Happy Friday

Don't empty God of His weight and His glory.

Fill it up rather than emptying it.

Good Morning...
Have A Blessed Day...

How do you define the sin of taking the Lord's name in vain?

"Don't take the name of the Lord your God in vain." "don't empty the name." It doesn't just refer to a certain tone of voice or a certain use of the word. It's dealing with God and speaking of God in a way that empties Him of His significance.

This includes both throw-away words—like "God!" or "Jesus!"—as well as speaking about Him in trifling and flippant ways. Not just swear ways but cheap ways, low and insignificant ways that just treat Him like a commodity. And when you hear them you sense that there is no weight to that sentence, no corresponding emotion to that statement. It seems to have just been gutted.

God, Christ, the cross, the things He is and the things He did are great, and they're weighty. And there's a certain corresponding demeanor of worship that should be there. I think taking the Lord's name in vain is more than "O my God!" or "Jesus Christ!" It is that plus more. The positive way to look at it is to revere God, love God, delight in God, know God, fill up God with all that He is. And then out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak.

I think it is far better to take the commandments and not focus so much on the negative—that is "don't lie, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't kill"—but rather focus on where those come from, and put the emphasis there. And here, "don't take his name in vain" would mean that we take His name in vain because He is empty to us. Our mind doesn't feel the weight and fullness of His glory. The name of the Lord is holy, as He is holy. The name of the Lord is a representation of His glory, His majesty, and His supreme deity. We are to esteem and honor His name as we revere and glorify God Himself. To do any less is to take His name in vain.

Love and Hugs

Lynn

Dear Heavenly Father

I ask forgiveness for the many times Your precious name and that of Your beloved Son Jesus has left my mouth in a way that made You seem insignificant, empty of meaning and futile. How many times I’ve asked forgiveness when out of nowhere Your wonderful name has been cheapened. How low I feel when that happens as I love You so much and it’s not my intention to ever call out in this manner. I thank You for helping me through the years develop in me words of glorification and praise and removing the reaction of using Your precious name in vain. I find myself cringing inside when I hear others totally ignorant of what they are saying. When I hear this it’s like they’re slapping You in the face. Give me the words Lord to lovingly but meaningfully let these people know how much it not only hurts me but also You. I love You dear Father and need Your guidance to keep me strong in reminding those who don’t understand the meaning of blaspheming Your name. Thank You for what You are doing and continue to raise me up to be more like Your beloved Son Jesus. In His precious name I come before You.

Amen

Take the name of Jesus with you child of sorrow and of woe.

It will joy and comfort give you.

Take His name In power, not in vain!

Daily Smile:
Three sisters, ages 92, 94, and 96, live together. One night the 96-year-0ld draws a bath. She puts one foot in and pauses. "Was I getting in the tub or out?" she yells. 

The 94-year-old hollers back, "I don't know, I'll come up to see." She starts up the stairs and stops. She shouts, "Was I going up or going down?"

The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea, listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful", and knocks on wood for good measure. Then she yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."


In The News:

Gosnell Guilty of First-Degree Murder

Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist accused of performing illegal late-term abortions in a filthy clinic, has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies born alive but acquitted in the death of a fourth baby, the Associated Press reports. Gosnell was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the overdose death of a patient. Prosecutors say Gosnell, 72, delivered babies alive and snipped their spines with scissors to kill them. They say the baby whose death he was cleared in let out a soft whimper before Gosnell cut its neck. The defense had argued there were no live births at the clinic. The grisly details of the case came out more than two years ago when authorities described finding bags and bottles of fetuses at the foul-smelling clinic and unsterile instruments that were reused.

Saeed Abedini Released From Solitary Confinement in Hopeful Sign

Iranian authorities released American pastor Saeed Abedini from solitary confinement this week after forcing him to spend the week of his birthday in a “small dark hole,” according to the American Center for Law and Justice. Abedini, imprisoned for 225 days in Evin Prison because of his Christian faith, turned 33 on May 7 while in solitary confinement. Supporters sent more than 52,500 birthday messages to the prison addressed to Abedini. His wife, Naghmeh, wrote in a letter: "With tightness in my throat, pain in my heart, and tears streaming down my face … I promise to stand strong in the strength of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fighting with every strength of my being until you are united to our family again." Abedini and nine other prisoners were sent to solitary confinement April 29 after fellow prisoners protested Iran’s lack of medical care, representatives from the ACLJ said. During his time in solitary, Abedini's family in Iran was not allowed to visit him. The family worries about Abedini's health: He complained of internal bleeding from beatings by prison guards even before the solitary confinement and had been denied medical treatment for his injuries. The ACLJ said last month that Abedini suffers from frequent fainting, constant abdominal pain, blood in his stool, and is in need of immediate medical attention. Naghmeh told the ACLJ that her husband’s return to the general prison is a hopeful sign: "His release from solitary is a direct result of the multitudes praying. I am relieved my husband is out of solitary, but still am deeply concerned about Saeed's health. While this is a small victory, I am still demanding justice be done and that Saeed be released."

Cleveland Captor Could Face Murder Charges for Killing Unborn Babies

Ohio prosecutors announced on May 9 they might charge Ariel Castro with murder and seek the death penalty after one of his captives claimed he impregnated her five times and forced her to miscarry, WORLD reports. Castro already faces rape and kidnapping charges after three women he held captive for almost a decade escaped from his downtown Cleveland home last Monday. Michelle Knight, 32, told investigators Castro starved her for up to two weeks and hit her in the stomach to make her miscarry five babies. "Capital punishment must be reserved for those crimes that are truly the worst examples of human conduct," said Cuyahoga County prosecutor Timothy McGinty. "The reality is we still have brutal criminals in our midst who have no respect for the rule of law or human life." Another captive, Amanda Berry, gave birth to a daughter, now 6 years old, while she was imprisoned. Berry, 27, and the third captive, Gina DeJesus, 22, went home with family members on Wednesday. Knight remains in a Cleveland hospital, where officials say she is in good condition. According to National Right to Life, Ohio is one of 36 states with laws that recognize the intentional killing of an unborn child as homicide. Under Ohio law, anyone who intentionally kills an unborn child at any stage of prenatal development can be charged with aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide, aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular homicide, depending on the circumstances.

Texting While Driving Now Leading Cause of Death for Teen Drivers

Texting while driving has become a greater hazard than drinking and driving among teenagers who openly acknowledge sending and reading text messages while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, Jim Liebelt reports. The number of teens who are dying or being injured as a result of texting while driving has skyrocketed as mobile device technology has advanced. Researchers at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park estimate more than 3,000 annual teen deaths nationwide from texting and 300,000 injuries. The habit now surpasses the number of teens who drink and drive -- a hazard that has been on a dramatic decline in recent years, researchers say. Dr. Andrew Adesman and a team of Cohen investigators found that while driving between September 2010 and December 2011, among 8,947 teenagers aged 15-18 nationwide, an estimated 49 percent of boys admitted to texting while driving compared with 45 percent of girls. Texting also increased with age. Only 24 percent of 15-year-olds tapped out messages while driving, compared with 58 percent of 18-year-olds, the data showed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration acknowledged Wednesday that distracted driving of all kinds -- including the use of handheld cell phones -- is a growing hazard. Agency officials describe texting as among the worst of driver distractions because conversing by text simultaneously involves manual, visual and mental distractions.

Happy Thursday

Born Again! Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. - John 3:3 Born again. Do you know what Jesus had in mind when He said those two words to Nicodemus? He was talking covenant talk. He was telling Nicodemus what it meant to have a covenant with God. Let me paint the picture I believe was in Jesus' mind. Imagine a baby, a little baby born of an unwed mother. No one knows who its daddy is and no one wants to know. He is a child that nobody wants. He doesn't belong to anyone. Now, picture the best kind of family you can think of. A family that loves God. The man has a good job. They're blessed financially. They're givers and lovers of people, and they fall in love with this baby. Before long, they adopt it. What's happened? That baby was reborn. He got a new set of parents. Through adoption, he has now become an heir. Why? Not because of anything the baby has done. Those parents didn't say, "I want you to look at that baby. I'm so impressed with all that child has done for us. He has certainly earned our love and respect." No, it's a baby. It couldn't have done anything to earn its new life. This man and this woman agreed together out of the love in their hearts and bestowed grace on that child. Now he has access to everything they have. When they offer him a bottle, he doesn't knock the bottle away and say, "I'm so humble and undeserving. Just give me water." Of course not. That baby acts like part of the family--and not just part of the family but the best part of the family. Because in Jesus' day a covenant or adopted child had the same birthright as the firstborn son. That's what Jesus was talking about when He said, "You must be born again." He was talking about grace. He was talking about a new relationship of favor. A new family. A new authority. A new power. If you feel unworthy to receive the rich blessings God has for you today, think about that. Meditate on it, so instead of worrying about and struggling with the needs in your life, you can just walk boldly into the throne room of your Father and receive help to get those needs met. Discover what it really means to be a blood-bought child of Almighty God with a big brother like Jesus. Discover what it means to be born again! By Kenneth Copeland

Daily Smile: 
Hey, why couldn't Robin play baseball?

'Cause he didn't have a bat, man!
- submitted by Merritt


In The News:

Nine of 12 Jurors in Gosnell Trial Were 'Pro-Choice'

According to Philadelphia local affiliate NBC 10, nine of the 12 jurors who convicted abortionist Kermit Gosnell of murder on Monday were "pro-choice," CNSNews.com reports. The jury found Gosnell guilty of first-degree murder in three instances of killing babies born alive during abortions by snipping their spinal cords with surgical scissors. According to NBC 10 reporter Jacqueline London: "And to give you some background on the jurors, of the seven women and five men who are on the jury, at least nine told the court that they are pro-choice. Two say that they are neither pro-choice nor pro-life. So, interesting background on them, they have been very attentive throughout this entire trial." In addition to the three first-degree murder charges, Gosnell was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the overdose death of a patient and more than 200 other related charges. Earlier on Monday the jury was hung on two of the counts, though the court would not specify which ones. Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge Jeffrey P. Minehart told the jurors to try again to reach a unanimous verdict.

Government Appeals Unrestricted Sale of Plan B

The Obama administration has filed an appeal that will delay the sale of the morning-after pill Plan B One-Step and its generic competitors to girls without prescriptions, CBN News reports. The government says U.S. District Judge Edward Korman overstepped his authority when he ruled that any girl of any age should have access to the contraceptive drug. Last week, Korman refused to delay enforcement of his decision while the government challenges it. Monday's last-minute appeal asks the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan to postpone the judge's ruling while the case is being decided.

Tebow Finds Fulfillment Off the Field

Eleven days after the New York Jets cut him, Christian quarterback Tim Tebow told a crowd of about 3,000 at Lake Michigan College that his main goal is to impact lives, whether on or off the field. And that shouldn't be too hard considering a Forbes.com survey released last week named Tebow America's most influential athlete. Despite the controversy surrounding his public faith, Tebow finished ahead of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Jamaican track star Usain Bolt and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. "That’s a huge honor," Tebow said in response to the survey. "I see it as a great responsibility to be a role model for future generations. That's something I care about more than winning football games. If I can take the game of football and can transcend football -- go to hospitals and make kids smile -- I'll be doing things that matter." Although Tebow didn’t mention his dismissal from the Jets during his hour-long speech or offer any insight as to what his next move might be, the 25-year-old did talk about finding a life of fulfillment after the game. "What I want to do with my life is impact lives," he said. "When a kid in a hospital is fighting for his life and I'm trying to win a football game, what really matters? This game isn't as important as a lot of us make it out to be. If I can give him a little bit of hope, I can do something that matters. That's what I want my legacy to be about. That's how I want to be remembered."

Nigeria: Open Doors Appeals for Prayer After Reports of Boko Haram Attack

Open Doors USA has issued an urgent appeal for prayer after receiving news that suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked the predominantly Nigerian Christian village of Zangan in southern Kaduna state around midnight on Monday. Local sources report fatalities and Open Doors says it understands "the entire village has been destroyed." The village chief's residence was reportedly burnt to the ground and the village chief's whereabouts remain unknown after he fled Zangan. Churches and homes were among the buildings destroyed in the attack. Open Doors reports: "Zangan villagers are fleeing in large numbers for fear of escalating violence. Local sources have told us that Boko Haram had vowed earlier to destroy the predominantly Christian communities located in southern Kaduna. We do not have any more details at this stage, but understand that this area saw a similar attack about four weeks ago. Open Doors urges to pray for the people of southern Kaduna state and Zangan village in particular." Open Doors USA spokesman Jerry Dykstra said: “The extremist group Boko Haram wants to create an Islamic state and put Sharia Law into effect in a country split almost equally between Christians and Muslims. Attacks by Boko Haram have killed more than 3,000 people since 2009, based on figures from Human Rights Watch. Please pray for peace as the violence is spreading, especially in northern Nigeria."

Happy Wednesday

The Good and Bad Of Life
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  --Romans 8:28

One afternoon, a teenage girl joined her mother in the kitchen. The young lady began explaining to her mom everything that was wrong with her life-she had failed an algebra test, her boyfriend broke up with her, and she just found out her best friend would be moving away soon.

All the while, the mother was baking a cake as the young girl talked. Finally, the girl's mother interrupted to ask if she wanted a snack. The daughter replied, "Absolutely! I love your cakes!"

"Here...have some cooking oil," her mother offered.

"Yuck!" the girl responded. "That's gross."

"Well, how about a couple of raw eggs?" asked the mother.

"Gross, mom!" was the girl's response.

"How about a cup of flour or a teaspoon of baking soda?" the mother then offered.

"Mom, those are all disgusting!" the girl said. "I don't want those things for snacks."

After a long pause, her mother finally said, "Dear, all these things seem bad by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!"

God works the same way in the lives of believers. Not everything in life is a piece of cake. Sometimes tragedy or hardship strikes and leaves you wondering, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God do this to me?" Many times we wonder why He would even let us go through such difficulties.

However, what we oftentimes don't realize is that when God puts all these things in His order, they always work for good! We must simply trust Him that each of life's events, combined by His hands, will turn out to be something deliciously wonderful!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the good and bad "ingredients" He allows to come into your life. Thank Him for working all things together for your good and His glory.


Daily Smile:

The photographer for a national magazine was assigned to get photos of a great forest fire. Smoke at the scene was too thick to get any good shots, so he frantically called his home office to hire a plane. "It will be waiting for you at the airport!" he was assured by his editor. As soon as he got to the small, rural airport, sure enough, a plane was warming up near the runway. He jumped in with his equipment and yelled, "Let's go! Let's go!" The pilot swung the plane into the wind and soon they were in the air. "Fly over the north side of the fire," said the photographer, "and make three or four low level passes." 

"Why?" asked the pilot. 

"Because I'm going to take pictures! I'm a photographer, and photographers take pictures!" said the photographer with great exasperation. 

After a long pause the pilot said, "You mean you're not the instructor?"

In The News:

Gosnell Trial Spurs House Republicans to Demand States Regulate Abortion Clinics

Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have set a May 22 deadline in which they expect public health officials from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to provide them with "details on state licensing of abortion clinics and providers, information on revoked licenses, state inspections of clinics and disciplinary actions" so they can "examine how each state regulates and monitors abortion clinics and protects the health and safety of women," the Christian Post reports. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), vice chairman of the committee, who signed the letter to the public health officials along with her Republican colleagues on the committee, said: "Planned Parenthood called Gosnell's 'House of Horrors' an 'outlier,' but we're learning Gosnell is not an aberration. They were approached by women who complained about the disgusting conditions at Gosnell's facility, and they didn't report it. When the Pennsylvania Department of Health found out about Gosnell, they sat on their hands and the media was silent. Now we're discovering that other big abortion businesses refuse to give medical treatment to babies who survive botched abortions and we're finding out the truth from former pro-choice nurses who called their own Gosnell-like clinics 'ridiculously unsafe.'" On Wednesday, Blackburn introduced H. Res. 206, a resolution calling on members of the House to review the public policies that led to illegal abortion practices, such as those discovered at Gosnell's Philadelphia clinic. The resolution states that "Congress and States should gather information about and correct abusive, unsanitary and illegal abortion practices and the interstate referral of women and girls to facilities engaged in dangerous or illegal second- and third-trimester procedures."

Americans' Abortion Views Steady Amid Gosnell Trial

As Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell awaits the jury verdict in his murder trial, a new Gallup poll finds 26 percent of Americans saying abortion should be legal under any circumstances, 20 percent saying it should be illegal in all circumstances, and the majority -- 52 percent -- opting for something in between, as has been the case in nearly every Gallup measure of the question since 1975. The current views on the legality of abortion, conducted May 2-7, are nearly identical to those from Gallup's prior measures in December and May 2012. Although the survey was conducted after much of the testimony in Gosnell's trial had already been reported in the news, the stability in Americans' views about the legality of abortion suggests the trial has not swayed public opinion. Part of the reason could be that relatively few Americans are paying attention to it. One quarter of Americans say they have followed news of the case either very closely (7 percent) or somewhat closely (18 percent), but that is well below the 61-percent average level of attention Americans have paid to the more than 200 news stories Gallup has measured since 1991. An additional 20 percent of Americans say they are following it "not too closely," while 54 percent say "not at all." This makes the Gosnell case one of the least-followed news stories Gallup has measured.

Happy Tuesday

Grief
Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. --Psalm 31:9

Author Edgar Jackson describes grief:

"Grief is the silent, knife-like terror and sadness that comes a hundred times a day, when you start to speak to someone who is no longer there.

"Grief is the emptiness that comes when you eat alone after eating with another for many years.

"Grief is teaching yourself to go to bed without saying good night to the one who has died.

"Grief is the helpless wishing that things were different when you know they are not and never will be again.

"Grief is a whole cluster of adjustments, apprehensions, and uncertainties that strike life in its forward progress and make it difficult to redirect the energies of life."

Few things are as painful as grief-especially when having to adjust to the loss of a spouse. Even though we all know that death will one day come to each one of us, we still can never be prepared enough to deal with the sense of loss and intense sadness that comes when death takes a loved one.

If you are dealing with grief, then you can find healing in a grief recovery group through your local church, senior center, or hospital. There are others out there who have dealt with grief and mended from the loss of a loved one before. Begin searching for that person with whom you can share your thoughts, feelings, and tears.

Finally and above all, seek healing in the arms of the Lord and His Word. It's only natural to ask Him "Why?" and "How come?" when someone we love passes away. But He is the ultimate Healer of our hearts and sovereign in His timing.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to give you strength to take steps forward toward healing if you are experiencing grief. Pray that He would give you someone to share with in your journey.


Daily Smile:
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Pettry amzanig huh?

In The News:

Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal in More Than 1 in 5 States

With congressional votes less than a week apart from each other, Rhode Island and Delaware both have legalized same-sex marriage, which, according to The New York Times, represents the "latest in a string of victories for those working to extend marital rights to gay and lesbian couples," Christianity Today reports. Rhode Island came first, following what the Associated Press called "a 16-year effort to extend marriage rights in this heavily Roman Catholic state." Days later, Delaware became the 11th state to legalize gay marriage. Similar votes will soon take place in Minnesota and Illinois, where the GOP chair recently resigned over the issue. However, in spite of the recent victories for gay marriage supporters, the Times notes that "short of a sweeping decision by the Supreme Court that same-sex marriage is a right, change could come more slowly in the coming years. Thirty states have adopted constitutional amendments limiting marriage to a man and a woman -- measures that can be reversed only with public ballots."

  

Tamerlan Tsarnaev Buried at Muslim Cemetery in Virginia

The body of Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev was reportedly buried in a Muslim cemetery in a small town in central Virginia, about 15 miles away from Richmond, the Washington Times reports. Al-Barzakh Cemetery in Doswell, the first Muslim cemetery in the region, has interred Tsarnaev's remains, according to the Boston Globe. The interment came after a Virginia woman saw the protests outside a Worcester, Mass., funeral home that was storing Tsarnaev's body. Nobody wanted him buried locally, and she decided to help by contacting the Islamic Society of Greater Richmond and asking if members could help find a burial ground for the body. Society members found the Doswell cemetery and moved Tsarnaev on Wednesday evening, the Globe reported. Tsarnaev, 26, died during a shootout with police in Watertown, Mass. His brother and fellow bombing suspect, Dzhohkar, 19, is recovering from gunshot wounds.

Happy Monday

Alone???
As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
--1 Thessalonians 2:6-8

From 1986 to 1990, Frank Reed was held hostage in a Lebanon cell. For months at a time, he was blindfolded, living in complete darkness, and chained to a wall, kept in absolute silence.

Reed was beaten, made ill, and tormented, but he felt the most hopeless because it seemed that no one cared. He said in an interview with Time magazine, "Nothing I did mattered to anyone. I began to realize how withering it is to exist with not a single expression of caring around [me]....I learned one overriding fact: caring is a powerful force. If no one cares, you are truly alone."

Christians are never truly alone because we are fortunate to have God's gracious watch care over our lives, as well as that of the Church. This type of caring can provide the strength needed for a believer to endure anything.

Do you know someone who feels as though no one cares for them? Can you think of a few people right now who are living in loneliness? We have been called as believers to minister to those who are lonely. And in turn, we never have to be lonely because there are other believers who will care for us.

Remember the promise of Jesus: "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to open the doors of opportunity for you to pour out love, care, and concern for someone who needs it, just as Jesus did.

No Never Alone

I’ve seen the lightning flashing, I’ve heard the thunder roll.
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, which almost conquered my soul.
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, bidding me still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!

Refrain

     No, never alone, no never alone,
     He promised never to leave me,
     He’ll claim me for His own;
     No, never alone, no never alone.
     He promised never to leave me,
     Never to leave me alone.

The world’s fierce winds are blowing, temptation sharp and keen.
I have a peace in knowing my Savior stands between—
He stands to shield me from danger when my friends are all gone.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!

Refrain

When in affliction’s valley I tread the road of care,
My Savior helps me carry the cross so heavy to bear;
Though all around me is darkness, earthly joys all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise, never to leave me alone!
Refrain

He died on Calvary’s mountain, for me they piercèd His side.
For me He opened that fountain, the crimson, cleansing tide.
For me He waiteth in glory, seated upon His throne.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!

Refrain

Daily Smile:
A preacher was walking down the street when he notices a little boy trying to ring the doorbell but it's just out of his reach. He watches his efforts for some time and walks over to press the the bell. After he pressed it he leveled down to the boy and asked' "Now what?" to which the boy turned and shouted, "NOW WE RUN!!"

In The News:

52,000 Letters En Route to Iran for Imprisoned American Pastor

More than 52,000 letters have been written to American pastor Saeed Abedini, commending him for his strong demonstration of faith as he languishes in an Iranian prison, Baptist Press reports. The Web-based campaign was launched by the American Center for Law and Justice ahead of Abedini's 33rd birthday on May 7. The ACLJ, which is representing Abedini's wife and children in the United States, reported that 52,501 letters have been written to the pastor, a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent who has been sentenced to eight years in prison for converting to Christianity. "These letters show the impact Pastor Saeed's case is having on people's lives," the ACLJ said. "One letter reads: 'Your message of forgiveness is an amazing testimony and actually helped us realize there was someone in our life we needed to forgive. Thank you.'" The large number of letters also serves to let Iranian officials know that the international community is still fighting for Pastor Saeed's release, said Tiffany Barrans, international legal director of the ACLJ. The ACLJ said it is printing out and delivering each letter through intermediaries to Evin Prison in Tehran; more letters can still be written at SaveSaeed.org. 

Gosnell Jury Begins Second Week of Deliberations

The jurors deliberating Kermit Gosnell's fate have been at work for a week now, sifting through hundreds of hours of testimony to determine whether the Philadelphia abortionist is guilty of murder, WORLD reports. Gosnell faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of infants prosecutors say survived late-term abortions. He also faces one count of third-degree murder in the death of a patient who overdosed on anesthesia. Additional charges include racketeering, performing illegal abortions after 24 weeks, failing to observe the 24-hour waiting period, and endangering a child's welfare for employing a 15-year-old in the procedure area. The multiplicity of charges could explain why jurors are taking their time to review the evidence. Thursday morning, jurors requested to review the testimony of former Gosnell assistant Adrienne Moton, who testified to "snipping" the spines of 10 babies born alive during abortion procedures. Late Tuesday, the jury asked to review testimony given by Moton's coworker, Lynda Williams, who said she saw Gosnell use scissors to slice through the spinal cords of at least 30 babies after they were born.

Texas Judge Rules Cheerleaders Can Make Bible Banners

A judge has ruled that cheerleaders at a southeast Texas high school can display banners emblazoned with Bible verses at football games -- a decision that supporters are calling a victory for religions freedom, Todd Starnes reports. State District Judge Steve Thomas ruled Wednesday that the Kountze High School cheerleaders' banners were constitutionally permissible, and determined that no law "prohibits cheerleaders from using religious-themed banners at school sporting events." High school and middle school cheerleaders in Kountze had painted Bible verses on the large paper banners they created for the football players to run through at the start of games, but after the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a complaint, the school district banned the messages. Last October, Judge Thomas granted a temporary injunction that allowed the cheerleaders to continue displaying the banners. Roger Byron, an attorney with the Liberty Institute, said: "The court's order today that the cheerleaders' run-through banners are constitutionally permissible vindicates our clients' rights and brings this case to a successful end. This is a great victory, not only for these cheerleaders, but for religious liberty of student leaders across the country."

Pro-Life Senator Loses Bid to Examine Country's Abortion Policies

A Senate resolution aimed at examining the policies that led to the practices of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell's "House of Horrors" clinic was blocked Monday evening, WORLD reports. On Monday, Utah Sen. Mike Lee introduced the resolution, co-signed by 11 other senators, calling for the Senate to "investigate and correct abusive, unsanitary and illegal abortion practices." Lee tried to speed the resolution's passage on Monday night to try to quicken a response, but one unknown senator thwarted a unanimous vote. Lee said he did not understand why someone would object to his non-binding resolution asking Congress to examine what allows Gosnell-like clinics to operate with little scrutiny. "With numerous reports of similar instances surfacing around the country, the need for greater regulatory oversight of these so-called clinics is so plainly obvious," Lee said. "It strains the limits of disbelief to think all members of the Senate would not agree."

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Moms: Moses' Mother

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.
Hebrews 11:23

Recommended Reading
Exodus 2:1-4

Experienced hikers in the wild know better than to come between a mother bear and her cubs. And the same goes for mother lions, elephants, and other beasts on the plains of Africa. But it could also have been said about a Hebrew mother among the captive slaves in Egypt.

When Pharaoh ordered that Hebrew newborn males were to be killed, he didn't count on the resourcefulness of one Hebrew mother. This mother took her baby boy and hid him in a basket in the river Nile where he was found and adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh. That's right--we're talking about the mother of Moses (and Aaron and Miriam, Moses' brother and sister). The Bible says she knew there was something special about this boy, and she was "not afraid of [Pharaoh's] command." Pharaoh's first mistake was trying to come between the mother of Moses and her baby!

Today is a good day to thank God for mothers who fight for their children's lives when they are threatened.

There is more power in a mother's hand than in a King's scepter.
Billy Sunday


Daily Smile:
YOU KNOW YOU ARE GETTING OLDER WHEN.....
1. You and your teeth don't sleep together.
2. You try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you aren't wearing any.
3. At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you're not eating cereal.
4. Your back goes out but you stay home.
5. It takes two tries to get up from the couch.

6. Your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio.

7. You say something to your kids that your mother said to you, and you always hated it.

8. All you want for your birthday is to not be reminded of your age.

9. You step off a curb and look down one more time to make sure the street is still there.
10. Your idea of weight lifting is standing up.

11. Your address book has mostly names that start with Dr.

12. The pharmacist has become your new best friend.

13. It takes twice as long -- to look half as good.
14. You have more hair in your ears and nose than on your head.
15. Everything either dries up or leaks. 

In The News:

Delaware Becomes 11th State With Gay Marriage

Delaware became the 11th state to legalize same-sex marriage after a lengthy debate Tuesday in the state Senate and the surprise votes of two lawmakers, USA TODAY reports. A half-hour after the 12-9 Senate vote, Gov. Jack Markell signed the legislation into law on the main stairs in the lobby of Legislative Hall. Democratic Sen. Bethany Hall-Long and Republican Sen. Catherine Cloutier provided the swing votes in favor of the legislation; Cloutier was the lone Republican yes vote in the Senate and one of two in the General Assembly as a whole. According to the bill, Delaware residents will be able to enter into same-sex marriage effective July 1. The law provides a mechanism for converting existing same-sex civil unions established in Delaware to marriages.

First Eight Days: 2,381 'Gay' Jason Collins News Stories, 115 Gosnell Abortion-Murder Trial Stories

In the first eight days after NBA player Jason Collins announced he was gay, the news media covered the story in 2,381 places -- but in the first eight days of the trial of abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell and his "House of Horrors" facility, the media covered the story in only 115 places, meaning that Collins' "gay" news received more than 1,970 percent more news coverage, CNSNews.com reports. In addition, a search of the news coverage of the Gosnell trial, which started on March 18, shows there have been a total of 1,876 stories, still less than the amount of Collins stories in eight days. Collins, who plays center for the Washington Wizards, announced he was a homosexual in a self-written article for the Sports Illustrated website on April 29. Gosnell is charged with five counts of murder and 263 other criminal offenses related to his abortion business in Philadelphia; the jury is still deliberating.

Report: Two-Thirds of 'Worst Violators of Religious Freedom' are Muslim Countries

Ten out of the 15 countries with the worst religious freedom abuses are Muslim nations, according to the recently released U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 2013 Annual Report, which identifies the status of religious freedom throughout the world and cites countries that are the least tolerant, the Christian Post reports. The 15 most intolerant countries, identified as "countries of particular concern," cited in this year's report are Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Of these, 10 are Muslim countries. The nearly 400-page report details a range of human rights violations occurring in these countries. According to USCIRF chairwoman Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, the state of international freedom around the world is "increasingly dire" because of "religious extremists… [who] target religious minorities and dissenters from majority religious communities for violence, including physical assaults and even murder." The report suggests a number of reforms the United States could recommend to each country, in concert with the United Nations, that could coincide with economic and humanitarian assistance or sanctions.

U.S. Calls on North Korea to Release American Christian From Prison

The United States is calling on North Korea to release a Korean-American Christian sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, CBN News reports. Washington state resident Kenneth Bae, 44, entered North Korea on a tourist visa and was arrested Nov. 3 in the city of Rason, near the border with China and Russia. North Korea's Supreme Court convicted Bae of attempting to topple the government and other unspecified "hostile acts" against the state. "We've had long-standing concerns about the lack of transparency and due process in the North Korean legal system," U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said. "So, now that Mr. Bae has gone through the legal process, we urge the DPRK to grant him amnesty and immediate release." Friends and colleagues say Bae is a devout Christian who frequently traveled to North Korea to feed orphans; Doo Hee Yoon, an activist based in South Korea, told AFP he may have been detained for photographing emaciated children. Bae is the sixth American to be detained by the Communist state since 2009, and his sentencing comes amid heightened tensions between North Korea and the United States. Analysts have speculated North Korea could be using Bae as bait to get a high-profile American to visit the country.

 

Happy Saturday

A Proverb Is A Proverb, not a Promise

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Some parents have almost put themselves in an early grave because they’ve had a wayward child. Someone has taken this proverb and beaten them over the head with it.

Friend, this verse is a proverb. If you read the book of Proverbs and try to turn proverbs into promises, you’ll lose your faith. A proverb is a proverb. A promise is a promise. A precept is a precept. A parable is a parable. A prophecy is a prophecy. You have to be careful.

There are proverbs that tell you the way to be wealthy. Does that mean everyone who follows one of these proverbs is automatically going to be wealthy? A proverb is a general principle that when generally applied will bring a general result.
ACTION POINT:
Instead of grabbing Proverbs as promises, ask God for discernment. He desires us to “rightly divide the word of truth,” not use it as a club to beat up fellow believers. (2 Timothy 2:15)

In The News:

Obama Administration Gives Up Forcing Bible Publisher to Obey HHS Mandate

In a huge victory for pro-life advocates taking on the controversial HHS mandate, the Obama administration is giving up its effort to force a Bible publisher to obey it, LifeNews.com reports. The mandate has generated massive opposition from pro-life groups because it forces employers, regardless of their religious or moral convictions, to provide insurance coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization under threat of heavy penalties. The Obama administration had opposed an order a judge gave to temporarily stop enforcement of the mandate for Tyndale House Publishers, arguing that the business wasn't religious enough for an exemption. But on Friday, at the Obama administration's request, a federal appellate court dismissed its appeal. The administration's retreat marks the first total appellate victory on a preliminary injunction in any abortion pill mandate case. According to Alliance Defending Freedom lawyers representing Tyndale, the administration was apparently nervous about trying to defend its position that a Bible publisher wasn't religious enough for a religious exemption from the mandate. ADF attorneys and allied attorneys are also currently litigating nine other lawsuits against the mandate; more than 100 have been filed in total.

Gosnell Horrors 'Standard Operating Procedure' in Abortion Industry

The pro-life group Live Action wants a series of undercover videos taken at abortion clinics to result in federal investigations and possible criminal charges, One News Now reports. Last week, Live Action sent a woman who was 24 weeks pregnant into three abortion clinics -- one each in D.C., the Bronx and Phoenix -- posing as someone seeking a late-term abortion. "[In our videos] these workers are describing how, in order to kill these babies, they either cut the umbilical cord of the child and wait for it to asphyxiate, to suffocate in the womb; how they rip that child out piece by piece using forceps; or how they puncture the chest with a needle and insert poison into the baby's heart to make it slowly die in over a half an hour," said Live Action president Lila Rose. In each case the clinic workers -- and in one instance the abortionist himself -- were asked what they would do if the baby were born alive, and they answered that it would be allowed to die. "So what these abortionists are saying is they're willing to ultimately kill these children, drowning them in jars of toxic solution, or just discarding them and leaving them to die while they're struggling to survive in the abortion clinic," Rose said. "This is infanticide, this is murder, as well as abortion. ... The horrors of the Kermit Gosnell trial are a widespread problem in this industry. Dismembering and destroying innocent children, leaving born babies to die, injecting poison into the chest of a tiny child so that he slowly dies in his own mother's womb -- this is all standard operating procedure in the abortion industry."

Senate Resolution Calls for Nationwide Inspections of Abortion Facilities

A resolution introduced in the U.S. Senate on Monday recommends that abortion facilities nationwide be inspected and investigated, the Christian News Network reports. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is the main sponsor of the resolution, and is joined by 10 co-sponsors, including senators Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas. While it does not hold the same weight as a federal law, the resolution serves as a statement that "[e]xpress[es] the sense of the Senate that Congress and the States should investigate and correct abusive, unsanitary and illegal abortion practices." It cites the egregious procedures of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell as one of the motivating factors for the measure. The resolution proceeds to decry what it calls the "grossly unsanitary and dangerous conditions, violations of law regarding storage of human remains, and, above all, instances of willful murder of infants born alive by severing their spinal cords" at Gosnell's abortion facility. The resolution also focuses on "protecting the lives of unborn children beginning at least from the stage at which substantial medical evidence indicates that they are capable of feeling pain." The senators remark that such measures are "long overdue" and must be enacted now "for the sake of women, children, families and future generations." Lee told reporters the he believes the resolution will pass Congress, but it is too soon to predict any actual outcome.

Two Killed, More Than 50 Wounded in Tanzania Church Bombing

International Christian Concern reports that St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha was bombed on Sunday, May 5. At least two people are confirmed dead as a result of the blast. The BBC reported that as many as 50 people were wounded, including 44 of whom received serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals. "When it exploded there was a stampede, people running in all directions, walking over each other, children were screaming and women crying," a witness said. "I saw a dead woman trampled; I think even her two children were killed in the same way," another witness added. Tanzania's president, Jakaya Kikwete, has condemned the bombing as an "act of terrorism," and has vowed to bring those responsible to justice. So far, eight suspects have been arrested, including four Tanzanians and four Saudi foreign nationals. Worshipers have accused the authorities of failing to protect them as they attended church. William Stark, ICC's regional manager for Africa, said: "These acts of terror must be seen as a series of escalating events that will continue to escalate unless action is taken by the Tanzanian government. Arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators of this bombing is commendable, but the government must take steps to ensure that these types of attacks are not repeated."

 

Happy Friday

Standing on the Promises of God

The story of Abraham is extremely rich.  It reveals to us one man’s journey to becoming God’s friend.  Today we will see the importance of standing on the promises of God.

Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”  But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?  Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.  You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”  Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”  Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can.  That’s how many descendants you will have!”  And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.  (Gen 15:1-6 NLT)

Aren’t you glad to know that the Lord can read your mind?  Perhaps not, depending upon what’s on your mind.  Though Abram had not voiced his concern to the Lord, God knew the fear that was in His friends’ heart.  Every moment of every day contained the desire to have a son; yet Abram and Sarai remained childless.

As I write this, the Spirit has brought to my mind a phrase from scripture.  It contains the words – “swear by no greater.”  Searching through the Bible, I found it in Hebrews 6, with this subtitle over it - “God’s Promises Bring Hope.”

For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham.  Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”  Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it.  And without any question that oath is binding.  God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.  So God has given both his promise and his oath.  These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.

Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.  It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.  Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.  (Heb 6:13-20 NLT)

“God’s Promises Bring Hope.” Why?  Because God is the One who has made the promise.  Scripture says that God has taken an oath in His own name.  For God to break His promises means that He would dishonor Himself.

Many years ago, a young pastor was called to his first church.  Shortly after he arrived, he noticed that there was one man in particular who seemed to have great power in prayer.  Almost everything that happened in the church was somehow tied to the intercession of Brother Smith.  One day the young pastor visited the elderly man and asked if he would teach him the secret to his dynamic prayer life.  “Follow me”, the old saint instructed and led the young man out to the barn.  Without another word, the old man climbed a ladder that led to the hay loft and there before them was an open Bible.  The old man knelt in front of the Bible and began to pray.  As the young man knelt beside him and listened, he noticed something different about the man’s prayers: there was a boldness and confidence before the throne of God like he had never witnessed before.  Finally the old man finished and waited for the young pastor to take his turn.  But instead of praying, all the pastor could do was remain silent.  Finally he looked over at the old man and saw him intently gazing at his open Bible.  “I don’t know how to pray”, the young pastor said.  “After listening to you, I realize that I don’t know what to say.”  The old man quietly slid his open Bible over so that it was in front of the young pastor and then he said, “Just pray the promises son.  Just pray the promises.”

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing On The Promises

1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King, 
 through eternal ages let his praises ring; 
 glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, 
 standing on the promises of God. 
Refrain:
 Standing, standing, 
 standing on the promises of Christ my Savior; 
 standing, standing, 
 I'm standing on the promises of God. 

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail, 
 when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, 
 by the living Word of God I shall prevail, 
 standing on the promises of God. 
 (Refrain) 

3. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, 
 bound to him eternally by love's strong cord, 
 overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, 
 standing on the promises of God. 
 (Refrain) 

4. Standing on the promises I cannot fall, 
 listening every moment to the Spirit's call, 
 resting in my Savior as my all in all, 
 standing on the promises of God. 
 (Refrain) 

Daily Smile:
Just think, in a few million years Barney will be motor oil

In The News:

Morocco: Christian Converts Unsettled by Fatwa Calling for Execution of Those Who Leave Islam

A Moroccan fatwa calling for the execution of those who leave Islam has left many Christian converts in turmoil, Morning Star News reports. There is still much debate over how the fatwa, which only recently came to light after the government’s top authority on Islam issued it last year, could change laws in Morocco. But a Moroccan Christian convert active in the house church movement said many former Muslims who are now Christians fear for their lives. "The fatwa showed us that our country is still living in the old centuries – no freedom, no democracy," he said. "Unfortunately, we feel that we aren’t protected. We can be arrested or now even killed any time and everywhere. ... The majority of the Christian Moroccan leaders have the same feeling. We are more followed now by the secret police than before. Only the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ gives us courage and peace." The governmental High Council of Ulemas, the highest religious authority in Morocco, issued the ruling last year, but only released it in April upon request of the government’s Delegation for Human Rights of Morocco, according to Arabic-language daily Akhbar al-Youm. Whether the fatwa will have any effect on Moroccan criminal law remains to be seen: "The fatwa doesn’t all of the sudden become an amendment or an addendum to the penal code," said. a representative of Middle East Concern. "That’s why we don’t actually know what it’s going to look like in practice or principle." Still, the ruling could represent a major shift within the government, as apostasy currently isn't against the law in Morocco. Even if the ruling never becomes law, it sets a dangerous precedent for how converts and Christians in general will be treated in Morocco. If leaving Islam is seen as an act worthy of death, then "proselytizing" -- which is illegal -- could then be treated as a much more serious issue.

Gay Teacher Fired by Catholic School Claims Discrimination

Carla Hale, 59, a lesbian P.E. teacher, has filed a grievance against the diocese of the Ohio Catholic school where she worked for 19 years until administrators fired her for "violating moral law," WORLD reports. According to The Columbus Dispatch, Hale's sexual orientation became public when an obituary for her late mother published Hale's name along with the name of her female partner, Julie. An anonymous parent sent a letter to Hale's employer, Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, Ohio, complaining about Hale’s presence on staff. The school fired Hale in March, explaining that by maintaining a homosexual relationship she had violated the diocesan policy requiring Catholic school personnel to be examples of moral behavior.  So far, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the local diocese have declined to comment.

Happy Thursday

THE SOLID FOUNDATION, THE SOLID ROCK-JESUS!!!

by Ely Roque Sagansay

9- “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

The Hope of eternal life… The Grace, Mercy, Love and the Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ were the components or the reasons that made the Hope of eternal life so easy to believe in. We have a promised to discover and we can be certain of what we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is God’s general blessing for the lost world. We can have God’s salvation through the Death, Burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But someone has to decide to believe in and to receive that promised by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can’t have that life unless you take a step of faith. Notice here the Hope of our salvation is the Solid Rock. This is one of my favorite hymns that really ministered to my heart.

“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
all other ground is sinking sand
all other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way

He then is all my Hope and Stay.” By: Edward Mote

Praise God!!! Our salvation is in the good, right and Solid Foundation; the Lord Jesus Christ our Blessed Hope. He is the Rock of Ages. Why would you trust and even entrust your life to a man made religion, when you have a Heaven made religion through our Lord Jesus Christ. Why would you put your trust and even entrust your life and the life to come to something, when you can put your trust to Someone- Jesus our Savior. Why would you love the sinking sand, when you have the Solid Rock- the Lord Jesus Christ; He is the King of Glory, the Lord God Almighty! (Isaiah 28:16) “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (I Corinthians 3:10-11) “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11- For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
My Hope Is Built

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

     On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
      All other ground is sinking sand;
      All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Daily Smile:
Frank was madly in love with Susan, but couldn’t get up enough courage to pop the question face to face. Finally he decided to ask her on the telephone. “Darling! He blurted out, “Will you marry me?”

“Of course, I will, you silly boy,” she replied, “Who’s speaking?”

In The News:

More Than 900 Christians Killed in Nigeria Last Year

More than 900 Christians were slaughtered in Nigeria last year, giving it the distinction of being the nation with the highest Christian death toll, the Washington Times reports. All were victims of the Boko Haram group and other Islamic militants. "They are so radical they don't even spare Muslims," said Mark Lipdo of the Stefanos Foundation. "If Muslims are sympathetic to any cause at all ... if they are sympathetic to the Christians' cause, or the minorities' cause, they are also termed as infidels." Lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe warned that the country may be teetering on the brink of a full-fledged religious war. "Because of the massive Christian [and] Muslim population in Nigeria, there is no country on earth that is as rich and ready for a religious war," he said. "All the elements, all of the ingredients are there." Islamic radicals have already killed more than 120 Nigerians, most of them Christians, this year.

No Early Warning for U.S. on Israeli Strikes in Syria

The U.S. was not given any warning before air strikes in Syria against what Western and Israeli officials say were weapons headed for Hezbollah militants, Reuters reports. An intelligence official said Sunday that the U.S. was essentially told of the air raids "after the fact" and was notified as the bombs went off. Israeli jets bombed Syria on Sunday for the second time in 48 hours; while Israel does not confirm such missions explicitly, an Israeli official acknowledged that the strikes were carried out by its forces. "It would not be unusual for them to take aggressive steps when there was some chance that some sophisticated weapons system would fall into the hands of people like Hezbollah," the U.S. intelligence official said. While the air raids raised fears that America's main ally in the Middle East could be sucked into the Syrian conflict, Israel typically does not feel it has to ask for a green light from Washington for such attacks, and officials have indicated in the past that Israel sees a need only to inform the United States once such a mission is under way. U.S. president Barack Obama said Saturday that Israel has the right to guard against the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah, an ally of both Syria and Iran.