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)
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: Save Christian Mom Asia Bibi from Execution - A Christian mom has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for her faith. Asia Bibi was falsely accused of “blasphemy” – speaking against the prophet Muhammad. Now this wife and mother of five will hang for her Christian faith.She would be the first woman executed under Pakistan’s Shariah blasphemy law.This is the ultimate human rights violation. We’re mobilizing our international affiliate – the European Centre for Law and Justice – and its partner in Pakistan to stop this atrocity. Add your name to our letter to the government of Pakistan demanding Asia Bibi’s freedom.Go to http://aclj.org/persecuted-church/save-christian-mom-asia-bibi-from-execution; please add your signature to mine and over 35,000 others AND pray for Asia Bibi.
URGENT REQUEST: Pray for Brittany Maynard (discussed in past posts #1025 and #1026 and the second article in post #1032) who plans to commit suicide SAT., NOV. 1. Pray that there are family and friends who will finally persuade her to change her mind.
U.S. Supreme Court has Reconvened: Let's be praying WHENEVER the Court is in session as their decisions can have impact on GENERATIONS to come. The fact that they may have an opportunity this session to actually vote on same-sex "marriage" where it has the same impact on this country that Roe v. Wade did should be motivating enough!
ELECTION DAY, NOV. 4th. Let's begin praying that the American people will have wisdom in voting into office those who will lead our communities and nation with integrity and wisdom from God and DO NO HARM!.
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Friday, Sept. 26th - Two Year Anniversary of Pastor Saeed Abedini's Imprisonment in Iran! - [NOTE TODAY'S POST!]
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. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
"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/ "..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
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
/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.
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.]
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"Voting and Christians" - Posted on October 1, 2014 by Dr. Jerry Newcombe; http://www.truthimpact.me/index.php/2014/10/voting-christians/?utm_source=TruthInAction&utm_campaign=493f1d8469-10_7_14_October_eIMPACT&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_67fb03e2fb-493f1d8469-294381373#.VEmYJCJ4oRk [AS I SEE IT: As this article makes clear, Christians are called by God to be good citizens and to participate in the election of leaders who will most likely uphold public based on Biblical truths. Because of this, it is frustrating to me that on average these days, only about 1/4 of Christians are registered and actually vote. When we could be one of the most effective voting segments of our society and we neglect our responsibility to God, country, and future generations, I believe evangelical Christians - by their abdication to those who would not uphold Biblical values - sin against God. Personally, I lay a lot of the responsibility that this happens at the feet of pulpits that remain silent about elections. (I can't remember in 41 years as a Christ EVER hearing ANY pulpit simple prayer for people to vote wisely. How even that kind of prayer can be branded "political" drives me crazy!) - Stan]
Do values voters still matter? Those who care about sanctity of life? Those who favor traditional marriage? Those who care about religious liberty? Those who believe in fiscal responsibility? Those who care about the wrong direction in which our nation is headed?
Is it possible that part of the reason the country is in such a mess right now is because for too long, too many Christians have abandoned their role as good citizens?
One of my favorites of all Dr. Kennedy’s quotes on this subject is: I remember 20 years ago a Christian said to me, “You don’t really believe that Christians should get active in politics do you?” And I said, with tongue in cheek, “Why, of course not, we ought to leave it to the atheists. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have anything to complain about. And we’d really rather complain than do something, wouldn’t we?”
Jesus called us to be “salt” and “light” in our society. He told us we should render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. We are to obey the government (unless it causes us to sin). At the very least, in carrying out our civic duty, we should vote.
Not only should we vote, but we should vote our godly values. We should know where the candidates stand—especially on the vital values issues.
I have long felt that if a candidate is “pro-choice” (a code phrase for pro-abortion and pro-death), it reveals much more than their stand on just that one issue. If a candidate cannot get this issue right—especially in our day, with advanced sonograms documenting the humanity of the unborn—what else can he or she not get right? Mother Teresa rightly noted, “And if we accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell others not to kill?”
We should consider where candidates stand on traditional marriage. Marriage was God’s idea, not government’s. He created the institution of the family before He created the church or the state. Who are we to redefine what makes a marriage?
Where do the politicians stand on religious liberty? We know that many, if not most, of those who initially settled America came here for the sake of religious liberty. Today, that freedom is in jeopardy.
We need to ask, what types of judges will these politicians give us? Those that promote sin? Or those that would uphold justice and the rule of law? The Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 nkjv).
Jesus is Lord over all, including the realm of politics. As the Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper once said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
In America, because we elect our government representatives and officials, it has been said that we get the kind of government we deserve. Therefore, as Christians we have a duty to vote. What kind of country do we want to leave to our children and grandchildren? At the very least, it is imperative we vote and that we do so according to Christian principles.
Granted, Jesus Christ is not on the ballot. Nonetheless, if we do a little research (or avail ourselves of the research done for us), we find there are often huge differences between the candidates when comparing where they stand on the issues that matter to God.
Evangelicals and conservative Catholics swung the election of 2010. They showed up. In fact, they showed up in record numbers. According to a survey by the Faith and Freedom Coalition, “self-identified evangelicals” were the “largest single constituency” going to the polls for that election, representing 29 percent of those who voted. How did they vote? Seventy-eight percent voted for candidates who were pro-life, pro-family, and pro-limited government. Ralph Reed, who was the president of the Christian Coalition in its 1990s heyday, founded and leads the Faith and Freedom Coalition. He said of that election, “People of faith turned out in the highest numbers in a midterm election we have ever seen, and they made an invaluable contribution to the historic results.”
Thus, values voters can make a huge difference in elections—when we show up. Reed said there is a lesson for all politicians in the 2010 midterm election: “… [T]hose who ignore or disregard social conservative voters and their issues do so at their own peril.”
When Christians show up, we win. When we don’t show up, we lose. By not voting, we do vote. We just vote in a way contrary to our professed Christian values.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., co-host of the television program, "Truth That Transforms" with Dr. D. James Kennedy. He has also written or co-written 21 books, including "The Book That Made America: How the Bible Formed Our Nation" and "Lord of All."
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)
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: Save Christian Mom Asia Bibi from Execution - A Christian mom has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for her faith. Asia Bibi was falsely accused of “blasphemy” – speaking against the prophet Muhammad. Now this wife and mother of five will hang for her Christian faith.She would be the first woman executed under Pakistan’s Shariah blasphemy law.This is the ultimate human rights violation. We’re mobilizing our international affiliate – the European Centre for Law and Justice – and its partner in Pakistan to stop this atrocity. Add your name to our letter to the government of Pakistan demanding Asia Bibi’s freedom.Go to http://aclj.org/persecuted-church/save-christian-mom-asia-bibi-from-execution; please add your signature to mine and over 35,000 others AND pray for Asia Bibi.
URGENT REQUEST: Pray for Brittany Maynard (discussed in past posts #1025 and #1026 and the second article in post #1032) who plans to commit suicide SAT., NOV. 1. Pray that there are family and friends who will finally persuade her to change her mind.
U.S. Supreme Court has Reconvened: Let's be praying WHENEVER the Court is in session as their decisions can have impact on GENERATIONS to come. The fact that they may have an opportunity this session to actually vote on same-sex "marriage" where it has the same impact on this country that Roe v. Wade did should be motivating enough!
ELECTION DAY, NOV. 4th. Let's begin praying that the American people will have wisdom in voting into office those who will lead our communities and nation with integrity and wisdom from God and DO NO HARM!.
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Friday, Sept. 26th - Two Year Anniversary of Pastor Saeed Abedini's Imprisonment in Iran! - [NOTE TODAY'S POST!]
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. [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
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "..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
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
/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.
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.]
"Voting and Christians" - Posted on October 1, 2014 by Dr. Jerry Newcombe; http://www.truthimpact.me/index.php/2014/10/voting-christians/?utm_source=TruthInAction&utm_campaign=493f1d8469-10_7_14_October_eIMPACT&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_67fb03e2fb-493f1d8469-294381373#.VEmYJCJ4oRk [AS I SEE IT: As this article makes clear, Christians are called by God to be good citizens and to participate in the election of leaders who will most likely uphold public based on Biblical truths. Because of this, it is frustrating to me that on average these days, only about 1/4 of Christians are registered and actually vote. When we could be one of the most effective voting segments of our society and we neglect our responsibility to God, country, and future generations, I believe evangelical Christians - by their abdication to those who would not uphold Biblical values - sin against God. Personally, I lay a lot of the responsibility that this happens at the feet of pulpits that remain silent about elections. (I can't remember in 41 years as a Christ EVER hearing ANY pulpit simple prayer for people to vote wisely. How even that kind of prayer can be branded "political" drives me crazy!) - Stan]
Do values voters still matter? Those who care about sanctity of life? Those who favor traditional marriage? Those who care about religious liberty? Those who believe in fiscal responsibility? Those who care about the wrong direction in which our nation is headed?
Is it possible that part of the reason the country is in such a mess right now is because for too long, too many Christians have abandoned their role as good citizens?
One of my favorites of all Dr. Kennedy’s quotes on this subject is: I remember 20 years ago a Christian said to me, “You don’t really believe that Christians should get active in politics do you?” And I said, with tongue in cheek, “Why, of course not, we ought to leave it to the atheists. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have anything to complain about. And we’d really rather complain than do something, wouldn’t we?”
Jesus called us to be “salt” and “light” in our society. He told us we should render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. We are to obey the government (unless it causes us to sin). At the very least, in carrying out our civic duty, we should vote.
Not only should we vote, but we should vote our godly values. We should know where the candidates stand—especially on the vital values issues.
I have long felt that if a candidate is “pro-choice” (a code phrase for pro-abortion and pro-death), it reveals much more than their stand on just that one issue. If a candidate cannot get this issue right—especially in our day, with advanced sonograms documenting the humanity of the unborn—what else can he or she not get right? Mother Teresa rightly noted, “And if we accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell others not to kill?”
We should consider where candidates stand on traditional marriage. Marriage was God’s idea, not government’s. He created the institution of the family before He created the church or the state. Who are we to redefine what makes a marriage?
Where do the politicians stand on religious liberty? We know that many, if not most, of those who initially settled America came here for the sake of religious liberty. Today, that freedom is in jeopardy.
We need to ask, what types of judges will these politicians give us? Those that promote sin? Or those that would uphold justice and the rule of law? The Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 nkjv).
Jesus is Lord over all, including the realm of politics. As the Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper once said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
In America, because we elect our government representatives and officials, it has been said that we get the kind of government we deserve. Therefore, as Christians we have a duty to vote. What kind of country do we want to leave to our children and grandchildren? At the very least, it is imperative we vote and that we do so according to Christian principles.
Granted, Jesus Christ is not on the ballot. Nonetheless, if we do a little research (or avail ourselves of the research done for us), we find there are often huge differences between the candidates when comparing where they stand on the issues that matter to God.
Evangelicals and conservative Catholics swung the election of 2010. They showed up. In fact, they showed up in record numbers. According to a survey by the Faith and Freedom Coalition, “self-identified evangelicals” were the “largest single constituency” going to the polls for that election, representing 29 percent of those who voted. How did they vote? Seventy-eight percent voted for candidates who were pro-life, pro-family, and pro-limited government. Ralph Reed, who was the president of the Christian Coalition in its 1990s heyday, founded and leads the Faith and Freedom Coalition. He said of that election, “People of faith turned out in the highest numbers in a midterm election we have ever seen, and they made an invaluable contribution to the historic results.”
Thus, values voters can make a huge difference in elections—when we show up. Reed said there is a lesson for all politicians in the 2010 midterm election: “… [T]hose who ignore or disregard social conservative voters and their issues do so at their own peril.”
When Christians show up, we win. When we don’t show up, we lose. By not voting, we do vote. We just vote in a way contrary to our professed Christian values.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., co-host of the television program, "Truth That Transforms" with Dr. D. James Kennedy. He has also written or co-written 21 books, including "The Book That Made America: How the Bible Formed Our Nation" and "Lord of All."
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