North Korea Freedom Week

The Nation of North Korea is one of tremendous poverty and persecution. They desperately need our prayers. Please read the following excerpt from OpenDoorsUsa.org and consider committing to pray for this nation along with others from around the world during their designated prayer week.Today, April 15, all of North Korea will celebrate the “Day of the Sun” in honor of Kim Il-Sung’s 100^th birthday. To the outside world, the picture will be one of prosperity and wealth; that North Korea is a great place to live under their caring leaders. But outside of the media’s eye the vast majority will continue to quietly suffer extreme poverty and starvation.For Christians, as the birthday celebration draws near, their fear has increased as their actions are watched closer than before. They know that outwardly they must participate in the nationwide celebrations to avoid arrest …but in their hearts they will be celebrating the true “Son” Jesus Christ.

North Korea is the most hostile country in the world to live and practice the Christian faith. Estimates report that 25 percent of the Christian population is suffering in labor camps for their refusal to worship founder Kim Il-Sung’s cult religion called Juche. Enormous statues of the “Great Leader” are prominently displayed throughout the country. Kim Il-Sung is exalted and revered as a god to be followed with obedience. Citizens are required to bow down to pay their respects, wear a lapel pin with his image on it and prominently display photos of both Kim Il-Sung and his son Kim Jong-Il (both deceased).

As North Korea celebrates the “Day of the Sun” let us unite our efforts by drawing on the power of the Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Show your solidarity on April 15 by praying for believers in North Korea and taking a day off of food – or perhaps one meal – to remember the suffering of the North Korean people.

The Time to Pray is NOW…Join in…Share with others!

As we pray and fast together on April 15 for our brothers and sisters in North Korea, we can again unite in prayer from April 23-29 during North Korea Freedom Week. Join today to receive free materials.

2012 pray for north korea

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Intervarsity Woes

This is a link to the sad story of what is going on with Intervarsity, Universities and the higher courts. Please take a moment to read it: (My thoughts follow the link)

http://www.intervarsity.org/news/reflections-campus-access

We are losing our basic first amendment protected rights and all in the name of a phrase that is not even in the constitution. I had written a speech about this back in the day, in 8^th grade. That was 17 years ago. Things have gotten much worse. John was involved in Intervarsity and it had a huge impact on his life during his college years. It’s a great ministry. I had no idea, until he got this newsletter, of what scrutiny they have been facing. And all I have to say is, “Seriously?”

I am a logical, analytical person and this just makes no sense. How can a university tell a student organization, especially a religious one, that they can’t select leaders based on that religious criteria? How could you be a leader in a Christian organization if you weren’t a Christian? Why would you even want to be? I would not expect a Muslim organization to allow Christians as leaders. That would be crazy. I would not expect an Agnostic group to be made to have religious zealots on their board. What sense would that make? What sets one group apart from another if it’s not the differences in values and beliefs? If you take away the right to determine that then you have no difference. And then what’s the point of any student organization?

I am so disappointed to read this and to know that this is coming from some of our nations top schools. It makes me wonder what students are learning these days? And it just adds to the list of things that makes me question our leadership and those serving on the Supreme Court. Some things are open to some interpretation, but other things seem pretty straightforward. It’s just a reminder that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV) We are living in dark times. Not to say they are better or worse than the past, only that they are still dark. The more I read and learn about what is going on in the world the more I am reminded that just because we have freedom now does not mean we always will. It’s a grave reminder that I need to be hiding God’s word in my heart, because a day many come when I might not have it. Granted, that day in America may be very far off if it ever comes, but you never know. It may just look different.

What if I could not have my bible with me in a class at a university? What if I needed to share God’s word with someone? Would I be ready to do that? What if the same is true of my workplace? I need to treasure my freedom while I have it and not lie down and wait for it to be stripped away. Our forefathers fought for freedom with their lives. I may not have to fight a physical war but I need to be ready to fight none the less. The fight for truth and justice is as necessary as it’s ever been!http://www.intervarsity.org/news/reflections-campus-access

Why this Blog?

          The words you can hope to read on this blog are the overflow from a heart pained by the knowledge of evil that exists in our world today. I know it will not go away this side of eternity. I know there is only so much I can do. But there are things I can do. And this is another of my attempts to do what I can to bring awareness to others. Truth is light and light expels darkness. The more truth we can get out, the more the darkness will have to retreat. 
          I hope to bring to light issues around the globe and right here in our own country. I hope to showcase ministries and organizations who are stepping into action on behalf of those in need. I hope to share how you can get involved in praying for and acting on behalf of those who are hurting. I hope to showcase Hope. If it were not for the Hope of Christ I would be sunk, our world would be sunk and evil would reign indefinitely. I praise Jesus for his grace to not let this be the case. One day, love, truth and justice will reign for all eternity and there I place my ultimate hope! 
          But for now, I am called to love my brother as myself. I can't do that if I don't know who my brother is or what is going on in his life. How can I love my brother if I don't know my brother? How can I love my brother if he is hurting and I do nothing about it? That's what this blog is about. Learning about our neighbors and how we can love them well, as Christ loves them. 
          Will you join with me as we embark on this journey of love? It won't be easy. I can't count the number of tears that have come to my eyes when I read stories of my brothers and sisters around the globe. And yet, I only know a small portion. Imagine the tears our Father cries for his beloved. This is why we persevere in love! "We love because he first loved us.Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, who they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." (1 John 4:19-21 NIV)