The Bulletin Board:(Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)
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)
Please pray for Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol from Samaritan’s Purse:
Two Americans working for Samaritan’s Purse to battle the deadly Ebola virus plaguing Liberia, unfortunately have both tested positive for the this terrible virus and are fighting for their lives.
Dr. Kent Brantly, medical director for the Samaritan’s Purse care center serving the Liberian capital of Monrovia, and Nancy Writebol, part of the joint Serving In Mission/ Samaritan’s Purse team, are currently undergoing intensive treatment at an isolation center in ELWA Hospital.
Please join us by praying for both of these heroic individuals and their families at this time. For more information please visit their website at www.samaritanspurse.org. [from Crosswalk.com]
FRIDAY, AUG 1 - "Heroic: American Doc Sick with Ebola Gives Away Serum" - CBNNews.com, August 01, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Christians-Praying-for-US-Missionaries-Battling-Ebola/
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "President Barack Obama's decision to nominate Rabbi David Saperstein to the post of Ambassador for International Religious Freedom is drawing mixed reactions. Saperstein has spent his career in Washington focusing on social justice and religious freedom issues as an activist in the liberal reform branch of Judaism .... An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States must take a strong stand against those violations. "Around the world repressive governments and extremists groups have been crystal clear about what they stand against, so we have to be equally clear about what we must stand for," Kerry said. "We stand for greater freedom, for greater tolerance, greater respect, for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience," he said A key development in the 2013 report is the large number of displaced members of religious communities, including entire Christian communities in Syria and Iraq that have been forced to flee their homes because of persecution."
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:
7/18 - PRAY FOR THE PRESENT CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS TO END SOON BEFORE MORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST ON BOTH SIDES.
6/13 - PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907)
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]
/PRAYER ALERT- UKRAINE: 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!"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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Culture Challenge of the Week: Does Marriage Matter to Society?" - Rebecca Hagelin | Jul 31, 2014; http://townhall.com/columnists/rebeccahagelin/2014/07/31/culture-challenge-of-the-week-does-marriage-matter-to-society-n1872572/page/full
If we’re going to fight the toxins that constantly threaten our culture, we have to make certain that we go about it the right way. It’s going to involve a lot of vigilance and courage on your part. It’s going to mean keeping a sharp eye out for the most pernicious influences and taking stands that may not be very popular, either with your children or even with many other parents.
But there’s something else you have to do first if you’re to succeed in creating a healthier culture and building a grounded, courageous, and fulfilled family. It’s one of the most important things you can do because it provides a steady force, a place of comfort for your children in a harsh world, and more joy for you than you could ever imagine. Love your spouse.
Sounds a little too simple, doesn’t it? After all, few of us would have married in the first place if we didn’t love that someone, right? Yet virtually all of us have experienced marital problems in some form or another—some much more severe than others. And we don’t need piles of scientific research (although there’s plenty out there) to know the harmful affects that marital problems have on both spouses and on their children.
You are not a bad person because you’ve experienced hardship in your marriage. And neither is your spouse. It’s important to recognize that the two of you are on the same team. And I cannot stress how important it is for you to learn (or relearn) how to function as one.
The strength of a home is determined by the materials from which the structure is built. Build the house from straw, and you’ve got a weaker structure than one made from brick. It’s as simple as the story of “The Three Little Pigs.” The same basic principle applies to a society. But instead of bricks or straw, the building element of every society is the family unit. Change the composition or the strength of the marriage unit, and you also end up changing the look, feel, and strength of the society in which those families live.
A stable family unit is the foundation for a stable society and for raising stable children. Creating sound, stable families is so obviously the answer to saving our society from a litany of social ills and heartbreak that it is often overlooked in a search for more complex - and less effective - "solutions".
Government policy often endorses the broken family through handouts and endless programs and by creating penalty taxes against individuals who contribute to the stability of our society through marriage. Add to that the endless barrage of Hollywood propaganda that idolizes adultery, casual sex and divorce, and it’s no surprise to discover that America has seen a marked decline in the number of marriages that occur each year.
America must promote and encourage the inherent value in strong marriages and families if we are to survive as a nation. If we as a society continue to promote and casually accept rampant divorce and all other kinds of lifestyle decisions that threaten marriages and families, we can expect more poverty, more crime, more emotional problems, and more social chaos.
Clearly, there’s nothing more important to a child’s future than to be raised in a home with both a mom and a dad who are committed to each other. And there’s nothing more important to your own happiness either.
How to Save Your Family: Start with Yourself - Commitment. Love. Integrity. Faithfulness. These are clear virtues upon which we must stand, both as individuals and as a nation. It’s time for us to reach back for the sake of the future and reclaim those timeless values upon which our families and nation will rise or fall. There are right and wrong choices. When individuals make the right choices regarding a commitment to marriage and to their families, they and society are better for it.
You can start today with a fresh approach and firm commitment to your own marriage. If you need a marriage counselor, get a marriage counselor. I’m constantly amazed at how much time and energy people put into sports or hobbies and things that don’t really matter in the end. Yet, they put very little time and effort into the single most important relationship of their lives. It might be tough going for a while to dig through all the emotions that have been buried for so long, but giving your marriage everything you’ve got, and then giving it more, is worth it in the end.
Passionate love is something every human being responds to. It’s what makes men ready to slay the dragon, and women to swoon. Giving sacrificially to your mate—meeting the needs of the other first—is the way to preserve or reignite the passion in your marriage.
No matter where and when you first fell in love with your spouse, you should frequently recall that moment. But don’t forget, mere passion does not a marriage make.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life and forget the work that must go into every marriage. Part of this flows from our media-fed notions of romantic love—the idea that a relationship is wroth preserving only as long as we’re experiencing that pleasant head-over-heels feeling that nearly every couple enjoys when they first start getting to know each other. But those feelings alone wont’ sustain a marriage; it takes commitment.
As Stephen Covey notes in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, it means recognizing that “love” isn’t just a noun, it’s a verb. And it’s the most important action word of your marriage. Treat it as such, and you’re well on your way to not only protecting your family but also impacting the culture in a manner that will uplift and inspire all those around you—especially your children.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
Rebecca Hagelin is a public speaker on the family and culture and the author of the new best seller, "30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family".
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)
Please pray for Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol from Samaritan’s Purse:
Two Americans working for Samaritan’s Purse to battle the deadly Ebola virus plaguing Liberia, unfortunately have both tested positive for the this terrible virus and are fighting for their lives.
Dr. Kent Brantly, medical director for the Samaritan’s Purse care center serving the Liberian capital of Monrovia, and Nancy Writebol, part of the joint Serving In Mission/ Samaritan’s Purse team, are currently undergoing intensive treatment at an isolation center in ELWA Hospital.
Please join us by praying for both of these heroic individuals and their families at this time. For more information please visit their website at www.samaritanspurse.org. [from Crosswalk.com]
FRIDAY, AUG 1 - "Heroic: American Doc Sick with Ebola Gives Away Serum" - CBNNews.com, August 01, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Christians-Praying-for-US-Missionaries-Battling-Ebola/
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "President Barack Obama's decision to nominate Rabbi David Saperstein to the post of Ambassador for International Religious Freedom is drawing mixed reactions. Saperstein has spent his career in Washington focusing on social justice and religious freedom issues as an activist in the liberal reform branch of Judaism .... An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States must take a strong stand against those violations. "Around the world repressive governments and extremists groups have been crystal clear about what they stand against, so we have to be equally clear about what we must stand for," Kerry said. "We stand for greater freedom, for greater tolerance, greater respect, for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience," he said A key development in the 2013 report is the large number of displaced members of religious communities, including entire Christian communities in Syria and Iraq that have been forced to flee their homes because of persecution."
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:
7/18 - PRAY FOR THE PRESENT CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS TO END SOON BEFORE MORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST ON BOTH SIDES.
6/13 - PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907)
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
*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!"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.
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.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.]
"Culture Challenge of the Week: Does Marriage Matter to Society?" - Rebecca Hagelin | Jul 31, 2014; http://townhall.com/columnists/rebeccahagelin/2014/07/31/culture-challenge-of-the-week-does-marriage-matter-to-society-n1872572/page/full
If we’re going to fight the toxins that constantly threaten our culture, we have to make certain that we go about it the right way. It’s going to involve a lot of vigilance and courage on your part. It’s going to mean keeping a sharp eye out for the most pernicious influences and taking stands that may not be very popular, either with your children or even with many other parents.
But there’s something else you have to do first if you’re to succeed in creating a healthier culture and building a grounded, courageous, and fulfilled family. It’s one of the most important things you can do because it provides a steady force, a place of comfort for your children in a harsh world, and more joy for you than you could ever imagine. Love your spouse.
Sounds a little too simple, doesn’t it? After all, few of us would have married in the first place if we didn’t love that someone, right? Yet virtually all of us have experienced marital problems in some form or another—some much more severe than others. And we don’t need piles of scientific research (although there’s plenty out there) to know the harmful affects that marital problems have on both spouses and on their children.
You are not a bad person because you’ve experienced hardship in your marriage. And neither is your spouse. It’s important to recognize that the two of you are on the same team. And I cannot stress how important it is for you to learn (or relearn) how to function as one.
The strength of a home is determined by the materials from which the structure is built. Build the house from straw, and you’ve got a weaker structure than one made from brick. It’s as simple as the story of “The Three Little Pigs.” The same basic principle applies to a society. But instead of bricks or straw, the building element of every society is the family unit. Change the composition or the strength of the marriage unit, and you also end up changing the look, feel, and strength of the society in which those families live.
A stable family unit is the foundation for a stable society and for raising stable children. Creating sound, stable families is so obviously the answer to saving our society from a litany of social ills and heartbreak that it is often overlooked in a search for more complex - and less effective - "solutions".
Government policy often endorses the broken family through handouts and endless programs and by creating penalty taxes against individuals who contribute to the stability of our society through marriage. Add to that the endless barrage of Hollywood propaganda that idolizes adultery, casual sex and divorce, and it’s no surprise to discover that America has seen a marked decline in the number of marriages that occur each year.
America must promote and encourage the inherent value in strong marriages and families if we are to survive as a nation. If we as a society continue to promote and casually accept rampant divorce and all other kinds of lifestyle decisions that threaten marriages and families, we can expect more poverty, more crime, more emotional problems, and more social chaos.
Clearly, there’s nothing more important to a child’s future than to be raised in a home with both a mom and a dad who are committed to each other. And there’s nothing more important to your own happiness either.
How to Save Your Family: Start with Yourself - Commitment. Love. Integrity. Faithfulness. These are clear virtues upon which we must stand, both as individuals and as a nation. It’s time for us to reach back for the sake of the future and reclaim those timeless values upon which our families and nation will rise or fall. There are right and wrong choices. When individuals make the right choices regarding a commitment to marriage and to their families, they and society are better for it.
You can start today with a fresh approach and firm commitment to your own marriage. If you need a marriage counselor, get a marriage counselor. I’m constantly amazed at how much time and energy people put into sports or hobbies and things that don’t really matter in the end. Yet, they put very little time and effort into the single most important relationship of their lives. It might be tough going for a while to dig through all the emotions that have been buried for so long, but giving your marriage everything you’ve got, and then giving it more, is worth it in the end.
Passionate love is something every human being responds to. It’s what makes men ready to slay the dragon, and women to swoon. Giving sacrificially to your mate—meeting the needs of the other first—is the way to preserve or reignite the passion in your marriage.
No matter where and when you first fell in love with your spouse, you should frequently recall that moment. But don’t forget, mere passion does not a marriage make.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life and forget the work that must go into every marriage. Part of this flows from our media-fed notions of romantic love—the idea that a relationship is wroth preserving only as long as we’re experiencing that pleasant head-over-heels feeling that nearly every couple enjoys when they first start getting to know each other. But those feelings alone wont’ sustain a marriage; it takes commitment.
As Stephen Covey notes in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, it means recognizing that “love” isn’t just a noun, it’s a verb. And it’s the most important action word of your marriage. Treat it as such, and you’re well on your way to not only protecting your family but also impacting the culture in a manner that will uplift and inspire all those around you—especially your children.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
Rebecca Hagelin is a public speaker on the family and culture and the author of the new best seller, "30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family".
No comments:
Post a Comment