LATEST NEWS ALERT - US Pastor Saeed Remains in Iranian Hospital, Instead of Prison - By
Jordan Sekulow, Filed in IRAN, Mar. 31;http://aclj.org/iran/us-pastor-saeed-remains-in-iranian-hospital-instead-of-prison "American Pastor Saeed Abedini remains in a hospital room instead of a prison cell. As we reported in mid-March, Pastor Saeed was taken from Rajai Shahr Prison to a hospital where he has received and continues to receive medication. Family members reported that a physician actually examined him yesterday. He is still suffering from internal injuries he received in prison. There's no word on how long Pastor Saeed will remain hospitalized. Family members who were able to visit with him this weekend said it's clear the time he has spent in the hospital is a significant improvement over how he was being treated in prison. According to his family, he is receiving meals and medicine - but the much-needed surgery to address internal injuries has not yet occurred.
We continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
LATEST NEWS /PRAYER ALERT"100,000 Russian Troops at Ukraine Border, Could Invade ’At a Moment’s Notice’" - 3/28/2014;http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3716
The U.S. State Department believes the Russian army is now prepared to launch an invasion of eastern Ukraine if President Vladimir Putin decides to pull the trigger, according to a senior Administration official."At this point, they are amassed and they could go at a moment’s notice if Putin gave the go ahead," the official said...Top Ukrainian security officials said Thursday that Russia now has 100,000 troops on its side of the Russia-Ukraine border.(Sources: CBS News, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Daily Beast)
As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
PRAYER ALERT! "As Many as 108 People May be Missing in Washington State Mudslide" - March 25th; Presidential Prayer Team News Watch/ "
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 the 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:
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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"Changing Christian Attitudes -Studies reveal broader acceptance of secular trends" - http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/morality-in-america/Christian attitudes toward dating, sex and marriage are changing. New studies show a broader acceptance of cohabitation, premarital sex and a rejection of traditional gender roles. Experts believe many Christians are choosing to follow current cultural trends over Biblical principles when it comes to sex and marriage.
“Christians are perhaps more influenced by the culture than they are by the teachings of scripture or the church,” Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, told The Christian Post.
A new report, 2014 State of Dating in America, published by the online dating sites Christian Mingle and JDate, revealed that 61 percent of Christians said they would have sex before marriage. According to the data compiled from a twenty minute online survey of 2,647 participants, 56 percent of respondents said that it’s appropriate to move in with someone after dating between six months and two years. Another 59 percent said it doesn’t matter who the primary breadwinner of the family is. And 34 percent responded that while it would be nice to marry someone of the same faith, it’s not required.
Sprigg is quick to warn Christians about interpreting the information gathered by the online dating sites and their validity, “Those who are active, committed Christians who believe in biblical values need to be cautious in using sites like Christian Mingle and not assume that others on the site share their values.”
America is not the only country experiencing this trend away from Biblical principles. A three-year national study in Australia found that less than half of Australia’s young people say they believe in a god, and many believe there is little truth in religion.
“We live in a very individualistic and self-orientated society and I don’t see a lot of things challenging that,” said Dr. Andrew Singleton of Monash University, a co-author of the study. “One of the many predictors of whether we become religious is our parents, and unless there is a massive cultural shift, I see that the trajectory will continue as it is.”
A Canadian study found that many Christians in Canada are walking away from the church to follow secular trends. “For many,” says Emmanuel College church historian Phyllis Airhart, now writing a book on the United Church, “belonging to the church is no longer central to their personal or social identity.”
Part of the problem might well be that many Christians may not truly know what the Bible says about the current secular trends. According to the American Bible Society’s State of the Bible 2013 study, 66 percent of Americans agreed that “the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life,” while 57 percent say they read it fewer than five times per year.
“Christians need to understand that God is very aware of their strong sexual temptations and human nature,” says Christian writer Nathan Hellwig. “The Corinthians were struggling with this very same issue. Paul addressed it by assuring them in his letter, I Corinthians 7:2-5.”
“As a nation, Americans pay lip service to God on our coinage while forcing him out of our public life everywhere else,” Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia said in a conference held last year. “And in God’s place we’ve created an avalanche of empty choices and phony little godlings that promise to feed our inner hungers and do nothing but starve us instead.”
According to Sprigg, “There may be a weakness on the part of churches” that accounts for the gap between sexual behavior and biblical standards. He described “a vicious circle,” where a pastor welcomes people regardless of their past sins, and then fails to preach biblical morality due to a fear of being considered too harsh.
“Fortunately for young Christians who are getting caught up in modern trends, scientific research is beginning to agree with what Biblical scriptures have been teaching for years,” Hellwig added. “With the help of religious leaders and proven research, Christians are now better equipped to prepare for such commitments.”
“I would encourage pastors to speak bluntly and boldly about sexuality and a biblical view of sexuality and marriage,” Sprigg affirmed. He urged religious leaders to “not shy away from challenging the values of the culture.”
PRAY THAT:
* Secular trends will not influence Christians
* Pastors everywhere will boldly preach Biblical principles about sexuality and marriage
* Christians world-wide will turn to the God and the Scriptures for direction in their decisions
[bold, italics, colored emphasis mine]
Bill Noles Jr. is an entrepreneur, author and writer. Married for over 30 years, he is a father of two sons and grandfather of four children. He and his wife Diann live in Tucson, AZ.
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