Happy birthday IHOP!

Image via WikipediaSept. 19 - nine years and going strong! Way to go.

Voice of the Martyrs prayer update for Sept. 16, 2008

MEXICO – Christian Family Attacked and Three Killed – Compass Direct News

On August 23, three Christians in Chiapas, Mexico were brutally killed by their neighbor, after he blamed them for his daughter’s stomach ailment. Antonio Gomez blamed his Christian neighbor, Pedro Gomez Diaz and his family, for his 11-year-old daughter's stomach ailment and accused the Christian family of practicing witchcraft, Compass Direct News reported. “Gomez and seven of his friends entered the Christian family’s home and attacked them with machetes. Pedro, his wife Marcela and their oldest son, Rene were hacked to death. Six of the other Diaz children were seriously wounded. At last report, the eight men involved in the attack were being held in a jail,” Compass Direct News added. Pray for the surviving Diaz family as they mourn their parents and oldest sibling. Ask God to give them comfort in knowing that Christ is victorious over death.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

INDIA – Orissa Attacks Expand Across India – VOM Sources

The violence against Christians in Orissa State has continued following the assassination of Swami Laxmanananda Sarawati on August 23. VOM sources report the death toll of Christians has reached 42. Meanwhile relief camps in Orissa have been targeted by extremists attempting to poison water supplies. Six Christians became ill in a relief camp in the town of Rakia after drinking poisoned water and there have been reports of similar attempts in other state camps. Several reports of Christians being threatened with violence if they refuse to convert to Hinduism have also been received. Meanwhile, VOM sources report attacks against Christians are expanding to other states. On September 7, in Madhya Pradesh state, the 86-year-old St. Bartholomew Church building was burned down in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. Although the church watchman has accepted blame for the arson attack, local Christians argue that the police are protecting the Hindu extremist groups. In Kolar district, Karnataka state, Hindu extremists stormed into another church building tore up Bibles, hymnals and curtains, and beat several church members present. The extremists seized the pastor and took him to a nearby temple where he was pressured into observing Hindu rituals. He was released only after he gave the attackers a written declaration stating that he would not return to the village or continue any church activities. Pray that Christians under attack will know God's care and provision. Pray for Christians to be strong in the face of pressure to deny Christ. Pray that the international community will voice deep concern for the Christians in India who are being persecuted for their faith.

Proverbs 31:8-9

ETHIOPIA – Evangelists Arrested for “Creating Social Unrest” – VOM Sources

On August 25, two well-known evangelists in the Muslim-majority region of western Ethiopia were arrested and imprisoned on false changes of "creating social unrest”. The evangelists reported they were not physically tortured in prison, but were insulted, threatened and "very poorly treated," VOM contacts said. The evangelists were released on September 5 but the charges against them were not dropped. At last report, they were scheduled to appear in court on September 8. Pray that the Lord will continue to make these believers strong to withstand opposition. Pray that their family members will entrust the situation into His care. Pray that Christian leaders in Ethiopia will work together to increase Christ's kingdom at all cost.

Ephesians 2:14-16

The way is narrow

Just in case you're wondering if I lost my keyboard, I haven't.  I'm clearly in a season of hiddenness by the hand of the Lord.  Busy times due to my work responsibilities but I'm sure I will only be posting sporadically here the next couple of months.  You never know, there may be a short burst here or there in the meantime.  I was mesmerized early today by the scripture in John chapter 12.  Jesus enters Jerusalem, the news that He raised Lazarus from the dead is running out swiftly, ("... look, the world has gone after Him!", verse 19).  The Greeks come seeking Him and everything pivots at that moment.  The time of the Gentiles begins.  Its so tremendous that the Father speaks audibly in response to Jesus at that point as He sets His face towards His crucifixion; here the Son of God withdraws... He goes away and hides, according to the scripture.  He had been out to proclaim the coming Kingdom throughout all of Israel.  Its done, His focus shifts profoundly.  His attention is given almost exclusively to His disciples from that time forward.  The time of the Gentiles began with the Greeks asking for Him, it will have its end (Romans 11:25) when all the nations have had the gospel preached to them.

Matthew on the Beatitudes

If you've not read Matthew Burnett's blog post on the Beatitudes, find it here.  Very good reading!  In part, he says:

"The beatitudes are the pillars of the Sermon on the Mount. If you manage to shape your heart with these attitudes, the rest of it just happens as a result."

Bolivia update

Here is a link to google news for the last days news on Bolivia.  Here is the same for Iceland.

The recent editorial in the LA Times says:

After expelling U.S. ambassadors from their countries last week, presidents Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Evo Morales of Bolivia railed about ending American interference in their countries' domestic politics. This came after Chavez invited four Russian naval vessels to participate in joint training exercises in the Caribbean and allowed Russian long-range bombers to visit, while ranting about warding off an invasion by the United States.

Did somebody announce we are at war with Latin America and forget to tell us? The expulsion of the ambassadors came seemingly without provocation, and the notion that President Bush is plotting an invasion is laughable. Yet for Chavez and Morales, provoking the United States serves two purposes: It distracts domestic attention from their disastrous policies and could, they hope, produce an overreaction in kind from Washington that would further their interests.

Read the rest of the editorial here.

Birthday flowers

Friday was my wife's birthday and here is a picture of the flowers my mom sent her: