, after posting surety bonds of 50,000 rupees
(US$832). She and her family have taken refuge in Lahore for fear of
attacks from Muslim extremists. Pakistan Christian Post reported that she
was arrested on Friday, March 3, after being accused of desecrating the
flyer. Bibi was quoted as saying, "On March 3 I was at my home and washing
clothes. A protest march was passing in our street. My older daughter told
me that Muslim protesters are making signs of the cross on the heap of
garbage and hitting it with shoes. I could not control myself when I saw
that Muslim protesters were desecrating the cross. I shouted and quarreled
with them. They were in large numbers, and they started to beat me." When
police arrived, they freed Bibi from the protesters and sent her to jail.
(Assist News Service)
NORWAY CONSIDERS DROPPING LUTHERANISM AS OFFICIAL RELIGION
Norway has opened hearings on whether to separate church and state after
469 years of Lutheranism as its official religion. Norway's government
currently funds the church and employs it bishops and clergy. But in
January, the majority of a 20-member government panel recommended
separation. No change could be made until at least 2014 because separating
church and state would require a constitutional amendment approved by two
successive parliaments. About 86 percent of Norwegians are listed as
Church of Norway members, but registration is automatic at birth and many
are inactive. Denmark also has a Lutheran state church. Sweden ended its
Lutheran state church system in 2000. (AgapePress/Associated Press)
ANOTHER STUDY LINKS INCREASED LONGEVITY TO CHURCH ATTENDANCE
According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American
Board of Family Medicine, regular church attendance is an effective way to
increase life expectancy. Specifically, people who attend a religious
service on a weekly basis tend to prolong their life 1.8 to 3.1 years. In
comparison, regular physical exercise prolongs life 3.0 to 5.1 years while
proven therapeutic regimens add 2.1 to 3.7 years to a person's life.
Since the study is a review of existing research, it doesn't explain the
link between faith and health. But Daniel Hall, leader of the study and a
resident in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center, suggests that the social aspect of religion may have something to
do with the results. "There is something about being knit into the type of
community that religious communities embody that has a way of mediating a
positive health effect," Hall said. Therefore, being religiously active
may decrease your stress level or increase your ability to cope with
stress.
"Being in a religious community helps you make meaning out of your life,"
he added. In addition to health data, Hall also examined the annual cost
of these typical life-gaining activities. He found that people spend about
$4,000 a year on physical exercise, $10,000 a year on therapy and $7,000 a
year per household on contributions to religious institutions. "[Yet]
there is no evidence that changing religious attendance causes a change in
health outcomes," Hall added. (AgapePress/AFA Journal)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 3 May 2006 |
03 May 2006 06:39:22 AM |
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Pray for the World: 3 May 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
MILLIONS ACROSS U.S. TO JOIN IN NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THURSDAY
BUDDHIST MOB IN CAMBODIA DESTROYS PARTIALLY BUILT CHURCH
SUMMIT ADDRESSES LACK OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS IN CHINA
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRAISES SOUTHERN BAPTISTS FOR HURRICANE RELIEF
Today's Top Stories:
MILLIONS ACROSS U.S. TO JOIN IN NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THURSDAY
Thursday, May 4, marks the 54th annual National Day of Prayer (NDP),
originally established by a vote of the U.S. Congress. This year's theme
is "America, Honor God" based on 1 Samuel 2:30, "Those who honor me, I
will honor." The event will be marked in Washington, D.C., with an address
by author Henry Blackaby and the song, "America, Honor God," performed by
Rebecca St. James. Event Chairman Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the
Family founder James Dobson, encourages prayer for the nation's schools,
the media and governmental leaders and to ask God "to forgive our
collective rebellion against Him." The American Family Association expects
millions of Americans to participate at the local level at numerous city
halls across the country by praying for the moral rebirth of America.
Barry Lynn, executive director for Americans United for Separation of
Church and State, claims the National Day of Prayer is nothing more than a
chance for the political right to "politicize religion and divide
Americans." (Evangelical News/Agape Press)
BUDDHIST MOB IN CAMBODIA DESTROYS PARTIALLY BUILT CHURCH
Some 300 Buddhist villagers, apparently angered by a rival faith within
their community, have razed a partially built Christian church to the
ground, near the Cambodian capital, said a local official today. Ros
Sithoeun, a representative of the area's Christian community, said that in
a rare act of religious intolerance, the mob chanted, "Destroy the
church!" and "Long live Buddhism!" as it descended upon the unfinished
Protestant Church on Friday in Boeng Krum Leu, 18 miles east of Phnom
Penh. Che Saren, chief of the Lvea Em district, said the Buddhists felt
threatened by the visible presence of another faith. The church would have
been the area's second, but there was only one Buddhist pagoda to serve
the spiritual needs of the overwhelmingly Buddhist community. The
structure, less than half a mile from a Buddhist pagoda, was torn down and
the rubble torched by the mob. (WorldWide Religious News/Associated Press)
SUMMIT ADDRESSES LACK OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS IN CHINA
The Hudson Institute, in conjunction with the Institute of Chinese Law &
Religion, is hosting a summit in Washington, D.C., today to "promote
discourse on the severely limited freedom of expression, religious freedom
and the rule of law in China." Closely following President Hu Jintao's
recent visit to the U.S., the summit provides an opportunity to dialogue
with high-profile Chinese activists and dissidents who are participating
despite risks to their personal safety. Participants include writers,
scholars, attorneys and others at the forefront of the human rights effort
in China who continue to pioneer the movement for recognition of natural
freedoms. The summit is sponsored by Freedom House, the Ethics and Public
Policy Center, Becket Fund, National Association of Evangelicals, the
Institute on Religion and Public Policy and others. (Religion Today)
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRAISES SOUTHERN BAPTISTS FOR HURRICANE RELIEF
Expressing the gratitude of President George W. Bush for their response to
last summer's hurricanes, White House Director of Faith-Based Initiatives
Jim Towey spoke to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders at their
Disaster Relief Roundtable April 25-27 at Fielder Road Baptist Church in
Arlington, Texas. "The president knows the efforts taken during the
disaster relief phase were extraordinary in scope and compassion because
government can't love the way your people did." In the past many
faith-based organizations were required to change their names, take down
crosses and remove the name of Jesus Christ from mission statements to
receive federal grants. Towey said that attitude has changed during his
five-year tenure. "We don't want to favor one faith or have the government
de-fund religion. That will rob the church of vitality and its purity," he
said. "At the same time, we don't want to show government hostility toward
any religious organization." (Evangelical News/Baptist Press)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
.
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 5 May 2006 |
05 May 2006 08:01:55 AM |
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Pray for the World: 5 May 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
INDONESIAN EVANGELIST AWAITS TRIAL ON CHARGE OF 'DEFAMING ISLAM'
UPDATE: PRESIDENT OF MISSION IN INDIA RELEASED ON BAIL
SERBIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS CONTROVERSIAL RELIGION LAW
U.S. EVANGELIST LAUNCHES GLOBAL OUTREACH FOR 'TECHIES'
WESTERN CHURCH WAKING UP TO NEEDS OF WORLDWIDE MISSIONS
Today's Top Stories:
INDONESIAN EVANGELIST AWAITS TRIAL ON CHARGE OF 'DEFAMING ISLAM'
An evangelist affiliated with Gereja Sidang Jemaat Pentakosta, an
Indonesian church, is awaiting trial at the Tasikmalaya Provincial Court
after being accused of "defaming Islam." His arrest came after a violent
incident on Wednesday, March 8, when hundreds of Muslim radicals beat the
55-year-old man in front of his house.
The incident began when he heard a commotion outside of his house and
asked the people who had gathered, "What's happening? Who are you looking
for?" When he told them his name, the mob threw him on the ground and
started beating him up. The evangelist, who asked not to be named,
suffered wounds in his head and ears and fell unconscious. The attack
stopped when police officers intervened and brought him to a detention
cell to be "protected from those who wanted to harm him." He was later
transferred to a local prison where he remains.
The evangelist was initially charged with "doing a displeasing act," but
the local prosecutor later accused him of "defaming Islam," a crime that
carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail. Representatives of the
Indonesian Council of Clerics have visited him regularly in the prison,
trying to convince him to return to Islam.
"They knew that I used to be a Muslim," he explained. "I accepted Christ
as my Savior in 1998 after a pastor came to me and miraculously healed my
stroke. Since then, I dedicated my life to following Jesus by being an
evangelist in my hometown. I won't leave Jesus now." (Open Doors)
UPDATE: PRESIDENT OF MISSION IN INDIA RELEASED ON BAIL
Rev. Samuel Thomas, president of the Emmanuel Mission International (EMI),
was released from the Kota Central Jail Tuesday, May 2, after the
Rajasthan High Court granted him interim bail for three months. The
Supreme Court had previously granted anticipatory bail to his father, EMI
founder M.A. Thomas, who has been in hiding since authorities issued an
arrest warrant for him in a Hindu extremist-backed attack on EMI
ministries. EMI has been accused of publishing a book, Haqeeqat, that
allegedly denigrates Hindu gods -- a charge the ministry denies. Samuel
Thomas was arrested on March 16 in Noida, a town near Delhi, while he was
on his way to his attorney's residence to discuss bail for his father. He
was kept in a separate cell in Kota's jail on request from the court to
ensure his protection amid fears that Hindu extremists were planning to
attack him. (Compass Direct)
SERBIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS CONTROVERSIAL RELIGION LAW
On Thursday, April 27, Serbian President Boris Tadic signed into law the
"Law on Churches and Religious Communities" even though he expressed
concerns about its "shortcomings." In a letter to the Serbian legislature,
Tadic wrote, "I believe that it is imperative that the Serbian Legislature
urgently adopt amendments to the law so as to eliminate its shortcomings."
However, he gave no indication on how he intends to expedite those
amendments and has acknowledged that the law in its present form violates
the European Convention on Human Rights. According to the new legislation,
all but seven officially recognized "traditional" faiths will lose their
legal and tax-exempt status and will have to reapply for legal
recognition. Those stripped of their registered status include the Church
of the Nazarene, Baptists and Seventh-Day Adventists, all of which have
been in the country for more than 100 years. (Voice of the Martyrs)
U.S. EVANGELIST LAUNCHES GLOBAL OUTREACH FOR 'TECHIES'
U.S. evangelist Sammy Tippit is launching a new ministry aimed at the
technologically savvy. Beginning this week he's offering a live webcast
and podcast on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Broadcasts on Tuesday highlight a
discussion on spiritual renewal with thoughts from Christian leaders in
countries such as South Africa, Russia, Uganda and Iran. There are also
interviews with people such as Henry Blackaby, Dave Butts and Crawford
Loritts. Wednesday's topics cover family life issues. Tippit says the
outreach is aimed at busy people globally who might not be otherwise join
the community of believers. (Mission Network News)
WESTERN CHURCH WAKING UP TO NEEDS OF WORLDWIDE MISSIONS
Western churches are "gearing for action" and poised to play their part in
the next great move of fulfilling the Great Commission, said New Zealand
missionary to China Julie Bell in a story from Assist News Service. While
the churches are often criticized for inaction and selfishness, Bell
believes if that was ever the case then the tide has turned. "As
missionaries, we feel like the church is gearing for action," said Bell,
who with her husband, Doug McGowan, lead the Autumn Rain ministry that
supplies China's underground churches with Bibles and teaching materials.
"There is a mobilization taking place," she said. "Christians are restless
and sick of 'playing church.' People are willing to eject themselves from
out of the comfort zone and more and more people are saying, 'Yes, I want
in.' They are increasingly aware that we are called to be global
Christians -- to accept our destiny for our day and generation. It's not
something we want to miss or shortchange ourselves with." (Religion Today)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
.
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| User: "Russ T. Nale" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 7 May 2006 |
07 May 2006 07:40:57 PM |
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Pray for the World: 7 May 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
CHRISTIANS MAXIMIZE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES VIA THE INTERNET
FIRE DESTROYS BARN AT AVANT MINISTRIES' BIBLE CAMP IN ALASKA
CHRISTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION STEPS UP EFFORTS IN NEPAL
RADICAL MUSLIMS HALT SERVICES AT 3 CHURCHES IN INDONESIA
AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN BRITISH AUTHOR, ACTOR DIES AT 43
Today's Top Stories:
CHRISTIANS MAXIMIZE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES VIA THE INTERNET
As cities and suburbs go wireless, more people are increasingly finding
themselves in close range with "Wi-Fi hotspots," wireless fidelity
networks that are typically available in highly populated areas. The
Christian Post reports that as the Internet takes new heights, Christians
are getting on board to make the gospel just as accessible as wireless is
becoming. Christians around the world tagged their web pages for this
Sunday's second annual Internet Evangelism Day. An Internet evangelistic
ministry reported seeing up to 1,400 indicated decisions for Christ every
day on the Web. According to a survey by the Pew Internet and American
Life Project, nearly two-thirds of online Americans use the Internet to
perform spiritual and religious activities. Tony Whittaker, who initiated
Internet Evangelism Day, hopes more Christians and churches will be
inspired to join the worldwide online outreach. (Religion Today)
FIRE DESTROYS BARN AT AVANT MINISTRIES' BIBLE CAMP IN ALASKA
Early Saturday, April 29, fire destroyed the horse barn and loading dock
at Avant Ministries' Echo Ranch Bible Camp in Juneau, Alaska. No people or
horses were injured in the fire that destroyed the saddles, bridles,
riding helmets and all the necessary equipment and buildings for the horse
program. Horses have been a central part of the camp's ministry, sometimes
leading to breakthroughs in young people who don't respond to other
teaching. Campers will begin arriving on Wednesday, June 7, and much of
the equipment will need to be replaced immediately for the ministry to
continue on schedule. To help, contact the camp at or
call (816) 479-7053. (Avant Ministries)
CHRISTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION STEPS UP EFFORTS IN NEPAL
Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Christian human rights
organization, is launching operations aimed at helping Nepal's persecuted
Christians. In the midst of hardships and persecution stemming from civil
and religious unrest, "Nepalese Christians need a helping hand, especially
now," says CFI President Jim Jacobson. The organization's various programs
include distribution of food, medicine and Bibles as well as
micro-enterprise initiatives and legal assistance. The pastor of an
unregistered Katmandu house church, known only as D.K. for security
reasons, said, "People who convert to Christianity face persecution from
local leaders and sometimes the government. There are pastors in custody
right now because they tell others about Jesus. The persecution is getting
worse. Many Hindu leaders don't want Christianity to spread, but it is
spreading fast." Proselytizing is a crime in Nepal where just 0.45 percent
of the population in the predominantly Hindu country is Christian.
(Christian Newswire)
RADICAL MUSLIMS HALT SERVICES AT 3 CHURCHES IN INDONESIA
Radical Muslims in mid-April forced three churches to cease services in
North Jakarta and the provinces of West Java and Tangerang, claiming the
meetings were disturbing Islamic communities. On Monday, April 17, a group
of 150 people bullied Pastor Yoshua Sugiharto into ceasing worship
activities of his Shining Christian Church in West Semper, North Jakarta.
In West Java province, police asked the St. Clara Catholic Church in North
Bekasi district not to hold a Good Friday worship service on April 14
after Muslim groups threatened to disrupt it. A mob of some 500 Muslims
forced the Ciledug Catholic church, meeting in a residential building in
the Regensi Bintaro Ciledug housing complex in Tangerang province, to
cease services. (Compass Direct)
* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to establish more than
14 local Christian radio stations across Indonesia since 2004. Broadcasts
from HCJB World Radio-Australia's shortwave station in Kununurra also
encourage listeners nationwide. In addition, HCJB World Radio has helped
with relief efforts since the Dec. 26, 2004, earthquake/tsunami and
subsequent quakes that devastated parts of Indonesia.
AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN BRITISH AUTHOR, ACTOR DIES AT 43
Rob Lacey, award-winning British author and actor, died Monday, May 1,
after a battle with cancer. He was 43. Lacey was best known for The Word
on the Street (originally published as The Street Bible in the U.K.), a
retelling of the entire Bible in modern British "street" English which was
awarded the Book of the Year in 2004 by the Christian Booksellers
Convention in the U.K. Besides being an author, Lacey trained at the
Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theatre, was a founding member
of the Trapdoor Theatre Company, and with his wife founded and was
co-artistic director of the Gate Arts and Training Center in Cardiff,
Wales. Lacey also authored The Liberator, a paraphrase of the Gospels; The
Poisoned Pool, a self-published graphic novel; and Are We Getting Through,
a communication resource book. He is survived by his wife, Sandra
Harnisch-Lacey, and two children, Lukas and Magdalena. (Christian
Etailing/Assist News Service)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address
.
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| User: "Gene Poole" |
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| Title: Brian McLaren on The Da Vinci Code |
10 May 2006 05:12:04 PM |
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Brian McLaren on The Da Vinci Code
An interview by Lisa Ann Cockrel
With The Da Vinci Code poised to go from bestseller list to the big screen
on May 19, pastor and writer (and Sojourners board member) Brian McLaren
talks about why he thinks there's truth in the controversial book's
fiction.
What do you think the popularity of The Da Vinci Code reveals about pop
culture attitudes toward Christianity and the church?
Brian McLaren: I think a lot of people have read the book, not just as a
popular page-turner but also as an experience in shared frustration with
status-quo, male-dominated, power-oriented, cover-up-prone organized
Christian religion. We need to ask ourselves why the vision of Jesus
hinted at in Dan Brown's book is more interesting, attractive, and
intriguing to these people than the standard vision of Jesus they hear
about in church. Why would so many people be disappointed to find that
Brown's version of Jesus has been largely discredited as fanciful and
inaccurate, leaving only the church's conventional version? Is it possible
that, even though Brown's fictional version misleads in many ways, it at
least serves to open up the possibility that the church's conventional
version of Jesus may not do him justice?
So you think The Da Vinci Code taps into dissatisfaction with Jesus as we
know him?
McLaren: For all the flaws of Brown's book, I think what he's doing is
suggesting that the dominant religious institutions have created their own
caricature of Jesus. And I think people have a sense that that's true.
It's my honest feeling that anyone trying to share their faith in America
today has to realize that the Religious Right has polluted the air. The
name "Jesus" and the word "Christianity" are associated with something
judgmental, hostile, hypocritical, angry, negative, defensive,
anti-homosexual, etc. Many of our churches, even though they feel they
represent the truth, actually are upholding something that's distorted and
false.
I also think that the whole issue of male domination is huge and that
Brown's suggestion that the real Jesus was not as misogynist or anti-woman
as the Christian religion often has been is very attractive. Brown's book
is about exposing hypocrisy and cover-up in organized religion, and it is
exposing organized religion's grasping for power. Again, there's something
in that that people resonate with in the age of pedophilia scandals,
televangelists, and religious political alliances. As a follower of Jesus
I resonate with their concerns as well.
Do you think the book contains any significantly detrimental distortions
of the Christian faith?
McLaren: The book is fiction and it's filled with a lot of fiction about a
lot of things that a lot of people have already debunked. But frankly, I
don't think it has more harmful ideas in it than the Left Behind novels.
And in a certain way, what the Left Behind novels do, the way they twist
scripture toward a certain theological and political end, I think Brown is
twisting scripture, just to other political ends. But at the end of the
day, the difference is I don't think Brown really cares that much about
theology. He just wanted to write a page-turner and he was very successful
at that.
Many Christians are also reading this book and it's rocking their
preconceived notions - or lack of preconceived notions - about Christ's
life and the early years of the church. So many people don't know how we
got the canon, for example. Should this book be a clarion call to the
church to say, "Hey, we need to have a body of believers who are much more
literate in church history." Is that something the church needs to be
thinking about more strategically?
McLaren: Yes! You're exactly right. One of the problems is that the
average Christian in the average church who listens to the average
Christian broadcasting has such an oversimplified understanding of both
the Bible and of church history - it would be deeply disturbing for them
to really learn about church history. I think the disturbing would do them
good. But a lot of times education is disturbing for people. And so if The
Da Vinci Code causes people to ask questions and Christians have to dig
deeper, that's a great thing, a great opportunity for growth. And it does
show a weakness in the church giving either no understanding of church
history or a very stilted, one-sided, sugarcoated version.
On the other hand, it's important for me to say I don't think anyone can
learn good church history from Brown. There's been a lot of debunking of
what he calls facts. But again, the guy's writing fiction so nobody should
be surprised about that. The sad thing is there's an awful lot of us who
claim to be telling objective truth and we actually have our own
propaganda and our own versions of history as well.
Let me mention one other thing about Brown's book that I think is
appealing to people. The church goes through a pendulum swing at times
from overemphasizing the deity of Christ to overemphasizing the humanity
of Christ. So a book like Brown's that overemphasizes the humanity of
Christ can be a mirror to us saying that we might be underemphasizing the
humanity of Christ.
In light of The Da Vinci Code movie that is soon to be released, how do
you hope churches will engage this story?
I would like to see churches teach their people how to have intelligent
dialogue that doesn't degenerate into argument. We have to teach people
that the Holy Spirit works in the middle of conversation. We see it time
and time again - Jesus enters into dialogue with people; Paul and Peter
and the apostles enter into dialogue with people. We tend to think that
the Holy Spirit can only work in the middle of a monologue where we are
doing the speaking.
So if our churches can encourage people to, if you see someone reading the
book or you know someone who's gone to the movie, say, "What do you think
about Jesus and what do you think about this or that," and to ask
questions instead of getting into arguments, that would be wonderful. The
more we can keep conversations open and going the more chances we give the
Holy Spirit to work. But too often people want to get into an argument
right away. And, you know, Jesus has handled 2,000 years of questions,
skepticism, and attacks, and he's gonna come through just fine. So we
don't have to be worried.
Ultimately, The Da Vinci Code is telling us important things about the
image of Jesus that is being portrayed by the dominant Christian voices.
[Readers] don't find that satisfactory, genuine, or authentic, so they're
looking for something that seems more real and authentic.
Lisa Ann Cockrel is associate editor at Today's Christian Woman.
--
Faithfully,
Gene Poole
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
=============
Remove your hat to e-mail me.
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| User: "Gene Poole" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 8 May 2006 |
08 May 2006 07:47:21 PM |
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Pray for the World: 9 May 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
MISSIONARIES TURN TO RADIO FOR OUTREACH IN MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIAN ANIMISTS ATTACK PRIESTS, DESTROY CHURCHES
HARVEST '06 PACKS ARENA IN NEW ZEALAND
MINISTRY AND BUSINESS TEAM UP IN ARGENTINA
SALVATION ARMY UNVEILS LONG-TERM KATRINA RECOVERY PLAN
Today's Top Stories:
MISSIONARIES TURN TO RADIO FOR OUTREACH IN MOZAMBIQUE
Missionaries Paul and Karen Zimmerman with Africa Inland Mission are
preparing to launch a new endeavor to spread the Gospel in Northern
Mozambique. After five years of difficult attempts to plant churches and
do more traditional discipleship and evangelistic outreach, the Zimmerman's
and Africa Inland Mission have partnered with HCJB World Radio to plant a
radio station targeting this unreached group. Zimmerman notes, "If you
decide to
pick up some literature that's Christian, or you're found reading a
segment of the Bible or going to our outreaches, you're ridiculed. So, if
you just
have a radio, you can pick up the station and listen to it privately, or
while you're walking on the beach, or while you're fishing and nobody
knows about it." For more information about the project, visit
http://www.aim-us.org. (Mission Network News)
NIGERIAN ANIMISTS ATTACK PRIESTS, DESTROY CHURCHES
Around Easter, traditional animists attacked churches in Ode-Aye town,
Nigeria, beating two Anglican priests into comas and destroying church
property worth an estimated 6 million naira (US$48,831). The Rev. Joshua
Ogunele, an Anglican bishop, reported that followers of native religions
attacked the St. Christopher Anglican Church along with other nearby
churches. The church's priests, the Rev. Chris Adetula and the Rev.
Oladejo Luji, nearly lost their lives, he said. During their annual Okute
festival, adherents of the native religion had imposed a 21-day ban on
Christian
worship, especially use of drums. Rev. Ogunele said Christians in the
community see the ban on worship in churches during the festival as an as
an infringement on their religious rights. "The attacks on churches in
Ode-Aye during the Okute festival have been an annual occurrence since 1983."
(Compass Direct)
HARVEST '06 PACKS ARENA IN NEW ZEALAND
A three-night evangelistic event called Harvest '06 made a huge splash in
Christchurch, New Zealand. April 28-30, more than 21,000 New Zealanders
crowded the Westpac Center Arena to hear Christian recording artists Audio
Adrenaline, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Katinas and messages from Southern
California pastor/evangelist Greg Laurie. Over 2,000 people committed
their lives to Christ. A huge publicity effort in conjunction with 120 local
churches as well as an advance team of teens from Laurie's church called
"Students With A Testimony" (SWAT) combined to create curiosity in the
secular media and around the city. "The Harvest Team and Greg Laurie have
elevated the awareness in our city that we need the gospel of Jesus
Christ. They have come as servants and have demonstrated that there is
hope for
our city. We've never seen anything like this," said David MacGregor, senior
pastor, Vineyard Fellowship in Christchurch. (ASSIST News Service)
MINISTRY AND BUSINESS TEAM UP IN ARGENTINA
Operation Mobilization and the Volkswagen Car Company have teamed up in
Argentina to provide support and education for young people. Operation
Mobilization is buying a building while Volkswagen will purchase computers
and furniture for a learning center in a poor neighborhood in Cordoba.
Initially, the center will teach ten kids English, mathematics and basic
computer skills. However, they also hope to share their faith in Jesus
Christ. (Mission Network News)
SALVATION ARMY UNVEILS LONG-TERM KATRINA RECOVERY PLAN
Maj. Dalton Cunningham Commander of the Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi
division of the Salvation Army outlined the details of their long-term
recovery plan for those impacted by Hurricane Katrina last week. The plan,
held in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, Project Teamwork and
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, will use the remainder of donated funds
totaling
$362 million for such things as reconstruction, housing development,
volunteer programs and job readiness training. The Salvation Army's first
stage of recovery has gone toward direct financial assistance to
survivors, meals, cleaning and personal hygiene supplies, equipment and
lodging for
survivors and Salvation Army personnel. In the ongoing response to
hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Salvation Army has served more than 5.6
million hot meals and assisted nearly 1 million people in 30 states
through April 2006. The denomination continues to accept donations for
hurricane
victims even as it prepares for potential new storms this year.
(Evangelical
News)
Web: http://www.hcjb.org
http://www.beyondthecall.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Editor's Note. Feel free to forward this to any interested friends. Our
lists are distributed for information purposes and to encourage prayer.
HCJB World Radio does not necessarily endorse or support the activities
on which it reports.
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Faithfully,
Gene Poole
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
=============
Remove your hat to e-mail me.
.
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| User: "Gene Poole" |
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| Title: Brian McLaren on The Da Vinci Code |
10 May 2006 06:41:14 PM |
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In articleBrian McLaren on The Da Vinci Code
An interview by Lisa Ann Cockrel
With The Da Vinci Code poised to go from bestseller list to the big screen
on May 19, pastor and writer (and Sojourners board member) Brian McLaren
talks about why he thinks there's truth in the controversial book's
fiction.
What do you think the popularity of The Da Vinci Code reveals about pop
culture attitudes toward Christianity and the church?
Brian McLaren: I think a lot of people have read the book, not just as a
popular page-turner but also as an experience in shared frustration with
status-quo, male-dominated, power-oriented, cover-up-prone organized
Christian religion. We need to ask ourselves why the vision of Jesus
hinted at in Dan Brown's book is more interesting, attractive, and
intriguing to these people than the standard vision of Jesus they hear
about in church. Why would so many people be disappointed to find that
Brown's version of Jesus has been largely discredited as fanciful and
inaccurate, leaving only the church's conventional version? Is it possible
that, even though Brown's fictional version misleads in many ways, it at
least serves to open up the possibility that the church's conventional
version of Jesus may not do him justice?
So you think The Da Vinci Code taps into dissatisfaction with Jesus as we
know him?
McLaren: For all the flaws of Brown's book, I think what he's doing is
suggesting that the dominant religious institutions have created their own
caricature of Jesus. And I think people have a sense that that's true.
It's my honest feeling that anyone trying to share their faith in America
today has to realize that the Religious Right has polluted the air. The
name "Jesus" and the word "Christianity" are associated with something
judgmental, hostile, hypocritical, angry, negative, defensive,
anti-homosexual, etc. Many of our churches, even though they feel they
represent the truth, actually are upholding something that's distorted and
false.
I also think that the whole issue of male domination is huge and that
Brown's suggestion that the real Jesus was not as misogynist or anti-woman
as the Christian religion often has been is very attractive. Brown's book
is about exposing hypocrisy and cover-up in organized religion, and it is
exposing organized religion's grasping for power. Again, there's something
in that that people resonate with in the age of pedophilia scandals,
televangelists, and religious political alliances. As a follower of Jesus
I resonate with their concerns as well.
Do you think the book contains any significantly detrimental distortions
of the Christian faith?
McLaren: The book is fiction and it's filled with a lot of fiction about a
lot of things that a lot of people have already debunked. But frankly, I
don't think it has more harmful ideas in it than the Left Behind novels.
And in a certain way, what the Left Behind novels do, the way they twist
scripture toward a certain theological and political end, I think Brown is
twisting scripture, just to other political ends. But at the end of the
day, the difference is I don't think Brown really cares that much about
theology. He just wanted to write a page-turner and he was very successful
at that.
Many Christians are also reading this book and it's rocking their
preconceived notions - or lack of preconceived notions - about Christ's
life and the early years of the church. So many people don't know how we
got the canon, for example. Should this book be a clarion call to the
church to say, "Hey, we need to have a body of believers who are much more
literate in church history." Is that something the church needs to be
thinking about more strategically?
McLaren: Yes! You're exactly right. One of the problems is that the
average Christian in the average church who listens to the average
Christian broadcasting has such an oversimplified understanding of both
the Bible and of church history - it would be deeply disturbing for them
to really learn about church history. I think the disturbing would do them
good. But a lot of times education is disturbing for people. And so if The
Da Vinci Code causes people to ask questions and Christians have to dig
deeper, that's a great thing, a great opportunity for growth. And it does
show a weakness in the church giving either no understanding of church
history or a very stilted, one-sided, sugarcoated version.
On the other hand, it's important for me to say I don't think anyone can
learn good church history from Brown. There's been a lot of debunking of
what he calls facts. But again, the guy's writing fiction so nobody should
be surprised about that. The sad thing is there's an awful lot of us who
claim to be telling objective truth and we actually have our own
propaganda and our own versions of history as well.
Let me mention one other thing about Brown's book that I think is
appealing to people. The church goes through a pendulum swing at times
from overemphasizing the deity of Christ to overemphasizing the humanity
of Christ. So a book like Brown's that overemphasizes the humanity of
Christ can be a mirror to us saying that we might be underemphasizing the
humanity of Christ.
In light of The Da Vinci Code movie that is soon to be released, how do
you hope churches will engage this story?
I would like to see churches teach their people how to have intelligent
dialogue that doesn't degenerate into argument. We have to teach people
that the Holy Spirit works in the middle of conversation. We see it time
and time again - Jesus enters into dialogue with people; Paul and Peter
and the apostles enter into dialogue with people. We tend to think that
the Holy Spirit can only work in the middle of a monologue where we are
doing the speaking.
So if our churches can encourage people to, if you see someone reading the
book or you know someone who's gone to the movie, say, "What do you think
about Jesus and what do you think about this or that," and to ask
questions instead of getting into arguments, that would be wonderful. The
more we can keep conversations open and going the more chances we give the
Holy Spirit to work. But too often people want to get into an argument
right away. And, you know, Jesus has handled 2,000 years of questions,
skepticism, and attacks, and he's gonna come through just fine. So we
don't have to be worried.
Ultimately, The Da Vinci Code is telling us important things about the
image of Jesus that is being portrayed by the dominant Christian voices.
[Readers] don't find that satisfactory, genuine, or authentic, so they're
looking for something that seems more real and authentic.
Lisa Ann Cockrel is associate editor at Today's Christian Woman.
<His_Child2005yourhat-0805062009330001@h-69-3-100-204.chcgilgm.dynamic.covad.net>,
His_Child2005yourhat@hotmail.com.au (Gene Poole) wrote:
Pray for the World: 9 May 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
MISSIONARIES TURN TO RADIO FOR OUTREACH IN MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIAN ANIMISTS ATTACK PRIESTS, DESTROY CHURCHES
HARVEST '06 PACKS ARENA IN NEW ZEALAND
MINISTRY AND BUSINESS TEAM UP IN ARGENTINA
SALVATION ARMY UNVEILS LONG-TERM KATRINA RECOVERY PLAN
Today's Top Stories:
MISSIONARIES TURN TO RADIO FOR OUTREACH IN MOZAMBIQUE
Missionaries Paul and Karen Zimmerman with Africa Inland Mission are
preparing to launch a new endeavor to spread the Gospel in Northern
Mozambique. After five years of difficult attempts to plant churches and
do more traditional discipleship and evangelistic outreach, the Zimmerman's
and Africa Inland Mission have partnered with HCJB World Radio to plant a
radio station targeting this unreached group. Zimmerman notes, "If you
decide to
pick up some literature that's Christian, or you're found reading a
segment of the Bible or going to our outreaches, you're ridiculed. So, if
you just
have a radio, you can pick up the station and listen to it privately, or
while you're walking on the beach, or while you're fishing and nobody
knows about it." For more information about the project, visit
http://www.aim-us.org. (Mission Network News)
NIGERIAN ANIMISTS ATTACK PRIESTS, DESTROY CHURCHES
Around Easter, traditional animists attacked churches in Ode-Aye town,
Nigeria, beating two Anglican priests into comas and destroying church
property worth an estimated 6 million naira (US$48,831). The Rev. Joshua
Ogunele, an Anglican bishop, reported that followers of native religions
attacked the St. Christopher Anglican Church along with other nearby
churches. The church's priests, the Rev. Chris Adetula and the Rev.
Oladejo Luji, nearly lost their lives, he said. During their annual Okute
festival, adherents of the native religion had imposed a 21-day ban on
Christian
worship, especially use of drums. Rev. Ogunele said Christians in the
community see the ban on worship in churches during the festival as an as
an infringement on their religious rights. "The attacks on churches in
Ode-Aye during the Okute festival have been an annual occurrence since 1983."
(Compass Direct)
HARVEST '06 PACKS ARENA IN NEW ZEALAND
A three-night evangelistic event called Harvest '06 made a huge splash in
Christchurch, New Zealand. April 28-30, more than 21,000 New Zealanders
crowded the Westpac Center Arena to hear Christian recording artists Audio
Adrenaline, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Katinas and messages from Southern
California pastor/evangelist Greg Laurie. Over 2,000 people committed
their lives to Christ. A huge publicity effort in conjunction with 120 local
churches as well as an advance team of teens from Laurie's church called
"Students With A Testimony" (SWAT) combined to create curiosity in the
secular media and around the city. "The Harvest Team and Greg Laurie have
elevated the awareness in our city that we need the gospel of Jesus
Christ. They have come as servants and have demonstrated that there is
hope for
our city. We've never seen anything like this," said David MacGregor, senior
pastor, Vineyard Fellowship in Christchurch. (ASSIST News Service)
MINISTRY AND BUSINESS TEAM UP IN ARGENTINA
Operation Mobilization and the Volkswagen Car Company have teamed up in
Argentina to provide support and education for young people. Operation
Mobilization is buying a building while Volkswagen will purchase computers
and furniture for a learning center in a poor neighborhood in Cordoba.
Initially, the center will teach ten kids English, mathematics and basic
computer skills. However, they also hope to share their faith in Jesus
Christ. (Mission Network News)
SALVATION ARMY UNVEILS LONG-TERM KATRINA RECOVERY PLAN
Maj. Dalton Cunningham Commander of the Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi
division of the Salvation Army outlined the details of their long-term
recovery plan for those impacted by Hurricane Katrina last week. The plan,
held in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, Project Teamwork and
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, will use the remainder of donated funds
totaling
$362 million for such things as reconstruction, housing development,
volunteer programs and job readiness training. The Salvation Army's first
stage of recovery has gone toward direct financial assistance to
survivors, meals, cleaning and personal hygiene supplies, equipment and
lodging for
survivors and Salvation Army personnel. In the ongoing response to
hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Salvation Army has served more than 5.6
million hot meals and assisted nearly 1 million people in 30 states
through April 2006. The denomination continues to accept donations for
hurricane
victims even as it prepares for potential new storms this year.
(Evangelical
News)
Web: http://www.hcjb.org
http://www.beyondthecall.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Editor's Note. Feel free to forward this to any interested friends. Our
lists are distributed for information purposes and to encourage prayer.
HCJB World Radio does not necessarily endorse or support the activities
on which it reports.
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Faithfully,
Gene Poole
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
=============
Remove your hat to e-mail me.
--
Faithfully,
Gene Poole
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
=============
Remove your hat to e-mail me.
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| User: "Gene Poole" |
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| Title: Re: Pray for the World: 10 May 2006 |
10 May 2006 06:31:54 AM |
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Pray for the World: 10 May 2006 Update from HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
ISRAEL TO RECEIVE CHRISTIAN TV STATION
ANTI-RUSSIAN COMMENTS TRICKLE DOWN TO MINISTRY
'LAB IN A SUITCASE' AIDS MEDICAL MISSIONS, HELPS CURTAIL BIRD FLU
CHRISTIAN SOCIAL WORKER IN INDIA ACCUSED OF 'CONVERTING CHILDREN'
TRINIDAD MISSIONARY COUPLE AVERT DEATH AFTER BEING SHOT BY THIEVES
Today's Top Stories:
ISRAEL TO RECEIVE CHRISTIAN TV STATION
Daystar Television Network announced a new contract allowing them to
become the first TV channel to broadcast 100 percent Christian programming
into every home in Israel. Daystar, which owns and operates 50 US
television stations, is excited about the opportunity. President Marcus D.
Lamb commented on the pioneering project saying, "Up until now, it has
either been illegal, impossible, or impractical. The message of the Gospel
will now be going into every home in Israel 24 hours per day, seven days
per week. This is a moment in time that we will always remember." The
contract came after a year of negotiations and a six-month trial period
featuring popular shows "Celebration" and "The Joni Show." Daystar's
global purpose is to reach as many people with the good news of the Gospel
through an extensive blend of interdenominational and multi-cultural
programming. (ASSIST New Service)
ANTI-RUSSIAN COMMENTS TRICKLE DOWN TO MINISTRY
Comments by US Vice President ***** Cheney claiming Russia uses energy
resources to intimidate or blackmail neighboring countries are causing
trouble for ministries in Russia. The comments angered high level
officials and the average Russian on the street. The Vice President of
Russian Ministries, Sergey Rakhuba, reports ministry difficulties result
because Christian ministry is equated with Western influence and money.
Rakhuba also notes that media restrictions and "the brain washing
campaign" are causing citizens to react harshly because they don't know
what's going on. A recent
law restricting foreign non-governmental organizations also contributes
to ministry woes. Despite this Rakhuba reports, "If western missionaries
will be forced out of Russia, we will continue supporting Russian church
leaders, Russian evangelical church. We will continue training the next
generation to take the baton of faithfulness from the previous
generation." (Mission Network News)
'LAB IN A SUITCASE' AIDS MEDICAL MISSIONS, HELPS CURTAIL BIRD FLU
International Aid's "lab in a suitcase" is a unique tool among medical
missions, says spokesman Myles Fish. This portable, compact, inexpensive
lab kit provides 85 percent of the basic diagnostics for the most common
diseases. With the threat of avian flu in several countries, a quick
diagnosis can help curtail the spread that could lead to a pandemic virus.
"Our preference is to work through local Christian hospitals, and
Christian doctors," Fish said. He notes that their partnership furthers
the evangelistic work because the tool "enables them to have the tools
that they need to provide for the health care needs while at the same
time developing the relationship that's necessary for them to share their
faith in Christ."
(Mission Network News)
CHRISTIAN SOCIAL WORKER IN INDIA ACCUSED OF 'CONVERTING CHILDREN'
A social worker in Jabalpur, India, was recently arrested for "forcible"
conversion of children, despite questionable evidence. On Monday, May 1,
Sunil Kumar Raow, a social worker with the Child Labor Project, was
interrupted by police while teaching a class to laborer's children.
Initial searches of his class materials and personal bag failed to reveal
any illegal items. In the police station, after Hindu extremists arrived,
"evidence," including incriminating Christian materials, was discovered in
his previously searched bag. "I do not know from where those things came,"
Raow said. Further evidence of Hindu extremism also occurred this week as
a 60-year-old pastor with a heart condition was slapped repeatedly for
distributing Christian literature and a young Indian couple was beaten for
attempting a marriage that under Indian law would require the young woman
to convert from Hinduism to Christianity after marriage to her Christian
husband. (Compass Direct)
TRINIDAD MISSIONARY COUPLE AVERT DEATH AFTER BEING SHOT BY THIEVES
Youth with a Mission missionaries Kevin and Susan Prince, formerly from
Texas and Michigan, were shot by thieves in the driveway of their rented
home in central Trinidad. The couple was returning from church around 5
p.m. Sunday, April 30, when they were attacked and shot after resisting
the robbery. Their injuries are not life threatening, and the police have
launched a nationwide manhunt for the five men involved in the shooting.
At least two of the attackers are believed to be teenagers. (Mission
Network News)
Web: http://www.hcjb.org
http://www.beyondthecall.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Editor's Note. Feel free to forward this to any interested friends. Our
lists are distributed for information purposes and to encourage prayer.
HCJB World Radio does not necessarily endorse or support the activities on
which it reports.
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Faithfully,
Gene Poole
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
=============
Remove your hat to e-mail me.
.
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| User: "Gene Poole" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 11 May 2006 |
11 May 2006 08:41:13 AM |
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Pray for the World: 11 May 2006 Update from HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
IRANIAN PASTOR'S DEATH PROMPTS MUSLIM CURIOSITY
BELARUS OUTREACH CONTINUES 20 YEARS AFTER CHERNOBYL DISASTER
POLICE BREAK UP CHURCH MEETING IN TURKMENISTAN
ISRAEL CHURCH WINS BATTLE TO BUILD
Today's Top Stories:
IRANIAN PASTOR'S DEATH PROMPTS MUSLIM CURIOSITY
Islamic Extremists recently stabbed to death the pastor of a Christian
house church in Iran. Pastor Ghorban Tourani died after being invited to
attend a meeting of Turkmen religious leaders. He accepted in hopes of
sharing Christ with them, but was instead pressured to convert back to
Islam. A participant in the meeting later contacted him claiming a desire
to learn how to become a Christian and setting up a private meeting. The
man failed to show and the pastor was attacked on his way home. Voice of
the Martyr's Todd Nettleton reports many hard-line Muslims in the area
are now curious about Christianity as a result of the leader's death.
"We've been told that his story has now spread throughout the ethnic
Turkmen community in Northern Iran," Nettleton notes, "and many Turkmen
people are asking questions about Christianity. They are asking about
Pastor Ghorban and why a man would be willing to die for his faith in
Jesus Christ."
(Agape Press)
BELARUS OUTREACH CONTINUES 20 YEARS AFTER CHERNOBYL DISASTER
Twenty years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine, the
country of Belarus continues to suffer. Global Aid Network Chief
Executive Officer Duane Zook says "60 percent of the nuclear fallout fell
on Belarus. As a result, 21 percent of the population was affected, and
23 percent of the land was contaminated." For the last 12 years the
ministry has sent thousands of volunteers and millions of dollars worth
of humanitarian aid to orphanages and hospitals in Belarus. "What we've
been doing is working real closely with the churches there to help them
open up doors and communities to extend the love of God in both word and
deed," he says. As GaiN continues its outreach ministries, Zook says
funding is an ongoing need along with medical specialists in cardiology
and cancer to work with Belarusian doctors. (Mission Network News)
POLICE BREAK UP CHURCH MEETING IN TURKMENISTAN
Police in Istanbul, Turkmenistan raided a Christian house church meeting
on \ Wednesday, May 3. The group's Christian materials and personal items
were confiscated and the 13 members were detained for two-and-a- half
hours while being forced to reenact their meeting on video. The raid
occurred just hours after U.S. officials recommended that Turkmenistan be
labeled one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom. The
house church's unregistered status is technically breaking the law, but
registration is extremely difficult and restricted to congregations of
over 500 members, by default eliminating most new Christian groups. While
being detained, house church members boldly requested the official's help
in registering their church group. (Compass Direct)
* HCJB World Radio works in partnership with Back to the Bible to air
Christian programs in the Turkmen language. Broadcasts began in 2001 and
have been aired daily since 2003.
ISRAEL CHURCH WINS BATTLE TO BUILD
The Grace and Truth Christian Congregation, a Reformed and Baptist
church in Israel, is moving forward with construction of their own
church building. This is believed to be the first Israeli Christian
congregation to build its own church facility. The approval for the
building plan was strongly contested by Orthodox Jews, going all the way
to the Supreme Court for final okay. Grace and Truth Elder David Zadok
recently returned
from a trip to New Zealand and Australia where he visited reformed
churches to raise awareness for Israel and seek funds to complete the
building project. To protect the property against vandalism by Orthodox
Jews, it is guarded 24 hours a day. The cost of legal fees, security,
insurance, rising prices, changing demands by the authorities and related
expenses has made it impossible to afford the completion of the worship
center. (ASSIST News Service)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Faithfully,
Gene Poole
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
=============
Remove your hat to e-mail me.
.
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| User: "Gene Poole" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 13 May 2006 |
13 May 2006 07:51:43 AM |
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Pray for the World: 13 May 2006 Update from HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
UK RADIO STATION LAUNCHES INTERNET TV CHANNEL
NEPALESE CHRISTIANS RECEIVE A HELPING HAND
U.S. COMMISSION NAMES RELIGIOUS PERSECUTORS
POLICE IN UZBEKISTAN STEP UP PRESSURE ON PROTESTANT CHRISTIANS
BIBLES UNBOUND PROGRAM GETS GOSPEL TO RESTRICTED COUNTRIES
Today's Top Stories:
UK RADIO STATION LAUNCHES INTERNET TV CHANNEL
Premier Christian Radio in London launched an internet television channel
called Premier.tv at the annual Christian Resources Exhibition in the United
Kingdom. Author and speaker Jeff Lucas commented, "So often Christians tend
to lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to innovation,
particularly technology. Here we are for once on the cutting edge with
Premier's broadband on demand television channel." Unlike conventional
television, internet TV channels allow the viewer to select and watch
programs at any time. The May launch arrives just before the BBC, ITV, Sky
and BT bring out their own internet channels. Premier Chairman David Heron
says, "Christians and seekers across the world can reach Premier.tv through
their computers and access hours of the finest teachings and ministry from
Christian leaders across the world." To access the channel type
www.premier.tv into your web browser. (ASSIST News Service)
NEPALESE CHRISTIANS RECEIVE "HELPING HAND"
Christian Freedom International (CFI) is launching new operations targeted
at helping Nepal's persecuted Christians. In the midst of hardships and
persecution stemming from civil and religious unrest, "Nepalese Christians
need a helping hand, especially now." Says CFI President Jim Jacobson. CFI's
various programs include distribution of food, medicine and Bibles as well
as micro-enterprise initiatives and legal assistance. The pastor of an
unregistered Katmandu house church known only as D.K. for his safety stated,
"People who convert to Christianity face persecution from local leaders and
sometimes the government. There are pastors in custody right now because
they tell others about Jesus. The persecution is getting worse. Many Hindu
leaders don't want Christianity to spread, but it is spreading fast."
Proselytizing is a crime in Nepal and only 0.45% of the predominantly Hindu
population is Christian. (Christian Newswire)
U.S. COMMISSION NAMES RELIGIOUS PERSECUTORS
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released
its 2006 report recommending the world's most severe persecutors of
religious followers. The U.S. State Department uses the panel's
recommendations to establish "counties of particular concern" (CPCs) in the
area of religious freedom. Retained from last year's list of CPCs are Burma,
China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Vietnam.
Additionally, the panel repeated recommendation that Pakistan, Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan be designated CPCs, despite Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice's refusal to include those countries in a State Department report in
November. A "watch list" of additional religious persecutors included
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia and Nigeria. The
panel continues to analyze reports from India, Russia and Sri Lanka as well.
The USCIRF's 2006 report may be obtained online at www.uscirf.gov. (Baptist
Press)
POLICE IN UZBEKISTAN STEP UP PRESSURE ON PROTESTANT CHRISTIANS
Authorities in Uzbekistan have stepped up pressure on Protestants in the
Central Asian country in recent months. On Monday, April 24, police officers
from Uzbekistan's criminal investigation department burst into the home of a
Protestant pastor in northwestern Uzbekistan, disrupting the 12 people as
they were having lunch together. The pastor and another believer were
charged with "breaking the laws on teaching religion." The raid in Urgench,
a city in the Khorezm region near the Turkmenistan border, targeted the
house of Pastor Lunkin Sergey of the Union of Independent Churches. In a
separate incident Friday, April 21, three Christians in Tashkent were
arrested on while visiting and helping feed patients at a tuberculosis
hospital for children. One of them was charged with violating administrative
laws against teaching religion. During the past year Uzbekistan's police and
judicial authorities have stepped up pressure on Protestant Christians, and
even government-registered churches are under heightened scrutiny. (Compass
Direct)
BIBLES UNBOUND PROGRAM GETS GOSPEL TO RESTRICTED COUNTRIES
Only three months into the Voice of the Martyrs' (VOM) program called
"Bibles Unbound," more than 8000 New Testaments per month are being sent to
nations that restrict Christian outreach. Christians operating within
nations where the program is active collect non-Christian names and
addresses from their local communities, businesses, factories, universities
and even government offices and submit them to VOM. Each month members of
the Bibles Unbound program receive these addresses along with a New
Testament in the appropriate language and send the package directly to the
restricted country. VOM's website states "This unique program gives you the
ability to stand alongside our persecuted brothers and sisters and help
create a witness for Jesus Christ in hostile lands right from your own
home." The Bibles Unbound website also allows members to track where they
have sent bibles along with maps and testimonies resulting from the
mailings. For more information visit www.biblesunbound.com. (VOM News)
=================
The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Faithfully,
Gene Poole
http://grace.break.at
God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com
=============
Remove your hat to e-mail me.
.
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| User: "Gene Poole" |
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| Title: Pray for the World: 16 May 2006 |
16 May 2006 07:36:21 AM |
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Pray for the World: 16 May 2006 Update from HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:
MUSLIM EXTREMISTS MURDER 4 BIBLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN INDONESIA
GUNMEN KILL STAFF MEMBER AT CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION IN KENYA
WOMAN IN INDIA ACCUSES CHRISTIANS OF ATTEMPTED 'FORCED CONVERSION'
MOODY BROADCASTING'S NEW VP PROMOTES CONTENT-BASED PROGRAMMING
U.S. SEMINARY ENROLLMENT UP, BUT FEWER GRADUATES BECOME PASTORS
Today's Top Stories:
MUSLIM EXTREMISTS MURDER 4 BIBLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN INDONESIA
A team of students from a Bible school operated by Teen Missions
International (TMI) in Indonesia recently paid the ultimate price for
their Christian faith. "[The students] were traveling to another place to
share the gospel, and on the way there they passed by a village that was
militant Muslims," said TMI's Bob Bland. "They took off after them with a
speedboat and chased them and then opened up with automatic weapons." The
attackers shot five students, killing four of them. Bland asks for prayer
for TMI's Bible school students. "They can go from country to country with
just a passport," he said. "They don't even need a visa. These people can
go into [Myanmar], they can go to Laos and Vietnam, and that's just a
terrific opportunity to spread the gospel." The attack came despite recent
comments by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that Muslim
nations should oppose terrorism. (Mission Network News/Teen Missions
International)
GUNMEN KILL STAFF MEMBER AT CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION IN KENYA
Gunmen attacked Pentecostal radio station Hope FM in Nairobi, Kenya, late
Friday, May 12, killing one, injuring three, and setting the building on
fire. Interrupting a program comparing teachings of the Bible and the
Koran, the eight masked attackers are suspected of calling the radio
program before the attack. Authorities are attempting to identify the men
from phone records along with DNA and fingerprints left on the scene. The
attack has been widely denounced by both Christian and Muslim leaders and
Kenyan officials. Hope FM was able to resume broadcasting early Saturday
morning. (Assist News Service/African News Dimension)
WOMAN IN INDIA ACCUSES CHRISTIANS OF ATTEMPTED 'FORCED CONVERSION'
Sarom Maurya of India has accused her six uncles and their Assemblies of
God pastor of trying to forcefully convert her to Christianity. The men
claim her accusations | | | | | | | | | | | | |
