Over The Years, I Have Collected 1,000s Of Spirit-Filled Devotionals and Inspirational Articles,
Way Too Many To Leave Them Unread In Folders... I have a Great Need To Share them...
SO, Check Back Daily For A New Devotional Or Poem To Read, A Joke To Start Your Daily
Smile & To Share, Maybe A Hymn To Sing, Hum Or Whistle all day, and the occasional Recipe
To Tempt Your Taste Buds...
Just Added “In The News”, Christian News that Most Media Avoid or Slant...
Happy Reading, Richard
Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to
pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I
have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I
thought to bring upon it.” Jeremiah 18:7-8
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
In this passage, God is not just talking about the nation Israel. He’s
talking about nations in general. God says, “When I get ready to judge a
nation, if that nation will repent, then I will turn from the judgment
that I had determined to send upon that nation.”
Let me tell you something about the great heart of our God: God is a
God of righteousness, judgment, and justice, but God had rather show
mercy than send judgment.
America is ripe for judgment. God says, “When I get ready to judge a
nation, if that nation will repent, then I will turn from the judgment
that I had determined to send upon that nation.” We are in the eleventh
hour, the clock is about to strike midnight, and we need to pray, “Oh
God, hold back Your hand of judgment upon America.”
“If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
ACTION POINT:
A church steeple is something that is supposed to point us to God. Have
you ever noticed that the closer the steeple gets to the top, the
smaller it gets? The closer we get to God, the more we realize how
insignificant and sinful we are. This is not a time for finger-pointing
in America. This is a time for repentance of personal sin. I’m talking
about the people in the pew. The Bible says the time has come that
judgment begin at the house of God.
Daily Smile: Notice on the bulletin board at the wrestling arena:
“There will be a rehearsal for tonight’s bout.”
In The News:
Half of Adults Say Religious 'Nones' are Bad for America
As more Americans identify as religiously unaffiliated, almost half of
all adults say the so-called rise of the "nones" is a bad thing for
society, Christianity Todayreports.
According to new data from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life,
48 percent of adults consider the decline in religious commitment to be
bad for America. Another 39 percent said it "doesn't make much
difference," and only 11 percent of people said the decline is good.
Among white evangelical Protestants, 78 percent say the trend is
harmful. Only 4 percent see it as a good thing. The data do not specify
what "bad" entails, but Pew highlights a surprising finding in its
analysis: Even among adults who do not identify with any religion, only
24 percent say the trend is good, while 19 percent say it is bad; a
majority of the unaffiliated (55 percent) say it does not make much
difference for society. Atheist blogger Hemant Mehta says that means
"even some nones think it's a bad thing that more people are nones. ... I
don't know what's weirder, that there are evangelical Christians out
there who are happy that more people are becoming non-religious ... or
that there are a lot of unaffiliated people who are upset by it."
Ohio Terminates Planned Parenthood Funding With Pro-Life Budget
At first glance, it's a budget bill: Ohio's Republican Gov. John Kasich
signed a two-year, $62 billion state budget on June 30 that reduces
state income tax by $2.6 billion. But the new budget also eliminates
funding from Planned Parenthood, blocks public hospitals from arranging
transfer agreements with abortion clinics and requires abortion
providers to provide ultrasounds on women seeking abortions, WORLD
reports. Ohio has 12 abortion facilities, and NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio
said the new budget could force many clinics to close. "Today Governor
Kasich enacted measures that prescribe medically unnecessary procedures,
force doctors to mislead their patients and will force quality medical
centers to close," said Kellie Copeland, executive director of the
group. Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, praised Kasich,
saying it will protect women and save babies' lives. The budget went
into effect July 3.
Abortion Supporters Chant 'Hail Satan' in Texas Capitol as Pro-Lifers Sing 'Amazing Grace'
For several hours between Tuesday and Wednesday, the phrase "Hail
Satan" trended on Twitter as word spread that abortion supporters had
chanted it at pro-life Christians singing "Amazing Grace" amid mounting
tensions over the pending passage of strict abortion laws in the Texas
Capitol, the Christian Post reports. This week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry convened a second special session
in the Texas Senate after Democratic activism botched the passage of
legislation that would have banned abortions in the state after 20
weeks. The legislation would also require that abortions be performed at
ambulatory surgical centers and mandate that doctors obtain admitting
privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their practice. Opponents of
the proposal argue that the proposal would virtually shut down abortion
clinics in Texas -- and pro-life supporters have no problem with that.
Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth and her colleagues attempted
to kill the abortion legislation with a 13-hour filibuster on the last
day of the first special session last Tuesday. Republicans, however,
rallied using a parliamentary technicality to shut down Davis' attempt
before the midnight deadline to vote on the bill kicked in. Once that
happened, however, unruly abortion-rights advocates erupted in a loud
protest in the public gallery of the Senate, which prevented the
senators on the floor from hearing sufficiently to vote on the bill.
Ever struggled and fretted because
life
wasn't going the way it should, feeling that way right now? We have
legitimate needs and desires and we know what would make us happy and we
pray
for it with all our might, asking God to help us get it. But if it doesn't
come
to pass, do we feel frustrated, disappointed, perhaps even bitter?
Sometimes we do get what we want, only to discover that it doesn't make us
happy
after all, just disillusioned. Trust that God has a purpose for His
delay.
While we wait, God works behind the scenes on our behalf so we must give Him
time to arrange every detail so we will receive His best. By preparing
ourselves, we accomplish two things: we demonstrate faith that God will
fulfill our desire, and we prepare for success once our dream comes
true.
We often think that life will be so much
better
when the kids have grown up, or when we get out of debt but if you’ve lived
long
enough, you know that once our dream comes true, it will have its own
challenges. Jesus doesn’t want us to be miserable while we wait for
our
heart’s desires. He wants us to make the most of this season of life,
and
entrust our dreams to the One who gave them to us. Although waiting
can be
one of the more difficult things in the Christian life, it is not wasted
time.
During periods of waiting, God teaches us lessons we couldn’t otherwise
learn.
In such a season, He sifts our motives, strengthens our faith, and may even
change our circumstances. His purpose is to keep us in step with Him as He
prepares us to receive the answers we need to hear. Even when
nothing appears to be happening, allow God to set the pace for your life.
Obey
Him, and He will honor you in due season.
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" NKJV
What
an incredible time to be alive. The Kingdom of God is exploding around
the globe as trials and tribulations seem to be non-stop. But in the
midst of all the trials and tribulations Jesus is at work.
According
to a recent "Mission Network News" report, a woman in Egypt had a
dream. The next morning she was walking down a street and stopped
abruptly. The woman looked at the man with an interesting gaze and said,
"You are the one!"
The
man is a Christian and had never seen the lady before. He did not
understand what she was talking about and probably thought the worst ---
that she was accusing him of a wrong doing.
She
told him, "You are the one. I had a dream you were walking with me and
Jesus, and you had that same striped shirt on, those glasses, those
pants and those shoes. Jesus was telling me He loves me and wants to
have a relationship with me."
The
man was taken aback perhaps thinking this line of questioning was to
entrap him. Suspicion flooded him and then his fear subsided and they
continued their conversation.
She
reportedly asked Jesus, "What do I do?" In the dream Jesus told her,
"Ask this man tomorrow when you see him." The man in the striped shirt
led the woman to Christ.
Trials
and tribulations are everywhere but know this --- Jesus is in control.
Look for the silver lining in each trail and tribulation and give God
the Glory.
Prayer: Father
thank you for the silver lining in each trial and tribulation which
brings me closer to you. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Picture this. A young man is walking down a dark
street when he is approached by a large, mean-looking man who will not
let him pass. The young man isn't quite as physically fit as he should
be because he hasn't been exercising or working out. Seeing that he is
no match for the attacker, the young man says, "Excuse me just one
moment while I go home and work out with my weight set. Stay right here.
Don't move. I'll be right back. Then we will fight." At this point the
young man runs home, works out on his weights for 10 minutes and then
goes back to the dimly lit street and fights the attacker. He wins
because of his ten-minute workout.
It sounds silly, doesn't it? But that's the way many
Christians try to live their lives spiritually. They wait until Satan
attacks and then at the last minute try to exercise spiritually by
reading a few verses and praying under pressure. Any time we read God's
Word and applies it to our lives, it is good, but usually when the man
stops us in the alley or Satan attacks our home, it's too late to
exercise our body or our faith.
If our spiritual muscles aren't built up before the
attack, we may find the attack more than we had expected. Be prepared.
Build your faith daily. Then when the attack comes, your shield of faith
will protect you.
So here's the point. We must walk by faith each and
every day. We cannot live like the world six days a week and then put in
our two hours and two dollars on Sunday and expect that to be our
faith.
Walking by faith is a lifestyle. Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Everything we do, everything we seek to accomplish, each day is to be in faith.
A few years ago, a friend of mind was facing a
disaster in his life. He was at the end of his rope and didn't know
where to turn. He had tried everything except God, but now he was
desperate. He would try anything to get out of the jam he was in. He
wanted me to tell him how to pray to God and how to get his prayers
answered.
Even though this man was a Christian, he always tried
to solve everything in his life by his own power. I knew that in order
for him to be helped, he needed some straightforward teaching and needed
to be shown these teachings in the Word.
I showed him that according to James 1:6, we must
pray in faith if we expect to receive anything from God. I told him that
when we pray according to God's Word, we must believe and expect God to
answer our requests.
A few weeks went by and I ran into this man at a
local store. When I asked him how things were going, he made an
all-too-common statement. He said, ”Well, I tried praying in faith, but
it didn't work. Somehow I knew before I even prayed it wouldn't and I
guess I was right.”
Well, you don't try faith. When we say we will try
faith, we are admitting that there is a chance our prayers won't be
answered. When we believe there is a chance our prayers won't be
answered, there is doubt. Where there is doubt there is no faith. Where
there is no faith, God is restricted by His own Word.
Sometimes I Cry
Daily Smile: I have this big problem, doctor – everyone is calling me crazy just because I love hot dogs …
- That’s stupid, in my opinion – frankly, I adore hot dogs too, but nobody calls me crazy ...
- Really? Great, doctor! Why don’t you come along with me and I’ll show you my collection! In The News: Supreme Court Denies Prop 8 Backers' Request to Halt California Same-Sex Marriages
The U.S. Supreme Court on Sunday denied an emergency application filed
by the sponsors of California's Proposition 8 urging the court to
immediately halt the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses that resumed
Friday after an appeals court lifted the ban "prematurely," the
Christian Post reports.
Arizona-based Alliance Defending Freedom, whose attorneys filed the
application Saturday on behalf of ProtectMarriage, the official sponsors
of Prop 8, said the Supreme Court declined to vacate Friday's
"premature order" from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in
the lawsuit concerning California's 2008 voter-approved marriage
amendment. The application argued the 9th Circuit's order prematurely
lifted a stay on a district court order that had declared the amendment
unconstitutional. Under Supreme Court procedural rules, "final
disposition" comes when the Supreme Court issues a "mandate" to the 9th
Circuit, at least 25 days after announcing its opinion in the case,
according to ProtectMarriage: "The 25-day waiting period is provided to
allow parties such as Prop 8's proponents to petition the Supreme Court
for a re-hearing of the case." Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy
declined the request "even though court rules require the 9th Circuit to
wait for a certified copy of the judgment from the Supreme Court before
taking action," Alliance Defending Freedom said. "The high court has
not yet issued its certified judgment." Alliance Defending Freedom
senior counsel Austin R. Nimocks said: "Everyone on all sides of the
marriage debate should agree that the legal process must be followed.
The 9th Circuit made a clear representation upon which all parties
should be able to rely -- that the stay would remain in place until
final disposition by the Supreme Court.
"When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down
from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, 'Come, make us gods who
will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we
don't know what has happened to him'" (Exodus 32:1 NIV).
"As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken
him" (2 Chronicles 13:10 NIV).
The nation of Israel that Moses led out of bondage in Egypt was
stubborn. Their stubbornness against God's plan started to manifest the day
Pharaoh increased their burden for asking for "a three-day journey into
the desert to offer sacrifices the LORD" (see Exodus 5). However, their
statement in Exodus 32:1 indicates that Moses had become their god. When Moses
stayed with the LORD on their behalf and they did not see him, they wanted
another "god" that would continue to lead them in their journey.
Was Moses really the person that led them out of Egypt or he was
just an instrument in the hands of God, the real Deliverer? Was it necessary
for the people of Israel to see Moses before they could proceed in their
journey to the Promise Land? Should they have any visible "god" that
would lead them to their destination?
Many at times we also think and behave like the Israelites. We
worship a particular person or thing. Knowingly or unknowingly, we idolize such
person or thing. Any attempt to lose the person or thing, we would also lose
hope and try to find alternative in another person or thing.
To some people, pastors and other leaders are "gods."
When the pastors or the leaders are in sight, such people would be active in
the church activities and in their spiritual lives. Reverse would be the case
when the pastor or the leader is not.
Who or what is your "god"? In who or what do you put
your hope? The writer of the book of Hebrews admonishes, "Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith?" (12:2 NIV). Fixing
your eyes on any other person or thing will land you in the same syndrome as
the people of Israel. Let the LORD God be your God. Trust only in Him. He will
not let you down.
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in
the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
Worthy Is The Lamb
Daily Smile: Canadian geese are known to fly in a "V" shaped as they migrate across
the county. The lead goose in the "V" cuts through the air making it
easier for the rest of the geese behind him. As that lead goose becomes
tired, he will drop off and join one of the sides and a new lead goose
will take over. This is done several times as they are flying long
distances. So if you look up in the sky and see a "V" shape of geese
and one side is longer than the other, do you know what that means?
A:(There are more geese on that side) In The News: Canada Provides Refuge for Pakistani Christian Girl Accused of Blasphemy
A teenage Christian girl fled Pakistan with her family after a Muslim
cleric falsely accused her of burning pages from the Quran. After
spending months in hiding, Rimsha Masih and her family are now in
Canada, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said over the weekend, WORLDreports.
Rimsha was arrested in August in Islamabad after the cleric made the
accusation. He was later accused of fabricating the evidence and she was
acquitted, but those accused of blasphemy in Pakistan are often subject
to vigilante justice. Mobs have been known to attack and kill people
accused of blasphemy, and two prominent politicians who have discussed
changes to the blasphemy laws have been killed. Rimsha left Pakistan
with her parents, three sisters, and a brother on March 14, attorney
Tahir Naveed Chaudhry said. A Muslim cleric who lobbied for her release,
Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, said Rimsha had been facing threats and was
moving constantly. "I am sad that this innocent girl had to leave
Pakistan," he said. "She had been acquitted by the court, and despite
that it was not possible for her to live freely." Kenney said he had
been following the case when a Pakistani contact asked him in January
whether the family could come to Canada. Privacy concerns prevented
Canada's immigration service from saying whether she was in the country
at first, but Rimsha's lawyer confirmed it on Saturday. Kenney said he
has instructed immigration officials to process their applications for
permanent residency under humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.
BIBLE MEDITATION: “Jesus
answered and said...if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou
removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” Matthew 21:21
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When a nation loses its ability to discern morality, it embarks on a
slippery slope toward self-destruction, especially when it comes to
basic sexual morality.
When a nation turns its back on the
commands of God, He will say, “That’s the last step. I wash My hands.
You asked for it. You got it.”
America is in a crisis, and
unless we have a moral rebirth, we will join the graveyard of the
nations—it’s time to wake up. Time is passing—it’s time to look up.
Jesus is coming—it’s time to sober up. Satan is working—it’s time to
pray up. Mountains need moving.
ACTION POINT: Ask the Lord to heal our land, forgiving the iniquities of the wicked by bringing salvation to their souls.
In The News:
Syria: Catholic Priest Beheaded by al Qaeda-Linked Rebels as Men and Children Cheer
Syrian Catholic priest Francois Murad was beheaded last weekend by jihadi fighters, The Blaze reports.
Murad, 49, who was setting up a monastery in Gassanieh, in northern
Syria, was attacked at the monastery last Sunday by extremist militants
trying to topple President Bashar Assad. While earlier reports suggested
Murad may have been shot to death, Catholic Online reported Saturday:
"The Vatican is confirming the death by beheading of Franciscan Father
Francois Murad, who was martyred by Syrian jihadists on June 23." The
Catholic news service quoted local sources who reported that the radical
al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, or Al-Nusra Front, was behind the
savage killing. In video posted by Live Leak purporting to show the
execution, dozens of men and boys are seen cheering on as three men are
seated on the ground awaiting their grisly fate. The men are
methodically beheaded one at a time by men holding what appears to be a
simple kitchen knife, after which the heads are placed on top of the
bodies. According to Catholic Online, the first victim was Murad. A
frenzy ensues, with dozens drawing out their smartphones to capture the
bloody scene, as a chorus of Allahu Akbar ("Allah is the greatest") is
sung. Several observers are seen moving within inches of the bodies in
an effort to capture close-up photos. Catholic Online is raising alarm
that western nations are providing support to the rebels who have shown a
proclivity toward persecuting Christians: "This should make it clear to
Christians around the world what jihadists are about. Make no mistake.
Catholics and [other] Christians around the globe are under dire threat,
particularly from the spread of militant Islam. Until the threat is
recognized and taken seriously, martyrdoms like this will continue."
China Clamps Down on Families Who Rescue Abandoned Babies
(WNS) -- Orphaned children hold on to their toys at
the Bethel foster home for the care and education of blind and disabled
children in Lan Fang, China.
China has banned groups and individuals from privately adopting
abandoned infants, making it much harder for babies without families to
find good homes. The country’s Ministry of Civil Affairs announced
Tuesday that people who find an abandoned child must immediately tell
local residential committees and the police and not adopt the child at
will.
Tens of thousands of infants are abandoned each year in China due
primarily to its strict one-child policy, which limits most urban
couples to one child and rural couples to two. A traditional preference
for male heirs leads many families to abandon the girls and disabled
children that have not been aborted, hoping to have a boy. Poverty and
the social stigma for unwed mothers are also factors.
China’s adoption law forbids baby trafficking, including in the name of
adoption, but did not specify whether individuals could keep abandoned
babies. The new rules that forbid keeping such babies are outlined in a
document from several government departments that was posted on the
Ministry of Civil Affairs’ website.
The new rules mean people who want to adopt Chinese children
domestically must meet the requirements leveled under official channels,
including being healthy, over 30, and childless.
People who use abandoned children for illegal and profitable ends will
be severely punished, the rules say, without specifying what that
entails.
The document also sets out measures police should take when an
abandoned baby is found, requiring them to try to find the parents or
guardians. The police are to transfer children to a
government-sanctioned nursing home for temporary care. The homes only
take the children under official care if no guardian is found within a
certain period.
China’s chronically underfunded state orphanage system has been unable
to adequately provide shelter for many of the children who have been
abandoned. Often, such services have been left to private citizens with
few resources and no legal authority. In January, the issue was
highlighted when a fire at an illegally run orphanage killed six
children and one young adult.
Zhou Xiaozheng of Renmin University’s School of Society and Population
Studies said around 200,000 babies are abandoned in China each year,
mostly girls whose parents wanted to try again for a boy.
“It’s good for the government to strengthen its management of abandoned
children, but it will also bring revenue to the government because any
potential adopters must pay a handsome adoption fee,” Zhou said.
But the revenue will only come if families are willing to pay the fee
to adopt. In a country where thousands of children are orphaned, some
question whether making the process more difficult and expensive is
going to remedy the problem.
c. 2013 WORLD News Service. Used with permission.
Massive Crowds of Egyptians Take to Streets in Protests Calling for Morsi to Step Down
Washington, D.C. (ICC) -- International Christian
Concern continues to monitor the situation in Egypt as millions of
Egyptians took to the streets in protest against Islamist president
Mohammed Morsi. June 30 marked the one-year anniversary of Morsi's
entrance to office, but the majority of Egyptians feel betrayed due to
his dictatorial style, his now-apparent radical Islamist agenda and his
economic mismanagement. They are demanding that Morsi step down.
Estimates of the number of demonstrators who opposed President Morsi
are as high as 14-17 million, according to the Egyptian Interior
Ministry, Al-Jazeera reported. The opposition group represents people
from a wide swath of Egyptian society, including liberal secularists,
moderate Muslims and Egypt's Christian community.
Tamarod, or "Rebel," one of the organizing groups of the
demonstrations, reportedly collected more than 22 million signatures
calling for early presidential elections and urging the masses to work
to "achieve a society of dignity, justice and freedom." The 22 million
signatures are nearly 10 million more than the number of votes Morsi
received in the 2012 elections. Hal Meawad, a spokesman for Coptic
Solidarity, told ICC, "He is not the president of the majority; he was
only voted in by 14 percent of Egyptians."
The massive crowds filled Cairo's Tahrir Square, the area outside the
presidential palace in Cairo's Heliopolis district, and cities
throughout Egypt. The clashes between Morsi's opponents and supporters
resulted in the death of at least seven people; and more than 600 were
injured, Ahram reports.
The protests continued through the night. Early Monday morning, the
headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) was stormed and set on fire,
though no MB members were thought to be in the building. "The millions
of Egyptians who demand Morsi step down don't understand that they face a
strong [movement], not just one person [Morsi] or even a group [the
Muslim Brotherhood]," Yasser Khalil, a journalist from Cairo told ICC.
"The [Islamic movement to turn Egypt into a theocracy] is backed by many
groups and supporters. The Muslim Brotherhood though [which Morsi is a
member of] is the biggest loser of popularity. However there are more
than 26 Islamic political parties and religious groups still popular,
and they back the [movement] and some of them are ready to fight for
it," Khalil continued.
"The huge demonstrations of June 30, 2013, reflect that the experience
of political Islam is at the beginning of the end," Khalil said. The
Tamarod group has issued an ultimatum calling for President Morsi to
step down before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, threatening a civil
disobedience campaign if he does not. "This date [July 2 at 5 p.m.] can
be considered the beginning of a general civil disobedience for the sake
of implementing the will of the Egyptian people," Tamarod said in a
statement published on its website.
The economic collapse under the Morsi government, the growing
Islamization of the country, and the abuses of human rights are at the
center of the protests. "The country is suffering in every area of life,
unemployment is sky-rocketing. There is no security. The country is
suffering from a total breakdown of law and order. The only industry
that is booming is kidnapping for ransom," said Meawad.
There is a fear that the removal of another president via massive
public protests makes the establishment of a stable political system
even more challenging. Yet, the opposition feels that Morsi has lost all
legitimacy and that dialogue will not change anything fundamentally.
Despite pressure from Morsi to keep Christians from joining, many took
part, as they have been especially abused during Morsi's year in office.
"Christians were struggling under Mubarak; but there is a huge
difference between Mubarak rule and Brotherhood rule. Morsi and the
Brotherhood want to establish an Islamic state in Egypt. Now we have
active persecution. We have the government actively participating in the
persecution," Meawad told ICC.
Todd Daniels, ICC regional manager for the Middle East, said: "The
opposition protests taking place in Egypt represent a huge swath of
society that are opposed to Morsi and his MB's Islamist government.
Morsi's Islamist agenda has alienated large segments of the population,
pushed the country to the brink of economic collapse, and contributed to
a culture of violence and abuse especially directed toward Christians.
Whether this movement leads to a new government and fundamental rights
for all of its citizens remains to be seen."
International Christian Concern
is a Washington, D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to
help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides awareness, advocacy
and assistance to the worldwide persecuted church.
“But God will rescue me; he will save me from the power of death” (Psalm 49:15 TEV).
The
hymn, “It is Well with My Soul” is one of the most popular Christian
hymns. Horatio Gates Spafford (1828–1888) composed it. When Spafford was
forty-three years old as a Chicago businessman, he suffered financial
disaster in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He and his wife were still
grieving over the death of their son shortly before the fire, and he
realized they needed to get away for a vacation. Knowing that their
friend Dwight L. Moody was going to be preaching in evangelistic
campaigns in England that fall, Spafford decided to take the entire
family to England. His wife and four daughters went ahead by a ship, and
he planned to follow in a
few days. Nevertheless, on the Atlantic Ocean, an iron sailing vessel
struck the ship and the ship sank within twelve minutes. Two hundred and
twenty-six lives were lost—including the Spaffords’ four daughters.
When the survivors were brought to shore at Cardiff, Wales, Mrs. Anna
Spafford cabled her husband with two words: “Saved alone.” Spafford
booked passage on the next ship. As they were crossing the Atlantic, the
captain pointed out the place where he thought the first ship had gone
down. That night, Spafford penned the words of the hymn: “When peace
like a river attendeth my way. . . it is well, it is well with my soul.”
One
of the close associates of Jesus Christ betrayed Him. He was arrested,
tried and condemned to die on the cross. He was crucified and died.
However, as the Psalmist prophesied in Psalm 49:15, God saved Him from
the power of death, and He resurrected on the third day. The suffering
and
death of Jesus Christ were not pleasant, but He triumphed over
everything. Today, His name is exalted above every other name “that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11 NIV). Horatio and Anna
Spafford later moved to Israel and became channels of God’s blessings
to many people there. It was indeed well with their souls.
Trial,
temptation, hardship, calamity, death of loved one, or anything that
happens to us is not the end of the road. No matter what you may be
passing through, the Lord will indeed rescue you from all of it and you
will join Horatio Spafford to sincerely sing, “It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.” “Weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NIV).
In His
service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
In The News: My Country 'Tis of Thee: Evangelicals Score Highest on Patriotism
WASHINGTON (RNS)
-- When it comes to God and country, white evangelicals report the most
intense patriotic feelings in a new poll, with more than two-thirds (68
percent) saying they are extremely proud to be an American.
That figure was markedly higher than for white mainline Protestants (56
percent), minority Christians (49 percent), Catholics (48 percent) and
religiously unaffiliated Americans (39 percent), according to the study,
conducted by the Washington-based Public Religion Research Institute in
partnership with Religion News Service.
White evangelicals are also more likely than any other religious group
surveyed to believe that God has granted the U.S. a special role in
history (84 percent) and to say they will likely attend a public July
4th celebration (62 percent).
On the other end of the spectrum, relatively few religiously
unaffiliated Americans believe in a God-given American exceptionalism,
(40 percent) or plan to attend a public Independence Day celebration (48
percent).
Eric Metaxas, the popular Christian author and speaker, said
evangelicals “are not patriotic and pro-American in a tribalistic,
nationalistic, or jingoistic sense.
“But they do tend to be pro-America because they believe that the ideas
of the Founders — religious liberty at the head of them — have been a
huge blessing to those on our shores – and to those beyond them.”
“Like Gov. Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th
century,” Metaxas continued, “evangelicals see America as being blessed
by God to be a blessing to others, to be a ‘city on a hill.’ And to the
extent that that’s true, they celebrate that.”
But Dan Cox, PRRI’s research director, said the study of 1,007 adults
might say as much about cultural and regional differences among
Americans as religious distinctions.
“A lot of evangelicals live in the South, and flying a flag from your
house or car, and singing the national anthem — not just standing for it
— is infused in Southern life,” said Cox.
“In the South and in many rural areas, we see a cultural terrain that
is more likely to embrace Americana in ways that people who live outside
the South don’t get,” he said.
Similarly, a person’s lack of religiosity doesn’t necessarily signal a lack of patriotism.
Instead, the relative lack of a visible patriotism among the one in
five Americans who are religiously unaffiliated may be better explained
by their perceptions that they are culturally distinct from the rest of
the country, Cox added.
The poll found that unaffiliated Americans are more likely than other
religious groups to report that they are very different from the typical
American, and Americans who believe they are atypical are also much
less likely to say they are extremely patriotic (35 percent) than those
who see themselves as typical (59 percent).
It may also come down to politics: The unaffiliated tend to be liberal,
and liberals tend to view their patriotism in different ways than
conservatives, who, as the poll shows, are much more likely to embrace
public displays of patriotism.
“Many liberals argue that they can be patriotic as they criticize their
country, and exercise their First Amendment rights to express
dissenting opinion,” Cox added.
In general, the poll found that Americans are proud to be Americans,
with eight in 10 reporting that they are extremely (51 percent) or very
proud (31 percent).
Asked what makes them proud to be an American, those surveyed said:
Their military service or American military achievements, including the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden (17 percent)
The nation’s response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks (14 percent)
Freedom in American society (12 percent)
About one-third (31 percent) said there has been a time when they were
not proud to be an American — the most cited reasons given were the wars
in Iraq and Vietnam (29 percent) and poor treatment of minorities and
racism (14 percent.)
The study, conducted June 5-9, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
c. 2013 Religion News Service. Used with permission.
"What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. " - 2 Corinthians 6:16 The Vietnam War memorial in Washington, D.C., has become one of the
most visited and emotional sites in the nation's capital. What sets it
apart from other memorials? Carved into that black granite wall are
more than 58,000 names of Americans who gave their lives building a
foundation for freedom.
In 1 Kings 9, we find Solomon, having built the temple, now dedicating
it to God. Here is God's response, verse 3: "I have heard the prayer
and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which
you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart
will always be there."
Solomon built a physical temple, but only God could hallow it and
consecrate it to Himself. In the New Testament, God tells us of living
temples -- the people of God.
And only God can sanctify us to Himself. He promises that those whom He
sets apart for Himself have His eye, His heart, His love, and His care
upon them.
Sanctification begins with God's call to us in Christ. It is put in
motion when we respond by faith and give our lives to Him. And it
continues with God's work of molding us to be more like the person of Jesus Christ. We must dedicate ourselves to Him and cooperate by obeying His commands, but the sanctifying belongs to Him.
The apostle Paul
wrote, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 1:6). Prayer
"Lord, when I get discouraged by my inability to be holy, remind me that I can do nothing unless You do it in me. Amen. "
Holiness does not come from observing a list of do's and don'ts; it comes from God's supernatural work in me as I obey Him.
In The News: 19 Firefighters Killed in Arizona Blaze: 'Our Entire Crew Was Lost'
The state of Arizona is mourning the loss of 19 firefighters who died Sunday battling a wildfire northwest of Phoenix, CNN reports.
The firefighters were part of an elite squad who confronted wildfires
up close, setting up barriers to stop the spreading destruction. It was
the deadliest day for firefighters since 9/11, and it is the deadliest
wildland fire since 1933, according to a list from the U.S. National
Wildfire Coordinating Group. "Our entire crew was lost," Prescott fire
chief Dan Fraijo said Sunday night. "We just lost 19 of some of the
finest people you'll ever meet. Right now, we're in crisis." Fraijo said
he did not know the exact circumstances surrounding the firefighters'
deaths and wouldn't speculate on a cause, but he said drought
conditions, combined with winds that whipped unpredictably, have made
battling the flames especially difficult. Authorities believe lightning
sparked the Yarnell Hill fire on Friday. By Sunday night, it had
scorched more than 6,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures,
incident commander Mike Reichling said. Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Janet Napolitano urged residents in the area to heed local
authorities' instructions, while lamenting the loss of so many
firefighters. President Barack Obama also lauded the efforts of the
fallen firefighters, saying their deaths are heartbreaking and "our
thoughts and prayers go out" to their families.
Chick-fil-A CEO: 'Founding Fathers Would Be Ashamed' of Supreme Court Ruling
Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy has spoken out against gay marriage
once again. Following the Supreme Court rulings Wednesday striking down
the Defense of Marriage Act and opening the door for same-sex marriages
in California, Cathy took to Twitter to criticize the rulings, CBS reports.
"Sad day for our nation; founding fathers would be ashamed of our gen.
to abandon wisdom of the ages re: cornerstone of strong societies,"
Cathy tweeted. It was later deleted from his account. In a statement to The Wall Street Journal,
Chick-fil-A said it was not focusing on the Supreme Court rulings. "We
believe in providing great-tasting food and genuine hospitality to
everyone -- so our focus is on running an exceptional restaurant
company," the statement read. "Therefore, we are leaving political
decisions and discussions to others and focusing only on what we do
best." Cathy created a firestorm last year
when he spoke out in favor of traditional marriage, leading to protests
and boycotts of Chick-fil-A. Thousands of supporters though flocked to
restaurants nationwide last August for "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" to
stand behind the company's platform.
Court: Hobby Lobby Can Challenge Obamacare Without Paying Penalties
In a decision giving hope to opponents of the federal contraception
coverage mandate, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Hobby
Lobby won't have to start paying millions of dollars in fines next week
for not complying with the requirement, Fox News reports.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver decided the Oklahoma
City-based arts-and-crafts chain can proceed with its case against the
government without being subjected to fines in the process. The reprieve
gives Hobby Lobby more time to argue in a lower court that for-profit
businesses -- not just currently exempted religious groups -- should be
allowed to seek an exception if the law violates their religious
beliefs. The company had sued to overturn the mandate on the grounds
that it violates the faith of founder and CEO David Green and his
family. "Sincerely religious persons could find a connection between the
exercise of religion and the pursuit of profit," the judges wrote.
"Would an incorporated kosher butcher really have no claim to challenge
a regulation mandating non-kosher butchering practices?" Lawyers for
the Greens called the court’s ruling a "resounding victory for religious
freedom."
Sri Lanka: Church Attack Injures Five
Five Sri Lankan believers sustained injuries after a Buddhist monk and a
mob stormed the New Life Church in Hanwella, Colombo District, on
Sunday, Open Doors USA
reports. At about 9:45 a.m., a Buddhist monk stopped the New Life
Church pastor who was out on a personal errand. "The monk hurled
derogatory words and picked up a fallen coconut branch and assaulted the
pastor," according to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of
Sri Lanka. "A week prior to this, the [same] monk went to the village
school principal and demanded that the pastor be removed from the school
committee." The pastor fled to his church, but the relentless Buddhist
monk pursued him. When the pastor reached the church premises, about 20
young men were already gathered outside waiting for him. The men
encircled the pastor and they began to beat him for allegedly assaulting
the same Buddhist monk. "The mob then forcibly entered the church,"
NCEASL said, "disrupting a worship service that was taking place. They
assaulted the church members who were praying and damaged the musical
instruments inside."
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to
go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." - John 15:16 Let's begin today with a little absurdity. Let's say an investment firm
phones a wealthy person and asks him to let them invest all his money for him.
I'm sure the rich man would ask, "And what would be the return on my
investment?" Here comes the shocker. "Based on our research, we
can guarantee that you will lose no more that $50,000 a year. Yes, sir, you can
count on it. Let us take control of your money, and in a few years you will be
broke." The man would decline the offer, wouldn't he? Of
course he would!
Now, Christian, if we have only one life to
invest, we'd better ask about the bottom line. What does God promise in John 15
to those who follow Christ? First, Jesus says, "If a man remains in me and I in
him, he will bear much fruit" (verse 5). Second, "If you remain in me and my
words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (verse 7).
Third, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may
be complete" (verse 11). Fourth, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my
love" (verse 10). Think of it! A life enveloped in the love of God. Then He
summarizes: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and
bear fruit... Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name" (verse
16). Friend, how do you like those dividends!
Prayer
Lord, may I seek my all in You. Amen.
The
world tries to buy joy, love, and lasting fruit. But those things only come to
us one way--by abiding in Christ!
Daily Smile:
In The News:
Syrian Christians: 'Why is the U.S. at War With Us?'
Syrian Christians are asking why the United States supports extremists
who want to turn Syria into an Islamic state, according to CBN News.
That testimony came during a congressional hearing on Syria's religious
minorities on Tuesday. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who chairs the House
subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, called on
President Barack Obama to defend the rights of Syrian Christians. Smith
said statistics showed that "Christians are even more fearful for their
lives and safety than other segments of the Syrian population." Nina
Shea, director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom,
testified that Islamic insurgents were targeting Christians for
"ethno-religious cleansing." Christian Solidarity International CEO Dr.
John Eibner said displaced Christians were asking him, "Why is the U.S.
at war against us?" Eibner told the panel he recently returned from a
trip to Syria where he met with "many resilient and courageous Syrians,"
mainly displaced Christians and church workers. "Victims recounted to
me the religious cleansing of Christian neighborhoods in Homs and Qusair
by armed jihadists who threatened them with death if they did not leave
their homes," he said. He added that the U.S. should work with Russia
to negotiate peace rather than help Sunni Muslims turn the country into
an Islamic state.
Laos: Christian Families Evicted From Land Refuse to Leave Faith
Local authorities have taken the citizenship and farmland of six
Christian families in Laos, promising to reinstate them only when the 16
people give up their Christian faith, Voice of the Martyrs
reports. In December, authorities and village party members confiscated
the registration papers of the families, saying they would be returned
if they renounced their faith. Next, they also took the deeds to their
land. On May 7, when two Christian leaders attempted to intercede for
the families with the vice president of the Patriotic Front, they were
told that return of the registration papers and the land deeds was
contingent on the families renouncing their faith. The families said,
"We are willing to die rather than renounce our faith." Voice of the
Martyrs is helping the believers with food and fuel.
Traditional Marriage Supporters: Court Set Dangerous Precedent
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday essentially legalized gay marriage
in California after ruling that defenders of Proposition 8, the
voter-approved amendment defining marriage as being between a man and
woman, had no legal standing to defend it. Backers of Prop 8 say the
court has set a dangerous precedent that in effect neutralizes the will
of the people who vote, CBN News reports.
"The definition of marriage should be left to the people. When the
people validly enact a law to limit marriage to one man and one woman,
it should be the people who decide whether that law should be reversed,"
said attorney Robert Tyler of Advocates for Faith and Freedom. Karen Kenney of the San Fernando Valley Patriots called
Wednesday's ruling a new kind of tyranny in which the courts advocate
social justice over social structure and social traditions and
standards. Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute,
said: "If someone doesn't like a proposition that has passed in the
state of California, arguably, all they would have to do, is find one
judge, one federal judge to declare it unconstitutional, and then to get
a wink and nod from the attorney general and the governor, and it's
over. I think that's a terrible, terrible situation to have for the
voters -- to have their votes count -- and to have their votes respected
in a proper system." It will take at least 25 days before the Supreme
Court's ruling becomes official and gay marriages resume in California.
If supporters of Proposition 8 ask for a re-hearing, then gay marriages
may still be barred beyond the 25-day period.
Algeria's Protestants Want Their Churches Back
The Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA) has reaffirmed its desire to
regain control of several former churches used today for other purposes,
World Watch Monitor
reports. Christians are the distinct minority in Algeria, representing
less than 1 percent of Algeria's 38 million inhabitants, and often face
restrictions when seeking to build new churches. The presence of
Protestant Christians in Algeria dates back to the French colonial era,
when a number of churches were built. However, after the country gained
independence in 1962, many of these buildings were given to other
purposes. One example is the temple of Mostaganem in the northwest of
the country, which became a clinic in 1976. In the north-eastern city of
Béjaïa, a temple once belonging to the Evangelical Reformed Church (now
the EPA), was given by local authorities to the General Union of
Algerian Workers (UGTA) after the church's pastor fell seriously ill and
returned to France. Now, Protestants in cities like Béjaïa and
Mostaganem are petitioning for their old churches to be returned.
