IRAN Iranian House Churches Request Prayer - VOM sources Iranian house-church contacts have asked for prayer for the following: A satellite radio program is directed toward reaching those under 30, pray for fruit. Growing underground churches; ninety-five percent of the members are under age 30. Safety and support for pastors Underground churches strengthened in God's Word and safe places to meet Seminars and training for house-church leaders and servants An Iranian family currently facing persecution Pray God will be glorified in every person and situation. Psalm 47:8
EGYPT Christian Girl Kidnapped by Muslims Escapes - Compass Direct An Egyptian Christian teenager escaped her Muslim kidnappers last week hours after they had drugged her on a public bus. They threatened to rape her and convert her to Islam if her family did not leave their Nile Delta city of El-Mahala el-Kobra. Laurence Wagih Emil, 15, escaped the ground-floor room where she was being held in Cairo's southern Helwan suburb at 10 p.m. last Tuesday (October 3) while her captors were away breaking their Ramadan fast. Her father, Wagih Emil, had received several threatening text messages from his daughter's mobile phone. "Take the rest of your daughters and leave the city, or you will lose them one by one," said one. "The girl is not accepting easily, but she will embrace Islam for sure." Before family members recovered her, State Security Investigation officials interviewing Laurence Emil told her she would never see her parents again unless she reported a false story denying the kidnapping. The kidnapping of Christian teenage girls in Muslim nations has reached into the thousands. Pray for VOM's safe houses where Christian teenage girls, who have been threatened with or have escaped from abduction, can learn job skills and receive spiritual training. Psalm 143:9
INDONESIA Christian Dragged from Bus and Stabbed - VOM sources/persecution.com Religious tension continues to escalate on the island of Sulawesi where armed Muslim militants blockaded a road in Poso on October 1st and stopped a bus. They forced five passengers from the bus and stabbed an unidentified Christian man. Police arrived before there were any further injuries. The victim was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries to his back. The same day a mob also burned a partially constructed church building on the island. It is believed these attacks may be attempts by militant Muslim factions to further stir up religious tension between the Muslim and Christian communities. Pray the Holy Spirit will strengthen Indonesian Christians to be loving witnesses as they walk humbly with their God. Micah 6:8
IRAQ Churches Attacked Following Pope's Comments - VOM sources/persecution.com On September 24th, two churches were attacked by militants. First, a bomb was detonated beneath a car belonging to the priest of the Assyrian Orthodox Church of St. Mary in Baghdad. Shortly after, another blast occurred in the vicinity, killing a church security guard and wounding several others. On the same day, about 80 gun shots struck the Chaldean Church of the Holy Spirit in Mosul and two days later the same church was bombarded by rockets. After Pope Benedict's comments about Islam, Christians have endured increased violence at the hands of Muslims. Pray God will grow His church in Iraq in spite of all opposition. Luke 1:37
INDIA Pastor Ambushed by Hindu Mob - VOM sources/persecution.com Pastor Bhadikar Barshi was on his way to conduct a regular service at his house in the Barshi area of Solapur district in Maharashtra state on July 5th, when two youths approached him. Asking him to join them in a prayer for a friend who had been suffering from a sickness over the past 15 years, the young men walked alongside the pastor for some time until a Hindu mob ambushed him. He was violently struck with wooden clubs all over his body and received a deep gash on his right eye. After hospital treatment, including stitches on his forehead, he was released and remains faithful to his ministry. Give thanks to God, asking Him to strengthen this faithful servant who is following his Master. Luke 9:23, 24
As the daily recipient of massive amounts of e-mail hoaxes and myths, I occasionally crusade against such nonsense. (And sometimes I'm even suckered by them.) When I received the Funny below, I took that as a message to step back up on the soapbox.
If you happen to be one of the 14 people in the world that doesn't receive a massive amount of Spam, you may not understand this Funny. If you don't get it, just toss it.
But before you do, lemme say that e-mail hoaxes are rampant. Get informed! Here are some great resources to point folks to when they send you the 168th copy of the missing kidneys story:
~ For info on CHAIN LETTERS, check out this great description of chain letters: http://www.cs.rutgers.edu/~watrous/chain-letters.html
~ For info on URBAN MYTHS/SCAMS, check out: Urban Legends Reference Pages: http://www.snopes.com Internet ScamBusters: http://www.scambusters.org
~ For info on VIRUS HOAXES, check out: Computer Virus Myths: http://www.vmyths.com AntiVirus Research Center: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
Although things are not perfect Because of trial or pain Continue in thanksgiving Do not begin to blame Even when the times are hard Fierce winds are bound to blow God is forever able Hold on to what you know Imagine life without His love Joy would cease to be Keep thanking Him for all the things Love imparts to thee Move out of "Camp Complaining" No weapon that is known On earth can yield the power Praise can do alone Quit looking at the future Redeem the time at hand Start every day with worship To "thank" is a command Until we see Him coming Victorious in the sky We'll run the race with gratitude Exalting God most high Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad,