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)
UPDATE: Brittany Maynard Planned to Die on Nov. 1. Now, Her Plans Have Changed.
Katrina Trinko / October 30, 2014; http://dailysignal.com/2014/10/30/brittany-maynard-planned-die-nov-1-now-plans-changed/"Brittany Maynard, the Oregon woman who made news earlier this month with her plans to die on Nov. 1, has released a new video announcing a change in plans. Maynard, who has terminal brain cancer, still intends to choose when she dies, “I still feel good enough and I still have enough joy and I still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesn’t seem like the right time right now,” although “it will come, because I feel myself getting sicker. It’s happening each week.” Let's continue to pray that she will finally decide to live her life as fully as she can for as long as she can and not surrender to Death, but fight it. (I do hope you read the recent post #1044; awesome!)
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.
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
"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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"God, Christians, and Politics" - Posted on October 1, 2014 by D. James Kennedy Ministries; http://www.truthimpact.me/index.php/2014/10/god-christians-politics/?utm_source=TruthInAction&utm_campaign=493f1d8469-10_7_14_October_eIMPACT&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_67fb03e2fb-493f1d8469-294381373#.VEmXiSJ4oRk
[AS I SEE IT: Yes, I realize that this is the third article I've posted in the past week related to voting. I've done it simply because too many Christians have been deceived into thinking that anything that smacks of politics, like voting, should not be a concern for the Christian, at least not the more "spiritual" Christian. Of course, politics does not offer ALL the answers to our nation's problems - as clearly only Jesus Christ doe and the Church should. Unfortunately, because of some missteps by some Christians regarding the political realm in the recent past, too many want to jettison all involvement by believers in anything political, even to not voting in elections. Truly some have put too much emphasis on political answers to our nation's problem and that is always wrong. But as politics will always encompass public policy that addresses of morality, the Church must not allow its voice to be silent. We were never meant to be citizens of this world and not be "salt" to whatever extent we can be. We were meant to make whatever difference we can - whether in the areas of education, science, the arts, finance/business, and yes even politics. When Christians set aside their clear responsibility before God to be good citizens, we fail our society and future generations. There is no way that is the will of God. So please, as you are registered to vote, get informed and VOTE this TUESDAY! - Stan]
God’s original command to humanity, given to Adam and Eve, and recorded in Genesis, was to “fill the earth and subdue it,” to “have dominion over … every living thing” (1:28 nkjv). This Cultural Mandate requires that all phases of man’s life are to be lived and exercised under the control of God and for His glory. Man is to have dominion over all of the earth; he is to take all of the potentialities and possibilities of every phase of this world and he is to culture them, improve them, and offer them all to God. This includes all of the works of man’s hands and mind. Included in this realm is the very important area of politics.
There are those who would say that the church should never talk about politics; it is no doubt true that there are churches which have lost sight of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have degenerated into simply political agencies.
Sadly, many Christians today consider political involvement a “dirty business” filled with moral compromise. But since government is a necessary part of our lives, it is vitally important that Christians become informed and bring a biblical perspective to political issues. How else are Christians going to exercise in a wise and biblical manner their rights and privileges as citizens and their right to vote?
One reason our culture has become so increasingly secularized is because our citizens, including Christians, have voted unbiblically. There are too many aspects of life governed by politics for Christians to be uninvolved. Rent control, minimum wage, taxes, abortion, welfare, the national debt, inflation, war, police actions, Social Security, Medicare, the United Nations, religious freedom, broadcasting, and a whole host of other issues all come under the realm of politics. This list, though not exhaustive, should answer any Christian who hesitates to participate in civic life.
I do agree that there should be a separation of the institution of the church and the institution of the state, as John Calvin believed. There is, however, not to be a separation of God from the state, which is where we find ourselves in this country today. The Bible very clearly states that the nation that forgets God “shall be turned into hell” (Psalm 9:17 nkjv).
There are today those who would put the institutional church under the state. The state does not encompass all things; there are other spheres. There are the spheres of the family, of the church, of education, and of science, and the state is not to control these. Each of these has its own sphere of authority and responsibility.
Some have argued, “You can’t legislate morality,” fearing that Christian activists will bring their influence upon the laws of the land. But if you cannot legislate morality, what should you legislate? Immorality? In every nation, law is built upon morality and ethics, and ethics flow out of religion.
The late, great Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer said, “Show me the laws of any nation, and I will tell you its religion.” It’s just that simple. All legislation is based upon ethics and morality, and all morality stems from religion. What has happened in this country over the last half century is that the religion of secular humanism has pushed aside the religion of Christianity—upon which this nation was based, from which its ethics arose, and upon which its legislation was framed. So now, today, we have dual foundations, and our legislators do not know whether they are voting for laws based upon humanism or upon this nation’s Christian foundation.
Can you then see why it is essential for Christians to participate in politics—from voting to running for office? We need to remind ourselves that Jesus Christ is not only to be the Lord of our souls: He is Lord over politics. He is Lord over the White House, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and even the Supreme Court—although sometimes these institutions go against what He has clearly revealed. It is time for us to recognize His rightful place. Yes, indeed, He is Lord of all … even the political realm.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
Adapted from the book, Lord of All: Developing a Christian World-and-Life View, by D. James Kennedy with Jerry Newcombe.
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