PRAYER ALERT! "As Many as 108 People May be Missing in Washington State Mudslide" - March 25th; Presidential Prayer Team News Watch/ "Authorities are searching for more bodies after a massive mudslide in a rural part of Washington state killed at least eight and possibly left more than 100 missing, while crews battle uneven ground and rising waters. A 1-square-mile mudslide struck Saturday morning in Snohomish County, critically injuring several people and destroying about 30 homes. Eight bodies have been pulled from the scene and authorities described the search for additional survivors to be "grim." John Pennington, emergency response managing director, said there are reports of up to 108 people missing in the mudslide but noted that number is unconfirmed. \Snohomish County Fire District 21 Chief Travis Hots said, "We didn’t see or hear any signs of life out there today," adding that they did not search the entire debris field, only drier areas safe to traverse. "It’s very disappointing to all emergency responders on scene.". (SOURCES: Fox News, Los Angeles Times)
As the Lord leads, please pray:
For rescue crews and other first responders as they work through unsafe conditions in search of the missing.
For families and friends as they await information regarding loved ones who may have been caught up in the mud slide.
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
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
LATEST NEWS ALERT! - "Ukraine Diplomacy Stalled, Congress Eyes Sanctions" - CBNNews.com, March 06, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Ukraine-Diplomacy-Stalled-Congress-Eyes-Sanctions/ "Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine are off to a very slow start, with talks between U.S., Ukrainian and Russian leaders going nowhere...Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress is rushing to impose stiff sanctions on Russia, whose troops have seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula..."
NEWS /PRAYER ALERT! - Ukraine Accuses Russia of 'Invasion, Occupation'- By George Thomas, Friday, February 28, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/February/Ukraine-Accuses-Russia-of-Invasion-Occupation-/ - SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine -- Russian troops now control an airport near their naval base in Sevastopol, Ukraine. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov is calling the siege a "military invasion and occupation." "It is in violation of all international treaties and norms," he charged. "This is a direct provocation to armed bloodshed on the territory of a sovereign state."... [Let's be in prayer as the Ukraine is facing an ever increasing threat of civil war. 1) Pray esp. for beievers to be submitted to and guided by the Holy Spirit in how to BE JESUS during these turbulent times. 2) Also keep in prayer Oleksandr Turchynov, a prominent evangelical Christia who continues to be the newly-appointed President of theUkraine, and 3) Pray that many who are and will encounter great suffering as a result of this continuing conflict find their hope and strength in Jesus by coming to faith in Him. - Stan]
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
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/ - 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.]
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.
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
- 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
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/ - 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.]
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.
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
- 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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"Getting It Over With - What Euthanasia Steals from Us" - By: Stonestreet, John| Breakpoint.org: March 28, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-archive/entry/13/24855?spMailingID=8252025&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=262523749&spReportId=MjYyNTIzNzQ5S0Facing an unpleasant circumstance, sometimes we just want to “get it over with.” But that’s no way to approach people at the end of their life.
We talked recently on BreakPoint about the push towards assisted suicide and how language is being manipulated to win acceptance for a horrible practice. Instead of using terms like “euthanasia” or “assisted suicide,” advocates peddle the much-kinder sounding “aid in dying.” But there’s more to say. Today I’d like to focus on how our hearts are being manipulated through a worldview that says nothing good can come from suffering—especially suffering unto death. And I’d like to do this primarily by telling a couple stories.
First story: My grandfather and grandmother have been married for more than 70 years. For years, they ran a dairy farm and delivered milk all over northern Virginia. Then because my grandmother was an incredible baker, they started a catering business. And my grandparents supported each other every step of the way. He was an accomplished pianist and church organist; she taught Sunday School for decades, and along the way they had two daughters, seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and even some great-greats. What an amazing life.
But for the last couple of weeks, my grandfather hasn’t been able to get out of bed. The reality is, he’s going to die soon. My grandmother has had no thought of “getting it over with.” She’s patiently, lovingly walking with her husband through the final days of his life. And she’s not alone—my mother is there with them, even though she has to make numerous trips back and forth. Other friends and family members are helping as well. My mother told me what many people in similar situations say: It’s been difficult, but she wouldn’t have traded these last days with her dad for anything. They’re not “getting it over with”!
Story number two, from a coworker: His wife comes from a large family, and I mean large. Her mom had six brothers and sisters, her dad had nine. Well, her grandfather, George, was dying. The house where he and his wife, Marie, lived in had been the gathering place for all kinds of birthdays, holidays, and other things. Now it would be a gathering place for his home going. His family decided, as he was growing weaker, that he would die at home. George wasn’t in much pain, but it was hard for him to breathe. All kinds of people would go into the bedroom to visit and talk and sit by his bedside. They gave George palliative care, but that was it. And there was absolutely no thought of “getting it over with.”
One day the pastor came. Years before, he and many other young shepherds would go to George and Marie’s for dinner and just to get fussed over. So now, maybe 40 years later, the pastor came to say goodbye. He sat on the edge of the bed with George propped up and Marie sitting next to them. The room was filled with maybe 30 people. There were four generations of family members who stood or sat on the floor and listened to George, Marie, and the pastor talk about old times. There was smiling, laughing, and wiping away tears. And George died a few days later. “I get teary thinking of it,” my colleague tells me. “I can’t imagine not having had that evening.”
Friends, euthanasia and assisted suicide will take these difficult but incredibly important moments away from us. We need these moments, to stretch our understanding of love, to deepen our relational thinking and to help our generation steward the heritage given to us by past generations. A culture that just wants to “get it over with” is a dehumanizing one.
It’s hard for my grandfather to depend completely on others right now. But it’s good for him, too, both to see people loving him and to let those people serve him. It’s good for him to know his frailty as he prepares to meet God. And it’s good for married couples to walk through the commitment that they made, “’til death do us part, as long as we both shall live.”
Currently, five states allow assisted suicide, and Colorado may be poised to become the sixth. We can’t let ourselves be manipulated by this culture of death. We must overwhelm it with life, one bedside at a time.
Editor’s note: Shortly after John recorded this script, his grandfather went home to be with the Lord. Please keep John and his family in prayer as they grieve the loss and celebrate the life of his grandfather.
[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]
FURTHER READING AND INFORMATION
Getting It Over With: What Euthanasia Steals from Us - In a quest to ameliorate all suffering, Westerners, including many people in the church, have begun to accept and advocate the hastening of death through euthanasia. However, if we are made in God’s image, who are we to advocate for suicide?
To correct misplaced “compassion,” the message we need to send to society is that there is meaning and value in life, even toward the end of life. When we cook a meal, visit the sick, or volunteer to run errands for caregivers we are effectively helping someone stay hope-filled in the face of death or suffering.
RESOURCES
"Opinion poll: Assisted suicide and the right to die" - Denver Post | March 11, 2014; http://www.denverpost.com/ci_25321359/opinion-poll-assisted-suicide-and-right-die?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com.&_requestid=381121
"U.S. Support for Euthanasia Hinges on How It's Described" - Lydia Saad | Gallop.com | May 29, 2013; http://www.gallup.com/poll/162815/support-euthanasia-hinges-described.aspx
"The Language of Assisted Suicide: Deception Instead of Dignity" - John Stonestreet | BreakPoint.org | February 27, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/24643?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BpCommentaries+(BreakPoint+Commentaries)
The Art of Dying: Living Fully Into the Life to Come - Rob Moll | IVP Books | June 2010
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