VOM News and Prayer Update: September 18, 2007

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another."(Romans 12:10)

SOUTH KOREA
UPDATE: Korean Hostages Told Convert to Islam or Die – British Broadcasting Corporation
On September 12, South Korean Christian aid workers held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for six weeks, reported being beaten and ordered at gun point to convert to Islam, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). According to the BBC, the former hostages told a press conference they were made to work like slaves while in captivity. Jae Chang-hee told reporters, "We were beaten with a tree branch or kicked around. Some kidnappers threatened us with death at gunpoint to force us to follow them in chanting their Islamic prayer for conversion. I was beaten many times. They pointed a rifle and bayonet at me and tried to force me to convert." Jae Chang-hee added, "We lived like slaves. We had to level the ground for motorbikes, and get water and make a fire." BBC reported that Yu Jung-hwa said she thought she was going to die. "The most difficult moment, when I had a big fear of death, was when the Taliban shot a video. All 23 of us leaned against a wall and armed Taliban aimed their guns at us, and a pit was before me. They said they will save us if we believe in Islam. I almost fainted at the time and I still cannot look at cameras." Recalling how Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu was led away to his death, the BBC said Han Ji-young, in tears, added, "Bae didn't even look at us when he was leaving the room. He only said, 'Overcome with faith.'" Continue praying for God to touch the lives of these believers as they deal with their experience in Afghanistan. Pray God comforts the families of the two that were killed. Pray the testimony of these Christians will draw non-believers into fellowship with Him. Deuteronomy 28, Psalm 91

INDIA
Christians Beaten by Militants in India – VOM Sources

* BANGALORE: On September 8, Pastor Angam Haokip was attacked by more than 30 men in the village of Geddalahalli, Bangalore. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts in India, the men forced Pastor Haokip to stop his vehicle. VOM contacts reported, "They asked him if he was a pastor and when he said 'yes,' they pulled him out of his car. The men accused him of 'ruining' the nation and beat him in front of several witnesses. They tried to crush his legs with boulders and also kicked him in the neck." The pastor sustained severe injuries to his back and chest and his car was destroyed. When he tried to file a complaint with local police, it was rejected because the police said a complaint had been registered against him for negligent driving.
* HYDERABAD: On September 9, Pastor Sudhakar and four Christians visiting from Singapore were attacked by members of Hindu militant groups while leading a worship service at Bethel Gospel Church in Amberpet, Hyderabad. According to, a report from the All India Christian Council, approximately 300 believers were gathered when the militants forcibly entered the church building and began to shout obscenities against Christianity. The intruders assaulted Pastor Sudhakar with a rod. Prior to the attack, the militants had filed a complaint with local police alleging the pastor and the Singapore team were involved in forcible conversion.

Pray for healing for those injured in the attacks. Ask God to bless the ministry of these pastors and other Christians who are spreading the gospel in India. Pray God touches the lives of the persecutors and leads them to faith in Christ. Romans 8:11, Isaiah 40:31



CHINA
UPDATE: House Church Leader Released from Prison – China Aid Association
On September 10, prominent Beijing house church leader, Pastor Cai Zhuohua, was released after three years in prison. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts, "Cai was in good spirits when he was released. Cai was not allowed to read or have a Bible for the past three years. Since his release, he has been picked by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and taken to their office. He has to report to the PSB office once a month and has been warned not to speak out or attend church services." Praise God that Pastor Cai has been reunited with his family. Pray God gives him and other believers in China courage to continually live for Christ, despite the immense challenges they face. Pray their testimonies will draw non-believers, even PSB officers, into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 1:7, Psalm 27:1

Newsweek Revelations

I was in the doctor's waiting room the other day and picked up an issue of Newsweek.
I started read stories of Hillary and other politicians and came to the stark revelation.
The liberal media does not care who they write negative about. If someone looks bad, they're the target.
They take great pride in bringing up past failures. The article could be going good then all of a sudden they throw in a past failure that has noting at all to do with what is going on now. I can see why Dan Q. did not ever get back into the ring. Who wants to have their accomplishments written about and also have a spelling mistake repeated over and over. Like that would make him a bad president.

I am a Bush supporter because he is believable. He does not hid behind fancy speech writers that know how to say everything just right.
He says what's on his mind and allot of times it gets him in hot water. Beware of candidates that always say the right things at the right time. There is something non-human about them.

Also in this issue (Sept. 17, 2007) I was surprised to see an article (Prayer in Pyongyang by Christian Caryl and B.J. Lee) on Christian persecution in North Korea. The story speaks of Son Jong Nam, son of a high ranking officer in the military, who converted to Christianity and returned to NK to share his faith. He is now in prison on death row. I have heard read many blogs on war being not Christian. But if we don't help the oppressed in other countries, who will? England? No way! France? To busy becoming Muslim. Yes the Bible speaks of not kill our enemies, but that speaks of revenge. Would the Lord want us to stand by while others suffer. The Bible speaks of "religion" that is undefiled is to protect the widows and fatherless. How far does this go? And who decides that we wait until the persecutioners come to our doors. Do we let them extremist go on until we have to make the discussion, convert or be beheaded by a Arabian sword.

Yes, a real revelation from Newsweek.

For more info on the suffering Church, goto:
persecution.org
voiceofthesufferingchurch.org
vom.org

9/11 Today

Today we want to remember those who had their lives took away in the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York. They did not give their lives. They did not die by accident. Their lives were stolen. By those who see it as their religious duty to take what is not their's to take. While multitudes run their mouths about how we need to get out of feign wars, need to remember that war was declared on us. And do not think it wasn't those who we are currently involved with.
It is a war between belief systems. They think our nation is of Satan because of the evil we allow to happen in public view........ Well let me not preach.

Where were you on that day. I was working for a sign company in Dothan Al. I was headed for a meeting when my boss came in and told us what was on TV and that the meeting was canceled. We went up to the room were someone had set up a TV and watched in shock.
The rumble of the buildings rocked even our world. Later as the nation sank into financial limbo, our company when bankrupt and sold out. The economics of our business had changed. People did not need signs like they thought they did. Some businesses went under, leaving us with a yard full of unpaid signage that we could not sell. I was laid of soon after.

I can not compare this to those who lost there lives that day or those who lost love ones. But by the Grace of God our Lord Jesus. Today is brighter than that day. When people can sit and complain about there government and not be arrested, that's a brighter day. It's to bad that we as a people don't want others to have that same freedom. Talk all you want about the war and our government, but remember 9/11.

(Originally posted on 9/11/7)

Gordon Lindsay Quote

My Pastor shared this quote in Church last Sunday. It is great and explains a lot.

"If God has called you to be really like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility.
He will demand such obedience of you, that He will not allow you to follow other Christians, and in many ways, He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.
Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it; and if you attempt it, you will meet such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others can brag on themselves, on their work, on their success, on their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you should begin boasting, He will lead you into some deep mortification which will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
The success of others will be obvious in the great sums of money they make, the legacies they leave, or the luxuries they have; but God may supply you daily, because He wants you to have something far better than gold. This is a helpless dependence on Him - that He may have the privilege of providing your needs day by day out of the unseen treasury.
Others may be honored and put forward, but the Lord will keep you hidden away in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory ­fruit which can only be produced in the shade.
God will let others be great, But keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him, and get the credit for it, but He will make you labor and toil on without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will allow others to get the credit for the work which you have done - making your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes. With a jealous love, the Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and will rebuke you for idle words and feelings or for wasting your time - which other Christians never seem distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He will not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you. God will take you at your word; and if you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in this jealous love, and permit other people to say and do many things that you cannot say or do. Settle it forever - you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit. and He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue. or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes - disciplining you in ways He does not seem to use on others. When you become so possessed with the living God that, in the secret place of your heart, you are pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, protective guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life. you will have found the
vestibule of heaven."

Christ For The Nations Magazine Aug 2007
by Gordan Lindsay published In Christ For The Nations Magazine September. 1970

29 Years Ago, Today, I Received Jesus as Lord

I grew up in Church. Influenced to go up to the front and say the prayer at a real young age. After finding church dull I got into drugs and such.
Aug 28, 1978 I had a bad trip which landed me in the local ER.
There I asked for a preacher to come and when my mother found one (my current pastor at that time was in the process of being voted out because of his extra church activities) he read me John 3:16 and asked me to say a prayer. I had done this twice before without any difference in my life, but I went along with it.

Then he asked me a question, "Was I doing drugs?". I had never been asked that before so I said yes. He then told me I needed to ask my parents to forgive me. To make a long story short I went home and asked myself,"If I need to ask my parents to forgive me, then I also need to ask God." And in that instance I "repented" to Christ and received Him in my life. I fold later that I was never born again and if I had died in that state I would be lost to Hell. No mater how much I went to church. It was nothing I did , but Christ. I could not even have come to Christ unless He called me first. And when He calls, that's the time to receive. Not when the preacher calls, but Christ.

A Quest For Answsers: The DaVinci Code

I found a copy of the book "The DaVinci Code: A Quest For Answers" by Josh McDowell at a local thrift store the other day. When I started to read it I could not ;put it down.
Now when the movie came out I did not bother to see it or read the book. I had heard enough on Christian TV to know what it was about and the false statements it contained.
So I did not give it any thought. Also the group that I'm around the most, factory workers, could not care less about it. There was NO talk during break time about the movie much less the book.
But when I read the book I saw that I needed to know more about my faith and how to share it. After seeing the movie on the cable TV guide I decided that I needed to see the movie. I did and I saw what I expected.
But back to the book. Josh has it formated like three college students coming out of the movie with questions and decide to read the book and discuss it. The book is basicly the dialogue that goes on about the claims that the charactors in the book/movie talk about.
I it is real easy to read. I read it in one afternoon. And it is not loaded with boring facts but tie the personalities of the students into the data.
The facts in this book are backed up with source references by Josh.

It is a very good read for those questioning Christ's claims of being God and His resurrection.

For those who do not know Dr. McDowell, he is the author of the book "Evidence That Demands a Verdict", now updated. He was a confirmed atheist in college and on writting his thesis on Jesus never existed, cvame to know Him throught his research.

Book Review: The Wounded Spirit by Frank Peretti

Book Review: The Wounded Spirit by Frank Peretti
Off The back Dust-covert: " If you've ever been there. You've never forgotten. The feeling is as haunting and familiar as the smell of a junior high-school locker room.
It's the feeling of being undersized ....or klutzy or less than beautiful. Of being a nerd... or a geek ... or just, somehow, different. It's knowing you are vulnerable - and someone is ready and willing to take full advantage of your weakness by making your life miserable.
It's the fraternity you never wanted to join - the fellowship of the wounded spirit."

This is one book that I almost could not finish reading. Not because it was boring or full of untruths. It was because it hit to close to home. My home.
Just as the author Frank Peretti shared how he was bullied and mistreated as a kid. I to was picked on by those bigger and stronger. It brought back many memories I had tried hard to forget and succeeded. Until now.
Mr. Peretti shares some very good advice on how students, parents and school officials can deal with this problem in a positive way.
This book came to late for the students of Columbine. But it's time has come. I believe that if Christ had not saved me and I to was indoctrinated by the belief of "natural selection", Cottonwood High would have made it to the news first instead of Columbine.

This book is a must for teachers, principals and coaches. Not to mention bullies themselves would benefit greatly.

Out of Print Book: God and the Day's Work

I've found this book at a thrift store and I am trying to find out if I can copy it to the internet.

The book is: God and the Day's Work by Robert L. Calhoun

The back cover reads:
"Robert Calhoun, Yale University Divinity School, revises his God and the Day's Work to make a Reflection Book that speaks honestly, directly, and realistically to the problem and the necessity of Christian vocation in an unchristian world - that God's requirements of faith and willing obedience may be fulfilled in whatever place a person may have been "called". Beginning with God - living mind at work, Dr. Calhoun portrays the distinctive status of man, the worker, in God's plans; defines daily work as a divine calling to have a part in God's perpetual task of making and remaking His world; suggests the deep level of religious living that flows from the socially responsible rhythm of worship and work.God and the Day's Work is not a call to specific Christian vocations; it's a call to transform all work and vocations into Christian vocation."

What a concept and get this. The book was copyrighted in 1957 by the National Board of the YMCA
LCCCN:57-11605

As stated I would like to upload this book to the internet. I've tried to research it but am getting nowhere. Any help would be welcomed.

The Fourth Frontier

From the flyleaf: "The typical American spends 80,000 to 100,000 of his or her
best hours at work. For many, those hours are spent without a sense of purpose,
meaning or passion. But it doesn't have to be that way."

A book from the people at Life@Work Co., does a good job showing us that our
job is a calling and how we can fulfill this calling. A lot pg good advice on family,
finance and other parts of life that co-exist with our jobs. And how to fulfill
God's will in our daily lives through our work.

Also how the workplace is a mission field for us to serve. As stated in this quote:
"It is the marketplace that carries the traffic of a lost work."

A good book and a standard for those who are taking up the call to the Fourth Frontier.

The Fourth Frontier
Exploring The New World Of Work
by Stephen R. Graves and Thomas G. Addington
C.2000 Graves and Addington
ISBN: 0-8499-1668-2