Dead sea scrolls article

Here is a fascinating article on the dead sea scrolls.

Kacie in KC

Young friend of God, Kacie Watson, on staff with the nightwatch in KC is now blogging here!

Voice of the Martyrs prayer update

VOM News and Prayer Update: February 6, 2007

"As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
For who is God, except the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
God is my strength and power,
And He makes my way perfect."(2 Samuel 22:31-33)

COLOMBIA
Teachers Forced to Deny Christ - VOM Sources
A VOM contact reports that three teachers working with a tribal group are being forced to deny Christ in order to be permitted to teach for the next year. All three teachers intend to stand firm. An effort is being made in some of the tribal areas to eliminate Christianity. Pray God gives these believers courage to stand against this persecution. Ask God to protect them and use their experiences to bring others to Christ. 1 Corinthians 16:13

CHINA
Christians Arrested in China - VOM Sources /China Aid Association

• On January 22, 2007, three "Minority for Christ" workers were arrested in Guizhou province. Guizhou has one of the largest Hmong populations and is also one of the strongest Communist provinces in China.
• VOM sources also report that security police arrested 11 Korean Christians after visiting a local village in China. After extensive interrogation they were released. The group is helping a local village build a new church building.
• On January 26, 2007, Hua Huidi and his 76-year-old mother were attacked and wounded by seven police officers while walking near a 2008 Olympic hotel site in Beijing, China. According to China Aid Association (CAA), Hua, an active house-church member in Beijing, and his mother were kicked on the ground and later taken to the Olympic Police Station for questioning. "When Hua asked the police to release his sick mother and explain the legal ground for the detention, he was beaten repeatedly. While the temperature in Beijing was in the 20s, cold water was poured on him. He was later taken to a detention center," CAA said. Hua's family learned that he was sentenced to one month of criminal detention.

Pray God continues to protect Christians in China. Persecution is expected to intensify ahead of the 2008 Olympics. Ask God to give believers wisdom and courage as they face these difficult times. Deuteronomy 31:6

UZBEKISTAN
Pastor Arrested by Secret Police in Uzbekistan - VOM Sources/ Compass Direct News
A pastor was arrested by Uzbek secret police on January 21. During the raid of the Full Gospel Church in Andijan, secret service officers asked Pastor Dmitry Shestakov to step outside with them for five minutes. They then escorted him to the nearest police station. At last report, he was still in police custody. The pastor is accused of "incitement of national, racial and religious enmity," under Article 156 of Uzbekistan's penal code. He could face up to five years in prison if convicted of this charge. Pray God will give this Christian brother the right words to say when he stands before accusing authorities. Pray the Holy Spirit will bring his neighbors, friends and persecutors to Christ through his faithful witness.Romans 12:14, 21

ZIMBABWE
Christian Leaders Arrested - VOM Sources
The entire leadership of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) and some journalists were arrested during a meeting in Kadoma on January 26. The alliance is involved in a number of measures to support those suffering from the on-going political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe and to work toward a resolution. At least 1000 people gathered in and around a church building to pray for Zimbabwe when armed riot police raided the meeting and arrested the leaders. Eight senior leaders were charged with holding an illegal political meeting. During interrogation, they were accused of working to overthrow President Robert Mugabe. After being interrogated throughout the weekend, the eight were arraigned on January 29 and released on $100,000 Zimbabwe dollars ($415 US) bail each. They are scheduled to appear in court on March 5. Those facing charges are Jonah Gokova, Pastor Raymond Motsi, Pius Wakatama, Pastor Ancelemon Magaya, Pastor Watson Mugabe, Pastor Zvizai Chiponda, Lawrence Berejina and Gerald Mubaiwa. Pray those charged will be acquitted. Thank God for their release. Ask God to encourage the leadership of ZCA to faithfully carry out their God-given task. 1 Peter 5:1-4

UPDATE - Chinese House Church Leaders Released
Nine house-church leaders arrested in the village of Chencun, Henan province on January 6, 2007, were released from prison on January 20. The church leaders were not given any legal certificate of their arrest, detention or release. Local Christians believe police deliberately refused the Christians any legal evidence of their detention in order to prevent possible lawsuits. Thank God for the release of these believers. Pray their persecutors will be brought to justice.

Damare, an overcomer through the cross of Christ

'Voice of the Martyrs' web site offers this shirt in homage to a young persecuted Sudanese Christian. The web site describes it as:

a "... contemporary T-shirt representing Damare, a young Sudanese boy who was persecuted. His knees and feet were nailed to a board and he was left to die -- just for attending a church service. Miraculously, he survived and told The Voice of the Martyrs that he forgave his cruel tormenter, because Jesus was nailed and forgave him. This T-shirt will remind you and others of our family in Christ around the world and their amazing faith."

See the web site here.

Merchant band video

Good interview, check it out:

Isaiah 40

25 “ To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“ My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Update from Ireland

Got the following update from my friend Jeremy Gadd in Ireland:

Time for Change

This is the first newsletter for some time. Part of this is becausein the last few months we have moved house. Not only have we movedhouse but have had a radical change of lifestyle. We are now members of the community at The Christian Renewal Centre in Rostrevor. Rather than explain what this is I will quote from the web site (http://www.crc-rostrevor.org):

'The Community at the Christian Renewal Centre was founded in 1974 asa group of Christians drawn together by God from different Churches both Catholic and Protestant and since then also from the new Community and Fellowship Churches. While remaining members of these Churches, we seek, through the power of the Holy Spirit to demonstrate and proclaim the uniting love of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

God called us then to pray and work for reconciliation, through prayer and renewal, in His Church in Ireland and abroad. With the changes in Ireland - spiritually, politically and socially - He has been leading us to redefine this vision. Ireland is still our primary field of ministry, reconciliation and renewal are still central to our work, but the key area of emphasis in ministry is prayer. Prayer for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit in reconciliation, renewal and revival.

Recognising the transforming power of God through prayer, we, as a community, are committed to prayer in its many forms - worship, petition, thanksgiving, supplication, intercession, etc.

'So our ministry is now, for the time being, worked out through ourlife at the Centre and as part of that community. Check the RenewalCentre's web site for more details about what we do there as a community of people.

24 Hour Worship in 2007

We are running a series of monthly 24 hour 'Worship Watches' of worship, meditation & prayer throughout 2007 in the Renewal Centre. As ever, you do not have to come for the whole 24 hours but are free to come and go as you please.

16th - 17th February
16th - 17th March
20th - 21st April
18th - 19th May
15th - 17th June (72 hours)
17th - 18th August
21st - 22nd September
19th - 20th October
16th - 17th November
(NB. not in July or December)

These all run from 8pm to 8pm. In our recent times of worship at the Renewal Centre we have sensed the Lord emphasising that there is breakthrough coming if we will press in and persevere in worship and prayer. These regular monthly gatherings are times to continue that pressing in. God is looking for a dwelling place for His presence (Isaiah 66 vs. 1-2).

We have a leaflet in 2 sizes to help promote this - an A4 poster sizeand an A5 flier. You can download and print them out for your own calendar and/or to promote in your church, prayer group, house group,etc. You can get them by clicking here<http://www.gatewayministries.co.uk/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,41/Itemid,37/lang,en/>

What super bowl?

After such a mild season, it snowed last week and this week's forecast looks chilly and brisk. Thats been my observation from the years we've lived in Charlotte: the pit of winter hits the first half of February and then it gets on track to spring rather steadily. Right now there is a 20% chance of snow on Saturday morning.

I did not catch much of the Super Bowl; we had a great time last night listening to stories by Chief Blue, the leader of the Catawba nation whose reservation is in Fort Mill. He tag-teamed with Niegel Bigpond, a Yuchi tribe ministry leader from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It seemed to me to be a significant time of building relationships and receiving a blessing from the host people, the Catawbas. An evening to remember for sure.

Wisdom is known by her children

IHOP is tweaking on the model; read the update here: http://onethingblog.com/?p=72#more-72