Sojourn into marvelous light: 2008-03-30

Friday, April 4, 2008

Bolivia matters

Map of Bolivia from the CIA World Factbook.

Bolivia is shaking tremendously with elections for possible consitutional changes on the front burner in the next couple of months. The current governmental leaders in power over the nation are looking to expand their authority in areas such as education and natural resources, yet there is stiff regional opposition in some areas including Santa Cruz. With something like 60 percent of Bolivians being of direct indigenous descent and the president himself being the first indigenous president, the current administration is pursuing reform to empower and recognize the indigenous communities in the nation that have functioned peripherally to the national government in such regards as systems of justice. The friction in the nation is great, Bolivia needs your prayer.

Iceland items

As you watch and pray for Iceland, one item of note is their currency (the Krona). Not being part of the EU, they haven't deferred to the Euro as the legal coinage of the nation, though its easy to believe forces at work in the world would prefer Iceland to "join up". The head of Iceland's central bank refers to such forces at play. While the house of prayer in Iceland is small, it is also mighty in God for He does not despise the prayer of the weak. He is building prayer now for the harvest is pending. This is a time to sow in prayer, but soon there will be a remarkable reaping if we don't grow weary in such well-doing.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Todd Hunter update

Todd Hunter is leaving Alpha USA... read an update on his transition here.

Hold Me Jesus, by Rich Mullins

Ecce Homo (Behold the Man!), Antonio Ciseri, 19th c.: Pontius Pilate presents a scourged Jesus of Nazareth to onlookers: a very popular motif in Christian art.

Well, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something
I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS

You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Jack Hayford video

Dr. Jack Hayford, president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

Image from WikipediaIf you have the time, watching Jack Hayford's January presentation on where we are in regards to world evangelization is well worth viewing. Find it near the top of this page.

VOM News and Prayer Update: April 1, 2008

Image from Wikipedia"We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;" (1 Corinthians 4:12)

NORTH KOREA

North Korean Students Arrested for Reading the Bible - Free North Korea Broadcasting

Ten college students in Ham Kyung Book Do Chung, North Korea, were recently investigated and arrested for reading a Bible and watching a video CD about the Bible. According to Free North Korea Broadcasting, Mr. Jung, former vice president of GumRung Company of the Rodong Dang Labor Organization Department, reported the case and has since escaped to China to avoid arrest by the National Security Agency (Bowiboo). "In March 2006, 200 Life Bibles and several hundred CDs were purchased in China and secretly placed in flour bags before being smuggled into North Korea. This huge Bible smuggling case was headed by GumRung Company employees who were influenced by Christianity in China and underground Christians in Nasun City. All the leaders have been arrested and are being severely tortured. If I am caught, I will be sent to a prison camp for political criminals. I didn't want to die in prison camp, so I escaped," Mr. Jung said. In the Free North Korea Broadcasting report, Mr. Jung added that most of the arrested students attended Chung Jin College. "These students shared the Bible and video CD with their friends. They also distributed the Bibles and video CDs to the other college towns," he said. Pray God encourages and protects believers in North Korea. Ask God to give them courage and for them to love their persecutors. Psalm 107:2

LAOS

UPDATE: Arrested Pastors Taken Back to Their Province - VOM Sources

On March 27, The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Laos reported that eight pastors arrested when entering Thailand to attend meetings had been picked up by police from their province and escorted back home to Laos. "The police from their province have taken them back to their province and put them back in prison again. We do not know how long they will be in prison," VOM sources said. Pray for protection and courage for these pastors and their families. Pray they will love and forgive their persecutors. Joshua 1:9

INDIA

Nuns Attacked, New Anti-Conversion Bill Passed - VOM Sources

MAHARASHTRA - On March 23, Sister Mercy Tuscano and Sister Philomena D'Mello were attacked by more than 49 Hindu extremists in Alibaug, Maharashtra, for allegedly converting tribal groups to Christianity. The nuns were injured in the attack, which included women who are followers of a spiritual leader in the area. Both nuns were treated in the hospital and have since been released. They are members of a non-governmental organization that extends humanitarian services such as AIDS awareness to tribal groups in the region. Pray for the recovery of the two nuns from their injuries. Ask the Lord to strengthen Indian Christians to continue serving the Lord despite facing pressure for their faith.

RAJASTHAN - On March 20, the governing Bharatiya Janata Party in Rajasthan state passed a new "anti-conversion" bill that has stricter provisions than the previous bills passed in 2006. The new bill states that a society or trust found to be "contemplating" the use of money for converting people can have its registration canceled. Christians fear that this stipulation will provide the pretext for numerous complaints against Christian organizations. The bill also dictates that any person who intends to convert must send a notice to the government at least 30 days in advance or face a fine of up to 1,000 rupees (US $25). Isaiah 54:17

WEST BANK Pastor's Son Injured in Bombing - VOM Sources On March 20, Amiel Ortiz, the teenage son of Messianic pastor David Ortiz, was seriously injured when a bomb delivered to the family's home in the Jewish settlement town of Ariel went off in his hands. The explosive was reportedly delivered in one of the gift baskets Jews exchange on the Purim holiday. At last report, Amiel was in serious condition, unconscious and breathing through a respirator. Local Christians suspect the Ortiz family was targeted by militants angered by the family's evangelistic work. Christians in the region face frequent opposition from authorities, Orthodox Jews and Muslims for their efforts to share Christ. Pray for healing for Amiel. Ask God to give comfort and protection to the Ortiz family as they serve Him. Pray that their passion for Christ will be the light that draws others to Jesus. Romans 8: 11

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Spiritual breakout in Seattle

Mark Driscoll's recent blog post has this:

When my wife Grace and I started Mars Hill as a Bible study in the living room of a small rental home just over a decade ago, we hoped, dreamed, and prayed for people in our city to meet, worship, love, and serve Jesus in great numbers. But to actually see it was overwhelming and we feel like a kite in a hurricane.

Yesterday while singing with the congregation at each of the five services I preach live, I could not stop weeping. People were singing loudly with their hands in the air. They cheered all day as people came forward to give their lives to Jesus and be baptized. The pastors were up front laying hands on people, praying over them, and leading them to Christ by the dozens at every service. I stood off to the side during the singing to watch what God was doing and multiple people walked up to me weeping and asked me to pray with them to become a Christian. I met people who had flown in from out of state and out of country to celebrate Easter with us. I even met a couple who had organized their honeymoon to spend Easter with us before flying home to South Carolina. And I only got to see a fraction of what God was doing.

Read more here.