# 919 (6/26) "The Battle That Wasn’t - Breaking the 'War on Women' Myth"

The Bulletin Board:(Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)

ANSWERED PRAYER!! - Sudan Mom Sentenced to Die for Faith Set Free - CBNNews.com, June 23, 2014: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/June/Sudan-Mom-Sentenced-to-Die-for-Faith-Set-Free/ :The Sudanese mother condemned to die for refusing to renounce her Christian faith has been set free, according to her attorney. Meriam Ibrahim's release came after her sentence was overturned by an appellate court..." 

6/26  - Miriam and her family were detained for several hours at the airport yesterday BUT THEN WERE RELEASED.

PRAY FOR AMERICA:  THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)

PRAY FOR the U.S. Supreme Court as it prepares to hand down 17 decisions before the end of this month. ["Supreme Court to Rule on 17 Cases by End of Month" - Kara Jones | Jun 16, 2014; http://townhall.com/tipsheet/karajones/2014/06/16/supreme-court-has-17-cases-to-decide-by-junes-end-n1852016?utm_source=thdailypm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl_pm

Month of RAMADAN - Please make note that THIS SATURDAY begins the Muslim month of Ramadam, this year June 28-July 27. This is the second year I will join with the over 1 billion Muslims in their annual time of prayer and fasting (sun-up to sun-down each day) and ask God to reveal Himself to them in dreams and visions. As this is the time each year when they are most open to spiritual things, I ask you to join me that God would speak clearly to each one and come to lead millions to leave their kingdom of darkness for Jesus' kingdom of light. (Col. 1:13-14) - Stan]

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:

6/13 - PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907)

(6/12-7/13) PRAY for the WORLD CUP IN BRAZIL - that God will show favor to the many thousands who are there to present the message of Christ to the athletes and visitors from around the world. May many return to their home countries having come to Christ and sharing that same new faith with family and friends.

"Will You Pray for Meriam? - A Christian Woman’s Nightmare": By: Eric Metaxas| Breakpoint.org,: June 12, 2014 ;http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/25394?spMailingID=8798979&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=321046582&spReportId=MzIxMDQ2NTgyS0 - A Sudanese Christian mother has been sentenced to death for apostasy

 LATEST SAHEED NEWS!  May 22 - "Pastor Saeed Forcibly Returned to Prison after Beating" - By Caitlin Burke,CBN News, May 22, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/May/Pastor-Saeed-Beaten-Sent-Back-to-Iran-Prison/ "Saeed Abedini, a U.S. pastor imprisoned for his faith, was severely beaten at an Iranian hospital before being returned to the brutal Rajai Shahr prison. His Iranian family claims the transfer was unexpected and the reason is unclear. But one of the guards involved in the transfer suggested recent Iranian nuclear talks could be a motive, the family said...""

We need to 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]

PRAY ALSO : - 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

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.

NEWS/PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
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.] 
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"The Battle That Wasn’t - Breaking the 'War on Women' Myth" - By Carol Hatcher; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/morality-in-america/

“The war against women” – it’s a phrase often tossed around in the political realm. What does it really mean? The first use of this phrase was by radical feminist Andrea Dworkin in 1989. She used it in the introduction to a book, but later took that writing and more like it, compiling them in a volume called Life and Death: Unapologetic Writings on the Continuing War Against Women.

The phrase has gained popularity and now the “war” typically refers to programs dealing with sex, pregnancy, contraception, or abortion. The terminology has been used in reference to many Republican policies. The idea has as much to do with slandering a political group as promoting rights for the women it references. For example, when Pro-Life supporters rallied to stop abortions, specifically late-term abortions, it was deemed a “war on women.” Those from the Pro-Choice side said not allowing abortions took away women’s freedom with their bodies, therefore making it a “war.”

Valerie Huber, president and CEO of the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), recently spoke of the policy most currently under attack – abstinence education. Here are some examples of some recent newspaper headlines: Teaching Abstinence Only is a War on Women and Sex, Lies and Stereotypes: How Abstinence Only Programs Harms Women and Girls. Huber gave a talk at the Family Research Council (FRC) entitled, “Collateral damage in the ‘war on women’ debate: Sexual risk avoidance education caught in the crosshairs.”

An announcement from FRC called the war on women an “agenda-driven attempt to give victim status to women while ignoring their victimization by dangerous sexual messages.” Most of those against sexual risk avoidance education oppose it because they feel it too closely ties to religion. History, however, tells a different story.

Encouraging abstinence isn’t a new idea or one that was always church driven. In World War I, there was a rise of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as the men returned home from Europe. They were encouraged to abstain from sex and to get tested for STDs. The government, not the church, launched a full-scale campaign, complete with posters, displaying messages like, “She may look clean but – pick-ups, ‘good time’ girls and prostitutes spread syphilis and gonorrhea. You can’t beat the Axis if you get a VD.” The government tried to prevent costly treatments to the men as well as deter an outbreak of STDs back in the states.

Cornelia Pillard, a newly appointed judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, went as far as saying “abstinence education was unconstitutional for violating reproductive justice.” Others have called abstinence educators “slut-shamers,” bullying youth into believing sexual risk avoidance is the best way. “Slut-shaming” is the idea that it’s okay for men to be sexually promiscuous, but women should only participate in sexually activity if it falls under the umbrella of marriage or true love. One headline from a West Virginia newspaper read: Protest of ‘Slut-Shaming’ Speaker at West Virginia School Leads to Complaint against Principal. The speaker referenced in the article was there to teach abstinence education.

What does all this mean for Christ followers? First, know what the Bible says about premarital sex. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” So how do you know that sex outside of marriage is immoral? Paul explains it more in 1 Corinthians. “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2)

Then, be aware and alert about how terminology can be used as a political attack. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Abstaining from sex before marriage is biblical, but it’s also smart, as the government discovered after World War I. Teaching young people the dangers of a promiscuous life has nothing to do with launching a war. Instead it teaches them to avoid land mines.

Carol Hatcher is a former elementary school teacher turned writer, and is a regular contributor to the Vantage Point devotional series. This southern belle lives with her husband and three children in Buford, GA.

Your Comments -  The following expressions and comments are from our members and do not necessarily
represent or reflect the biblical or world views or opinions of the Presidential Prayer Team.
michelle says: June 21, 2014 at 8:43 AM
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
The real war on women is when they are told it’s ok to go against everything God created them to be…nurturing, loving and protecting of their family and young. There is nothing more than wars against a woman’s mind, body and soul, than to abort her child and so many women suffer with this every day. Suffering God never intend for us to have, to face, and to live with. But the world believes it’s ok to be “liberated” (really captive) and “freely” (cost is huge) engage in sexual activity in which causes dishonor, hurt, and shame, especially when it leads to STD’s and unplanned pregnancies…and more shame and hurt when it results in abortion. All women want to be loved, not used and cast aside. There is a war waged against women, they are right about that. A very sad and cold war with more destruction and deaths than all or wars here on Earth put together. Thank God for Jesus Christ that if we as individuals, and we as a nation turn back to Him, healing can begin.

Isaiah 49:5 - "And now says the Lord, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the Lord, And My God is My strength)"

[bold and italics emphasis mine]