Some New Thing

Recently, in a devotional, Pastor Cornelius Fon in Cameroon wrote:

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Act 2:41-47 KJV)

“Oh God have mercy upon us the preachers who have turn Your church to something that even You can not recognize. How we have gone very very far from the Church that You ordained. Materialism, egotism, selfish tendencies, worldliness, compromise, and what can I add or leave out… The Church a Body of Love has been transformed to something else. No doubt no power in the church today until preacher go to the devil for powers to do the work of God. What a shame and an insult to You, Most High. Have mercy O God, let your cleansing broom sweep pass making obvious all who are truly Yours and the hirelings. Heavenly Father, we need a renewal and revival in the lives of the preachers so that church now can be The Church.

“Please, fellow preachers and saints of God, we all need to mourn and wail for the misrepresentation we are doing. You in particular may not be involved but search deep in your heart, what have you done about those doing it. Have you cried out like Elijah? We need to mourn for the present day church, repent and allow Jesus to be Lord over His Church. We have to preach against sin, preach holiness and righteousness, preach the grace, in fact we have to preach the Kingdom of God and nothing else. May God help us to be God pleasers and not man pleasers.”

Pastor Cornelius’s devotional brings to mind what I was told of the origins of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California. Pastor Chuck Smith pastored a Four Square Church in the 1960s. The Church’s district office was running a campaign to increase Church membership, to fill the pews, so to speak. Sounds all to familiar, doesn’t it. Now this bothered Pastor Smith, and he sought the Lord Y’shuaJesus about it. He was directed to this same scripture, Act 2:41-47, Pastor Cornelius has directed us to. Particularly, Pastor Smith read verse 47:

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 2:47

Well, Pastor Smith believe G-d, and his small church began to swell to the point that the denomination’s office noticed and questioned him. I understand the office was not pleased to hear from Pastor Smith that he didn’t do anything, just trusted that G-d’s word was as good then as it is now. Insubordination for some such heresy. Pastor Smith left the denomination not long afterward.

Now, as then, when the people of G-d begin to trust in the Word of the Lord, things happen, and resistance is met.

Reading Pastor Cornelius’s devotion also brought to mind this passage from Acts:

For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear, some new thing.

Acts 17:21

It seems always the same. People want to be entertained. In the Church Realm these days, people move from church to church looking for better worship, more “meaningful” preaching, and, yes, something they haven’t heard before, some new thing. We have “Big Box” churches in America gather in seekers to have their ears tickled. Too many of these churches have long, elaborate worship services and never once mention the Name of Jesus. The preaching tells us more about how we can feel good about ourselves than how we must feel about our relationship with Messiah, like that we ought REPENT while we have the opportunity! We need to hear how we can grow and live as Messiah in our modern world, not how we can transform our modern world into our corrupt, fallen image of what it should be.

No longer do I wonder why most Americans don’t seek to be saved; they’ve learned they don’t need salvation, that they’re perfect, god-like already. The only thing I wonder at is why we would bother trying to evangelize a stiff-necked, fallen people living in cities saying they’re building a better world, building a “Purpose Filled” P.E.A.C.E. The city dwellers are like the people of Sodom in the days of Abraham and Lot. It doesn’t surprise me at all that so many American’s are fleeing to what is now known as the “Redoubt” states, comprised of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and a few more. They are fleeing the coming wrath that will be poured out upon all flesh for arrogance in the face of the Almighty G-d. If not for the few, humble servants of the Lord, who live as strangers among the heathen, this wrath would surely have already come upon the Earth.

May the Lord rightly bless His People.

Past Choices Revisited

Ever think about past choices? I admit that too often I do. What would have it been like had I made a different choice? I should have. . . I could have. . . But I didn’t.

But what if I had, for instance, continued on with the U.S. Forest Service. I was a Forest Electronics Technician on the Lassan National Forest. The main office was located in Susanville, California. It was an interesting place, to say the least. I’d been there only once, passing through, before I accepted that position. I remember very well, as I passed through I said “I sure would never go to this forest.” Well, G-d does have a sense of humor, (Never say Never) and led me there anyway. I met some wonderful people, worked with a terrific bunch of guys, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Yet I missed the ocean, which I’d nearly always lived near. But after a few more years perhaps I’d have been selected for a Forest Electronics Engineer position on the Six Rivers National Forest in Eureka, California. That would have been so perfect. I did, in fact, live near there a few years later, after leaving the Forest Service. I attended Humboldt State University, in Arcata, a few miles north of Eureka. The whole area is gorgeous. Its where the redwood forest meets the Pacific Ocean. The average temperature is about 70 degrees (21 celcius), with highs and lows within ten degrees. It had its down sides, for some people: The bright California sun almost never shone; it was cloud cover most of the time. Coastal after all. Some people found it unbearable and fled after less than a year living there. But I loved it.

When I’m really tired of the traffic around the area in which I now reside, I think of Arcata. I can see the redwoods and smell the ocean. I remember various choices I’ve made, looking at them as if they might not have been such good choices. Thinking about past choices as wrong ones comes doesn’t come just from frustration with the place I am suppose to call home at the moment. Such times come upon me when I feel poorly about what I’m currently doing, what I’m not doing, or times when I just don’t feel good about myself.

Others have experience trying times and must have known it was their choices that led them. Paul, for instance. Things weren’t going too well in Rome for the Apostle Paul. In what we know as the fourth chapter of Paul’s second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy), Paul says he’d been left during his defense, and requests Timothy to come to him, bringing along Mark, and some things he’d left behind, like a cloak. He was writing from prison, which must have been cold. So Paul is alone in prison. But remember, Paul wanted to come to Rome. He’d said as much as he journeyed toward Jerusalem. He’d even been warned of problems in Jerusalem, and kept right on going up to Jerusalem, into danger. And in the following passage, we see just how Paul got to Rome:

And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.

Acts 26:32

We don’t read of Paul whining about being in prison. We don’t hear that he mourned the days he roamed around Asia freely preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. No. Paul went to Rome to testify the The Faith before the Emperor, and to all Rome. Along the way he preached to everyone from prisoners to government officials, soldiers, and even the king. He preached to the inhabitants of a small island upon which he was ship wrecked. He preached to the Roman Believers.

Paul knew his life was not his, but his was to live as Messiah, to do the will of Messiah, free or in chains.

When I come to my senses and stop whining and feeling sorry for myself, I can appreciate that which the Lord has allowed me to do on the way to where I now reside, not in spite of bad choices, but because the choices, as difficult as they were, were the right choice to have made. And these times lead to other times ahead.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Floods and Devistation in Malawi

Yesterday I received an email from Renewal Fellowship Ministries

From: Maranatha Churches in MALAWI:

THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN & WIND ALMOST FOR TWO WEEKS HERE IN MALAWI & AFTER IT SO MANY HOUSES FLOW DOWN ,CROPS DEVASTATED.

On 24th February, 2013 Pastors from different places visited the damaged home of their senior Pastor Peter Timothy Fungulani for prayers & discussing way forward to help the homeless Pastor.

Before everything the meeting was opened by a prayer given by Pastor Noah from Mozambique, then a 74years old Pastor Hassan from Nsanje give people word of God from the book of Genesis 12:1-3—-He tells the attendee that our present Abraham is Pastor Peter & if we show love /support/ bless him then the Lord will also help us in other ways in our critical situation.
-Due to heavy damage caused to the house all Pastors were deeply touched & agreed to discuss way forward to assist our dear Pastor , & A lot contributed this:

There are some men who are builders they volunteered to build the house of Man of God Pastor Peter without paid their heart is breeding to see the Pastor homeless.

Three Pastor in the meeting are timber/lumber makers they promised to give 10timbers/lumbers each & if the house needs more then they shall charge those new ordered half down to the actual price.

When these news was broke to the gathering at Tengani (a place where Pastor Peter normally based) almost 127strong Women (excluding Widows but they too promised to take part)promised to carry water from the borehole to the place where the house is intended to built freely.

Youth group promised to carry bricks from the old place to the newly allocated .
Pastor Peter is not a father to his family only he is also the father to Orphans ,Widows ,Pastors & even when Lord allows you to visit us you shall sleep in this house & we pray & intend to build a house to have enough rooms ,& with the damage caused to house some bricks are not in good shape we just need to buy 2000more bricks for the house.
The builder intend to build a strong building & they need 5 bags of Cement .

There is a need for tins / iron sheets for roofing the house.
..
With prayers & fasting ,
Pastor Hassan Chikalango——On behalf of all Pastors in Malawi.
Pastor Noah Dimmingoh—— On behalf of all Pastors in Mozambique

==========================================

Pastor Peter Timothy Fungulani and his lovely wife, Emily, are blessed with three children and is called by God as an evangelist. Pastor Peter and has a passion to win souls for Christ. He has been the Senior Pastor of Maranatha Pentecostal Churches since 2008. They have churches in Malawi and Mozambique.

===========================================

Lord Bless Pastor Peter and his family during this time of rebuilding. Lord Bless all those who have come to his assistance.

Lord Bless, Keep, and Shine upon you all.

Violence in America, and elsewhere

“When is anyone going to get serious? The problem is violence, a violence of monstrous and horrific proportions that has infected America’s popular culture,” wrote L. Brent Bozell III, in his column, ‘Dialogue’ Required for Violent Video Games, published February 22, 2013, in a column on CNSNews.com

Well, yes, it is obvious, violence has infected America. But when did this infestation of violence begin? Has this epidemic taken hold only recently with rampages resulting in school shootings? What was index case, as it the first instance of a disease is called? Was it the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, when on Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman killed 26 people, including 20 children between the ages of 6 and 7, at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., about 65 miles northeast of New York City, an event that reignited a national debate over gun control.

But wait, a timeline of school shootings shows the first to be Feb. 2, 1996, in Moses Lake, Washington, when Two students and one teacher killed, one other wounded when 14-year-old Barry Loukaitis opened fire on his algebra class. (Source: Time Line of Worldwide School Shootings.

Perhaps this epidemic of violence began with something much larger in scope, such as the horrific violence done to Americans on September 11, 2001, when a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks launched by the Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda upon the United States in New York City and the Washington, D.C. areas on September 11, 2001. On that Tuesday morning, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger jets, intending to fly them in suicide attacks into targeted buildings. Two of those planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Both towers collapsed within two hours and falling debris, combined with fires that the debris initiated in several surrounding buildings, led to the partial or complete collapse of all the other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, also causing major damage to ten other large structures in the immediate area of the complex. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense), leading to a partial collapse in its western side. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was targeted at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. Almost 3,000 people died in the attacks, including all 227 civilians and 19 hijackers aboard the four planes. (source: Wikipedia)

Maybe we need to go back well beyond our recent history. Perhaps we should look at the beginnings of humankind.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand.

Genesis 4:8-11

G-d cursed Cain for this evil, this violence. Here we are some 5700 years later and violence is rampant upon the Earth. It seems to me, one of the issues is that we choose to forget the origin of violence. If Cain slew Able today, we might examine Cain to see why he did what he did. We might declare that he was mentally incompetent, and society let him down by allowing him access to a club. Some might even blame Able for provoking his poor brother.

The thing is, it goes beyond the index case of violence in the world. It goes to the heart of the matter, and influences upon the human heart. Paul put it this way:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

Looking to blame individuals, looking to deter violence taking away what we perceive as the cause of that violence, misses the point. There is violence in America, as there is violence throughout the world. This violence has a source in spiritual wickedness in high places. Spiritual beings unchecked by the lack of Christian Watchmen.

Take a minute today, and tomorrow, and the next tomorrow, to recognize there are unseen forces unleashed upon our communities. Take just a minute to ask the Lord Y’shuaJesus to come “against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

These are the forces of evil that are ruining our communities, our nations, our world.

Come, Lord Y’shuaJesus. Come Back and conquer and rule.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine upon y’all. . .

Persection of Saints

Recently I received the following email from:
Renewal Ministries Fellowship
www.renewal.asn.au
“…May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them…” (John 17:23)

According to the Open Doors 2013 World Watch List, Persecution of Christians in Africa increased immensely in 2012. Mali is a newcomer on the list and holds the seventh position. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Niger also enter the list and Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers. This rise is due to the increasing influence of Islam, states Open Doors.

Of the African countries, Mali is the most noticeable newcomer on the list. The way the situation in Mali escalated after the March coup shocked Open Doors. “Mali used to be a model country. Although the situation in the North used to be a bit tense, Christians and even missionaries could be active. But now Christians are simply no longer allowed to be there. Hundreds of Christians have fled from the North.”

From: Global Action
I just came to know that, last Sunday , February 10th a group of Hindu Fanatics attacked the house church of R.D. Joshua from Uttar Pradesh Region. He was leading the Sunday worship service when the attackers came and accused him of converting people. They beat him badly and fractured his hand and threatened the believers to stop worshiping the “foreign God Jesus”. He is also banned from entering the village by the fundamentalist group. This group belongs to the higher caste Hindus that are politically influential. The local police has refused to lodge any complaint because this may cause even a stronger threat on his life! We are trying to help Pastor Joshua with the medical treatments but need your prayers as well. Please pray for his speedy recovery and complete restoration of strength.

This is very alarming but similar persecution is quite common. Please remember to pray for Pastor R.D. Joshua and our brothers and sisters in Northern India. Joshua is a GLOMOS graduate from the 2011 group. He is pastor of a church in and is leading quite a church movement there. He has 20 cell groups in different villages with 16 cell leaders. Just a couple of weeks back we did a “Blankets of Love” distribution in one of village churches under Pastor Joshua’s leadership. Pastor Joshua shared with us his vision to reach out to new villages and thanked us for providing the blankets which expressed the love of Jesus in a tangible way. No doubt the phenomenal growth of the local church has prompted the enemy to do these sort of things to dampen the spirit of the leaders like Pastor Joshua.

Please pray for:

The new believers in this house group church who are terrified to see the condition of their pastor;
The cell group leaders who also expect similar threat in some areas after last Sunday;
RD’s wife Mrs. Tara Joshua.;
Police to book the FIR about the incident and justice is done

KENYA — Pastor Killed by Gunmen
Gunmen attacked two Somali pastors on Thursday, Feb. 7, in Garissa, Kenya, wounding one and killing Pastor Abdi Welli. The pastors were leaving a bank when they were shot. Pastor Abdi leaves behind his wife, Helen, and three young sons. “He was a great, faithful believer who continued onward for the sake of the gospel in a very dangerous place,” said a VOM field worker. “Today, he gave his highest act of devotion to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Garissa is a violence-plagued city in northeastern Kenya, where Islamist terrorists have been targeting Christians and churches. Last July, terrorists killed 16 people in church bombings. Please pray for Pastor Abdi’s family and the other believers in this community, who are all affected by his death.

Here is the Open Doors 2013 World Watch List of countries where Christians are suffering the greatest persecution …
1. North Korea
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Afghanistan
4. Iraq
5. Somalia
6. Maldives
7. Mali
8. Iran
9. Yemen
10. Eritrea
11. Syria
12. Sudan
13. Nigeria
14. Pakistan
15. Ethiopia
16. Uzbekistan
17. Libya
18. Laos
19. Turkmenistan
20. Qatar
21. Vietnam
22. Oman
23. Mauritania
24. Tanzania
25. Egypt
26. United Arab Emirates
27. Brunei
28. Bhutan
29. Algeria
30. Tunisia
31. India
32. Myanmar
33. Kuwait
34. Jordan
35. Bahrain
36. Palestinian Territories
37. China
38. Azerbaijan
39. Morocco
40. Kenya
41. Comoros
42. Malaysia
43. Djibouti
44. Tajikistan
45. Indonesia
46. Colombia
47. Uganda
48. Kazakhstan
49. Kyrgyzstan
50. Niger

Countries on the World Watch List do not necessarily experience persecution throughout the country. Countries like China have areas where there is virtually no persecution and areas where there is persecution. However, in some countries like North Korea, there is persecution throughout the country.

In the WWL, persecution is defined as, “any hostility, experienced from the world, as a result of one’s identification with Christ. This can include hostile attitudes, words and actions towards Christians both from within and outside Christianity.”

It is illegal to be a Christian in North Korea and Christians are often sent to labour camps, where they are starved and beaten, or are killed if they are discovered. The conditions in this country have remained the worst in the world for Christians for the past 11 years.

The situation changed in Mali for the worse in 2012 following the capture of the northern part of the country by Tuareg separatists rebels and Islamists fighters and the proclamation of the creation of the independent state of Azawad in the north. Islamists soon established an Islamic state with a Sharia regime in the north. Christians were driven out and churches burnt. There is widespread concern Mali is becoming a jihadist hub.

Based on our media research, we can confirm 89 killings of Christians in Syria during our reporting period. With tens of thousands of Christians having fled the country, abductions, rapes, physical harm taking place, so that clearly explains the fact that Syria has risen so much in its ranking.

###
While most of the Believers in America are free from persecution, it cannot last. Like the parable that Y’shua told of the Ten Virgins, we must be wise and prepare. We must also stand in prayer for Saints in countries that persecute them.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Sentenced to Eight Years in Hell for Home Church Involvement

Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, an American recently imprisoned in Iran on charges of evangelizing, is now sentenced to eight years in prison.

According to the American Center for Law and Justice, Abedini was verbally sentenced in Tehran by Judge Pir-Abassi, known as the “hanging judge,” to eight years in prison for threatening the national security of Iran through his leadership in Christian house churches. He will serve the time in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, known as one of the most brutal.

The evidence, the ACLJ reports, was based on Abedini’s activities primarily during the early 2000s, when house churches were not considered a threat in Iran.

“This is a real travesty – a mockery of justice,” Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the ACLJ, who represents Pastor Saeed’s wife and children living in the U.S., said in a statement. “From the very beginning, Iranian authorities have lied about all aspects of this case, even releasing rumors of his expected release. Iran has not only abused its own laws, it has trampled on the fundamentals of human rights. We call on the citizens of the world to rise up in protest. We call on governments around the world to stand and defend Pastor Saeed.”

Although the U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with Iran, National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said in a statement Sunday the administration is “deeply disappointed that Saeed Abedini has been sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran on a charge related to his religious beliefs.

“We condemn Iran’s continued violation of the universal right of freedom of religion and we call on the Iranian authorities to release Mr. Abedini.”

Meehan added that the State Department remains in close contact with Abedini.

The State Department also called for Abedini’s release.

“Mr. Abedini’s attorney had only one day (January 21) to present his defense, so we remain deeply concerned about the fairness and transparency of Mr. Abedini’s trial,” spokesman Darby Holladay said in a statement.

Iran’s state news agency reported last Monday that Abedini, who was born in Iran but now lives in Idaho, would soon be free. But the report, which came on the first day of Abedini’s trial, was seen by Abedini’s wife, Naghmeh, as just another cruel manipulation.

“This is all a lie by the Iranian media,” Naghmeh Abedini said. “This has been a repeated promise by the Iranian regime since Saeed was first thrown in prison on Sept. 26, 2012. We have presented bail. After the judge told Saeed’s lawyer that bail was back on the table, the family in Tehran ran around in circles today to make sure Saeed was let out on bail. But again the bail officer rejected bail.”

She said her husband’s attorney in Iran, Nasser Sarbazi, cautioned her that the report, first carried by the state-controlled ISNA news agency and picked up by The Associated Press, did not mean her husband was closer to freedom.

The 34-year-old father of two denied evangelizing in Iran and claims he had only returned to his native land to help establish an orphanage. Authorities pulled him off a bus last August and threw him into the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran.

The exact crimes he is accused of only became public on Monday, when the prosecutor outlined charges that Abedini undermined the Iranian government by creating a network of Christian house churches and that he was attempting to sway Iranian youth away from Islam.

“This trial apparently is focused on 13 years ago, when Pastor Saeed converted from Islam to Christianity,” Sekulow said in a statement to FoxNews.com last week.

According to the ACLJ, upon hearing the news of her husband’s sentence, Naghmeh Abedini said: “The promise of his release was a lie. We should not trust the empty words or promises put out by the Iranian government. These false hopes amount to psychological torture. You don’t want to trust them, but they build a glimmer hope before the crushing blow. With today’s development I am devastated for my husband and my family. We must now pursue every effort, turn every rock, and not stop until Saeed is safely on American soil.”

FoxNews.com’s Perry Chiaramonte contributed to this report.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Simply Listen, Preach Jesus

Progressing through the Book of the Acts of the Holy Spirit (Acts), I’ve stopped often to think about various passages. I’ve made some notes, too. I’ve just neglected to share them here, in JonahzSong. But today may be a good day to return.

In the midst of Acts chapter eight, without so much as a paragraph break, I find the Holy Spirit whisking away Philip to the desert. Many have fled the city to some desert place; usually it is to fast and pray, or perhaps to be tested. But Philip immediately comes to a caravan and is instructed to join himself to it. He discovers a man from Ethiopia, who’d been to Jerusalem to worship, reading from the book of Isaiah 53:7,8:

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Philip approaches the man, asks if he understands this scripture. The man replies that he can’t except with a guide. The Bible is too complex for him, he needs help. Matthew Henry puts it this way: “The eunuch in a sense of his need of assistance, desires Philip’s company (Act_8:31): “How can I understand, says he, except some one guide me? Therefore pray come up, and sit with me.” (1.) He speaks as one that had very low thoughts of himself, and his own capacity and attainments. He was so far from taking it as an affront to be asked whether he understood what he read, though Philip was a stranger, on foot, and probably looked mean (which many a less man would have done, and have called him an impertinent fellow, and bid him go about his business, what was it to him?) that he takes the question kindly, makes a very modest reply, How can I? We have reason to think he was an intelligent man, and as well acquainted with the meaning of scripture as most were, and yet he modestly confesses his weakness. Note, Those that would learn must see their need to be taught. The prophet must first own that he knows not what these are, and then the angel will tell him, Zec_4:13. (2.) He speaks as one very desirous to be taught, to have some one to guide him. Observe, He read the scripture, though there were many things in it which he did not understand. Though there are many things in the scriptures which are dark and hard to be understood, nay, which are often misunderstood, yet we must not therefore throw them by, but study them for the sake of those things that are easy, which is the likeliest way to come by degrees to the understanding of those things that are difficult: for knowledge and grace grow gradually. (3.) He invited Philip to come up and sit with him; not as Jehu took Jonadab into his chariot, to come and see his zeal for the Lord of hosts (2Ki_10:16), but rather, “Come, see my ignorance, and instruct me.” He will gladly do Philip the honour to take him into the coach with him, if Philip will do him the favour to expound a portion of scripture to him. Note, In order to our right understanding of the scripture, it is requisite we should have some one to guide us; some good books, and some good men, but, above all, the Spirit of grace, to lead us into all truth.”

So, Philip does as requested.

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Acts 8:35

The thing is, there is a simplicity to Philip’s ministry. First, Philip listened to the Spirit of the Lord. Second, he followed what he heard. Third, Philip listened to a man who is truly seeking G-d, and understanding. Finally, Philip preached Jesus.

Back to basics. Keeping it simple. People who truly seek, are saved. Praise the Lord.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Iranian-American Pastor Jailed

Iranian-American Pastor Saeed Abedini with his wife, Naghmeh, and his two children. While visiting his parents in Iran in July 2012, Abedini was arrested by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard for his previous Christian work in the country. (Photo: American Center for Law and Justice)

January 22, 2013

On day two of American Pastor Saeed Abedini’s trial in Iran, news has emerged that the Iranian-born pastor has not even been allowed to attend the day’s proceedings.

“It’s unlike any judicial system in the world,” Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the ACLJ, said in a press release shared with The Christian Post on Tuesday.

“Pastor Saeed and his attorney were shut out of today’s proceedings. Not permitted to attend his own trial. We have been told that the court summoned other pastors to testify today. We do not yet know what was said in court, but we do know that the Iranian government often uses threats and intimidation to get the testimony it wants,” Sekulow added.

The law group has called the trial a “sham,” especially considering that the pastor’s lawyer in Iran was only allowed 24 hours to speak with the defendant before court proceedings began.

Pastor Abedini converted to Christianity in 2000, and married Naghmeh Abedini, an American citizen. He has helped underground Christian churches in Iran, who are a strict minority, and for the past several years has made trips back and forth between America and Iran working to establish an orphanage for underprivileged children in the Middle East country.

He was arrested by Iranian officials in Sept. 2012 and has been in Evin Prison in Tehran ever since, awaiting trial allegedly for trying to convert other Islamic youth to Christianity in 2000, which is a crime punishable by long term imprisonment or even death.
The ACLJ, which is representing Naghmeh Abedini and the couple’s two children in America, noted that on Monday, during Pastor Abedini’s first day of trial, his lawyer was allowed to present a strong case before the Revolutionary Guard Court in Tehran, but that all changed on Tuesday during the second day of the trial when the pastor wasn’t even allowed to attend the proceedings.

“Today, there was a confirmed hearing with a Christian believer who had worked alongside Saeed. Saeed’s judge, without Saeed or his lawyer present, questioned this individual about converting to Christianity, working with Saeed, and involvement in the house churches,” Naghmeh Abedini shared in a statement about day two of the trial.
“The judge told this individual to expect a summons within a month to return to testify against Saeed. What was released by the Iranian media yesterday was clearly a lie.

As Saeed told me during one of our conversations, he suspected the regime planned to hold him in prison for a long time. This testimony today is further proof that Iran was just trying to silence the media and has no intention of releasing my husband anytime soon,” Mrs. Abedini added.

On Monday, Iranian authorities claimed that the pastor had been released on bail, but his wife maintained that the story was a lie by the Iranian media.

“We have presented bail. After the Judge told Saeed’s lawyer that bail was back on the table, the family in Tehran ran around in circles today to make sure Saeed was let out on bail. But again the bail officer rejected bail. This is a game to silence the international media,” said Mrs. Abedini on Monday.

“The ACLJ is doing all that we can to get the U.S. government to fully engage in Pastor Saeed’s case. Sadly, there’s still silence from the State Department and Secretary of State Clinton. No public call for his immediate release.
No condemnation of the imprisonment of this U.S. citizen,” Sekulow added.

However, the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) has spoken out on Pastor Abedini’s case. The NSC is used by President Barack Obama for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisers and cabinet officials.

“We remain troubled by the case of U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini, who was arrested by Iranian officials more than three months ago on charges relating to his religious beliefs,” NSC spokesman Tommy Vietor has said. “We call upon Iranian authorities to release him immediately.

According to the ACLJ, more than 180,000 people have signed a petition demanding Pastor Abedini’s release and are monitoring his trial closely.

URL: http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-saeed-abedini-shut-out-of-court-proceedings-as-sham-trial-continues-88699/

[This article has been distributed by Renewal Ministries Fellowship.]

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. -Acts 5:27-29

Retreating

Atlanta Urban landscape (Photo credit: glen edelson)

Last night I went to see my daughter’s basketball team play. I didn’t leave early enough, catching the “rush hour” traffic jam, and arrived at half time, I missed seeing her play; she’d played the first two quarters. The game was 33.5 miles from my home. It took one-and-one-half hours to get there. We left after the game, and were home in three-quarters of an hour. The whole thing reminded me of why I dislike cities.

I live where it was once rural. The city swelled, spilling out over a vast area that takes hours to cross, even when there is little traffic to impede the flow. Each day my wife heads down into that city–into Atlanta–to her office. She leaves early in the morning before the worst of the traffic begins to clog the roads. She tries to return home in a similar manner, avoiding the evening stagnation. Leaving early isn’t always an option. More time than she’d like, than I’d like, some city dweller thinks nothing of scheduling an important meeting for five o’clock. One day the traffic snarled after a traffic accident, and she was nearly two hours getting home. And we are 28 miles from her office, which isn’t even in the Atlanta downtown district.

The thing is, Atlanta, including its surrounding metro area, contains five million people. Not twenty, like New York, not fifteen, like LA. The population of Atlanta city proper is less than a million and the area is fairly large. But during the day, the city swells like a balloon and tries to empty all at once.

Colorado Meadows (Photo credit: QualityFrog)

So today I’m mentally retreating. I’m closing my eyes and remembering Eagle Lake, up in northern California. I stood near the lake one winter night with a lady friend. We were trying to see a comet. We’d driven up to the lake from a small town in which we both lived. There were no lights in the distance. The stars filled the heavens all the way to the horizon. The air. . . clean, crisp, pure. And the quiet. Peaceful.

When I lived in the coastal town of Arcata, some years ago, I walked out of my house, and within a few hundred feet dropped into the very empty low lands that led to the beach a mile of so away. I was a ‘runner’ then, as well as a long-distance bicyclist. On the weekends, if I wanted a hilly run, I’d go the opposite direction from the beach, passing through the heart of the town in only a moment or two–as the saying goes, don’t blink you’ll miss it–and follow trails into the redwood forest. I remember one day just running and running and running, up hill, down hill, nearly lost among the giant trees.

I wonder, on occasions like this, “why did I ever leave?” Perhaps I can only appreciate what was, rather than what is.

I’ve also thought that I’m not really of this modern age. Some years ago I got into studying America’s Fur Trapper Era. I was living in the mountains of Arizona, and I’d read about people going to a rendezvous in Colorado that celebrated in costume and custom the famous trapper-trader get-togethers of the 1820-40s. I built from a kit a muzzle loading rifle, and gathered or made gear that went with it–everything from powder horn to possibles bag. I researched costumes. While I never did go the a rendezvous, that Era some how just felt right for me.

It is wrong to say I was born in the wrong time, for G-d knew me before I was conceived. I just have a hard time living without “elbow room.”

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Farshid Fathi; Imprisoned for Christ

FOXE Voices of the Martyrs (Photo credit: Chris Yarzab)

Farshid Fathi
Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Arrested: December 2010

The following is excerpted from a letter Farshid wrote to the parents of the children killed in Newtown, CT.

I am so sorry and you are in my prayers. I am sure these high walls cannot stop my prayers for you. Before this tragedy happened, I was thinking about my suffering that I’m going through because of my Lord Jesus Christ, especially being far from my lovely kids… But when I imagine how hard your pain is I forget my sufferings. Because I know by God’s grace I will see my kids at the latest in 2017 when I come out from prison. But unfortunately you have to wait a bit longer. I believe we will have enough time in heaven with our lovely children forever.

You can find more information on Farshid Fathi and other prisoners at:

Voice of the Martyrs

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2013 Prayer Calendar (pastorappreciationblog.com)

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