URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:
Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed sometime in June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY for the sake of possibly millions of children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7) - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]
American Pastor Saeed Held Prisoner in Iran - June 5th Update - "Saeed's Wife Uses UN Speech to 'Plant Gospel'," by George Thomas, CBN News Sr. Reporter, June 05, 2013, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Saeeds-Wife-Uses-UN-Speech-to-Plant-Gospel/?cpid=EU_CBNNEWSPM_2013_156 -[NOTE: With national elections coming up, it is considered a dangerous time for Christians as the government usually targets all that they see as opposition to their rule. On the other hand, after such elections, they have been known to release political prisoners as a sign of good faith. PRAY that God would especially protect Pastor Seed throughout the next few weeks and that his release would be part of actions the government takes post election. - Stan]"Prayers from Prison: American Pastor Held in Iran Releases Letter," May 22, 2013; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=1458"...Abedini has been held at the brutal prison for 238 days, enduring long stints in solitary confinement, and, according to his supporters, beatings and torture at the hands of his jailers and fellow inmates. For months, he has been suffering from serious injuries, including internal bleeding from beatings with no proper medical attention, according to his family and attorneys."(Sources: Fox News, Assemblies of God website) As the Lord leads, please PRAY: =1) For the imprisoned Pastor Abedini, and for those Iranians who tend to his needs in prison to treat him more humanely. 2) For his family in Boise, Idaho. and their efforts to involve the U.S. State Department in securing Pastor Abedini’s release. And 3) For the impact of his witness upon believers and non-believers, in America and across the world. And if you have not yet, join the over 600,000 worldwide who have signed the petition asking for his release at www.SaveSaeed.org
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Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed sometime in June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY for the sake of possibly millions of children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7) - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]
American Pastor Saeed Held Prisoner in Iran - June 5th Update - "Saeed's Wife Uses UN Speech to 'Plant Gospel'," by George Thomas, CBN News Sr. Reporter, June 05, 2013, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Saeeds-Wife-Uses-UN-Speech-to-Plant-Gospel/?cpid=EU_CBNNEWSPM_2013_156 -[NOTE: With national elections coming up, it is considered a dangerous time for Christians as the government usually targets all that they see as opposition to their rule. On the other hand, after such elections, they have been known to release political prisoners as a sign of good faith. PRAY that God would especially protect Pastor Seed throughout the next few weeks and that his release would be part of actions the government takes post election. - Stan]"Prayers from Prison: American Pastor Held in Iran Releases Letter," May 22, 2013; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=1458"...Abedini has been held at the brutal prison for 238 days, enduring long stints in solitary confinement, and, according to his supporters, beatings and torture at the hands of his jailers and fellow inmates. For months, he has been suffering from serious injuries, including internal bleeding from beatings with no proper medical attention, according to his family and attorneys."(Sources: Fox News, Assemblies of God website) As the Lord leads, please PRAY: =1) For the imprisoned Pastor Abedini, and for those Iranians who tend to his needs in prison to treat him more humanely. 2) For his family in Boise, Idaho. and their efforts to involve the U.S. State Department in securing Pastor Abedini’s release. And 3) For the impact of his witness upon believers and non-believers, in America and across the world. And if you have not yet, join the over 600,000 worldwide who have signed the petition asking for his release at www.SaveSaeed.org
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"Wake-up Calls - Defending Our Religious Freedoms," by John Stonestreet: June 13, 2013;http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-archive/entry/13/22502?spMailingID=6342783&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=75795267&spReportId=NzU3OTUyNjcS1
Threats against religious liberty and freedom of conscience are no longer theoretical—they’re real, and they’re growing. Just ask Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Denver, who declined to make a wedding cake for two men who got “married” in Massachusetts.Phillips said this would violate his Christian beliefs, and there are other shops who would make the cake. But Colorado’s new law on civil unions does not provide religious protections for businesses, so Phillips is being hauled before Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission. If he loses, he faces fines of up to $500 per case and a year in jail. Phillips’ attorney says that forcing him to “choose between his conscience and a paycheck . . . is intolerable.” But that’s a choice that same-sex “marriage” is forcing upon those of us with traditional religious beliefs. The once rhetorical question “how will gays getting married affect you?” is being answered all around us.
And the Obama administration is still requiring Catholic charities and other religious institutions to provide their employees with insurance for abortion inducing drugs—or face crippling fines. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia says, “The day when Americans could take the Founders’ understanding of religious freedom as a given is over. We need to wake up.” Chaput is responding to the latest revelations in the IRS scandal. It’s not just conservative political groups that were targeted. The Alliance Defending Freedom has released a tape of an IRS agent telling a pro-life Texas group that they can’t “force” their religious beliefs on others. How handing out brochures is forcing anything on anyone is not explained.
Also, an IRS employee may have leaked a confidential donor list from the National Organization for Marriage to the pro-“gay marriage” Human Rights Campaign, whose president was named a national co-chair of the Obama campaign. These donors were subsequently “outed” and harassed by liberal activists. Chaput warns that “the latest IRS ugliness is a hint of the treatment disfavored religious groups may face in the future, if we sleep through the national discussion of religious liberty now.”Congressman Jim McDermott criticized the IRS targeting of conservative groups, but he also blamed the victims. “Each of your groups is highly political,” he lectured. “From opposing the President’s healthcare reform, to abortion restrictions, to gay marriage, you’re all entrenched in some of the most controversial political issues in this country—and with your applications you are asking the American public to pay for that work.” What's the implied message? Think twice before entering the public square if you don't have the proper beliefs. Keep in mind that no so-called “gay-rights” groups have ever been lectured. Such open bigotry is scandalous, really.
The Department of Justice, meanwhile, has released a brochure encouraging its managers to ensure that the lifestyle choices of LGBT employees are not just tolerated, but affirmed. If an LGBT employee “comes out” to a manager, the manager is told: “DON’T [in capital red letters] judge or remain silent.” Why? “Because silence will be interpreted as disapproval.” Well, if employees can’t express disagreement or be silent, the only remaining option is obvious.
So both political and social pressure is growing for Christians to shut up when it comes to public expressions of faith. We're told to “keep it in church.” Well, two things we must remember: 1) Do not despair. Jesus has overcome the world. 2) We have a right and a responsibility to graciously advocate for righteous policies and religious freedom. Our friend Chuck Colson always said believers need to get out of the pews and into the public square—for love of God and love of neighbor. Now is no time to sit down.
[bold and itaclis emphasis mine]
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