SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
"Missionary in Philippines: 'Bodies Laying Everywhere'- By Dale Hurd and Heather Sells, November 12; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Truckloads-of-Bodies-Filipinos-Plead-for-Help/ - [PRAY that relief supplies will get to the needed area in time to help the tens of thousands who are in great need. PRAY that security can be established in the midst of looters causing problems in the midst of the devastation. - Stan]
NEWS ALERT: Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan]
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - The United States is willing to engage North Korea to secure the release of imprisoned American Christian Kenneth Bae. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States is "willing to consider a number of different options" to bring him home.In a video recently released by a North Korean newspaper, Bae requested the United States send a high-ranking official to North Korea to seek his pardon. It is unclear if he spoke of his own volition in the video. Bae, 45, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for sharing his faith. He suffers health problems such as diabetes and is currently hospitalized.[PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
NEWS ALERT: Monday, November 04, 2013 - Saeed's Life in [Greater] Jeopardy After Prison Transfer - CBNNews.com, ; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Saeeds-Life-in-Jeopardy-after-Prison-Transfer/ IRAN - Vigils Mark One Year Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed - CBNNews.com, Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Today marks one-year that American pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in an Iranian prison. He is serving an eight-year sentence because of his Christian faith. It has been a year of torment as he has suffered beatings, physical pain from untreated medical conditions, and separation from his wife and two children... The suffering has not dampened his passion for Jesus. Pastor Abedini has led more than 30 prisoners to Christ during his time in prison. This afternoon, thousands of Americans from coast to coast will pray for his release. Events will be held in 40 states at capitols, city halls, parks and churches. Thousands more will join from 15 nations around the world
PRAY: - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- BOLDly (Beside Our Leaders Daily) for leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
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"Restoring Dialogue About Marriage on College Campuses" - by Leslie Grimard , October 3, 2013
Anderson131003 [1]
[AS I SEE IT: This event at a college campus recently - that unfortunately but not surprisingly did not get widespread mainstream media attention - is an excellent example of why the Biblical viewpoint should be courageously defended even in what is assumed to be a hostile environment, such as today's college campus. Believers need to take courage from this example to stand up for Biblical convictions presented in a reasoned way. They deserve a hearing and they may be among the few to have the courage to share it. - Stan]
When the Thomas More Society of Boston College invited Ryan T. Anderson [2], the William E. Simon Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, to make the case for marriage as the union of a man and a woman at a campus forum last week, some students questioned whether the talk should even take place. Higher education institutions are supposed to be devoted to inquiry that considers various sides of important issues—but some viewpoints seem to have become taboo and too often don’t get a fair hearing.
In the end, Anderson’s clear presentation of what marriage is and why it matters led to a civil conversation showing how people on both sides of this vital issue can productively engage with one another. Before the event, the BC Students for Sexual Health created a Facebook event [3] advertising an “occupation” of the forum. An editorial[4] in the Gavel, Boston College’s progressive student paper, alluded to many negative student reactions. The night of the event, Anderson spoke to an overflowing room packed with students, many of whom disagreed with his message. It was so crowded that halfway through the discussion, the facilitators moved the gathering to a larger auditorium.
Despite the strong and divergent opinions in the room, the Boston College independent newspaper [5], The Heights, reported that it was a very respectful event. Students who showed up in protest of the event heard Anderson explain that redefining marriage had consequences [6] and the rationale behind government policy on marriage in the first place: because of children, who need a mother and a father. They followed up with questions for a little over an hour, and even after the formal Q&A had ended, students stayed for another hour for discussion with Anderson.
The reactions [7] across [8] campus [9] reiterated the surprise that students found as they engaged a differing viewpoint from their own. As The Heights concluded: "Anderson’s event, though controversial, provided the perfect occasion for students to reexamine their own beliefs."
The most important takeaway might be a statement from a student supporting same-sex marriage at BC’s The Rock [8]: "I understand that as members of a younger generation, most of our peers tend to feel similarly about many social issues—gay marriage being top among them—but does that mean that we should ostracize, criticize, or ignore those with differing views?"
Tolerance for people on both sides of the issues is especially critical, as officials in some jurisdictions have begun to penalize citizens [10]who take a stand for marriage as the union of a man and a woman. As President Obama has said before [11], there are people of good will on both sides of this debate. It’s time for us to listen to one another.
[bold and italics emphasis mine] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org;URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/10/03/restoring-dialogue-about-marriage-on-college-campuses/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/Anderson131003.jpg
[2] Ryan T. Anderson: http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/a/ryan-anderson
[3] created a Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1378681889034959/
[4] editorial: http://bcgavel.com/2013/09/24/editorial-the-case-against-a-case-against-gay-marriage/
[5] Boston College independent newspaper: http://www.bcheights.com/news/anderson-delivers-a-case-against-gay-marriage-1.3068483#.UkWbw9KsjTp
[6] redefining marriage had consequences: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/03/why-marriage-matters-consequences-of-redefining-marriage
[7] reactions: http://www.therockatbc.com/2013/09/29/a-case-against-gay-marriage/
[8] across: http://www.therockatbc.com/2013/09/29/a-case-against-gay-marriage-negative-reactions/
[9] campus: http://bcgavel.com/2013/09/27/bc-unites-against-the-case-against-gay-marriage/
[10] penalize citizens: http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2013/9/special-protections-shouldnt-trump-basic-liberties
[11] said before: http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2013/7/civility-bullying-and-same-sex-marriage
Copyright © 2013The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.
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