Do Not Keep Silent

My uncle, Ivor, was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, South Wales. Tenby is a walled city. I am told the English built it for a place to live, and walled it to keep the fierce Celts out. It still has walls, and several gates that are just wide enough to allow cars and small trucks to come and go.

Another walled city, more widely known, is Jerusalem. In Biblical times, it was sealed off hoping to prevent intrusion. The Old City of Jerusalem still has walls. The walls have come down. The walls have been rebuilt. More than once.

Many of the Psalms tell us that G-D is our refuge, our shelter. The walls we erect to protect us work only if we abide in G-D, if He is our G-D. It doesn’t take long for our walls to be vulnerable if we refuse to put G-D first.

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.

Here Asapf cries for G-D’s assistance when a multi-nation force is about to come against Israel. When the army went out to fight against the foe, it found G-D had already been there, had taken care of the enemy.

When I think about our modern enemies, and our modern walls we erect, I immediately think of the distractions offered by the”world” to keep me from G-D, and the walls I create around my heart to keep the “world” out. The wall around my heart can be too solid, and it hardens me. It can be too porous and let’s the in the World’s virus. The Spirit of our L-RD balances my heart’s walls when I look to Him. And to Him alone.

Irish Blessing
(Found on Pinterest at
http://www.catholicprayercards.org/catalog/item/4235164/8619893.htm)

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Will She Make It Out Of Pakistan Alive?

THE DAUGHTERS of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who has been persecuted by Pakistan’s extremist far-right religious Islamic laws in a country dominated by mobs that preach hate. (photo credit: REUTERS)

“Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who last year was saved from death row after being accused of blasphemy against Islam, will soon leave Pakistan to be reunited with her family.”—The Jerusalem Post.

According to the article, Ms. Bibi’s documentation is now ready, and she is set to leave the country. This came from an undisclosed source within the Pakistani government. This contradicts Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal. He stated “Asia was free following the court’s decision.”

“To the best of my knowledge, Asia Bibi is still in Pakistan. She is a free woman. Only she can decide whether to live in Pakistan or move abroad,” Faisal said.

King David, in psalm 13, “despite the singular, first-person form employed throughout this chapter, does not speak here of his own tribulations and need for salvation. Rather, he composed this Psalm as a prayer” for G-D’s people. “. . .we have looked—and continue to look—to the Almighty and beg, ‘illuminate my eyes’ (verse 4), that He grant us the wisdom and foresight we need to overcome the hurdles we face living among hostile nations. We look forward to the time when we can fulfill David’s promise in the closing verse of this chapter, ‘I shall sing to G-D, for He has dealt kindly with me!’ “—Daily Tehillim.

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 13—Bible Hub

I can only imagine the agony, the despair, that Ms. Bibi has endured. The agony and constantly nagging despair that continues to plague her as long as she is threatened by evil men that want nothing more than her head—literally. Her youngest child was nine when she was taken away to be held in isolation pending death. Her youngest child is now 18 years old. I can hope that throughout the ordeal, that even now as there is a ray of hope for an end to this utter nonsense, that Ms. Bibi, like King David, has been able to trust in the steadfast love of the One True Master and Savior, YeshuaJesus. I hope that Ms. Bibi, like King David, has seen a future in which she will be able to sing “I will sing to L-RD because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

Paraphrasing the prayer of King David, psalm 71:13:

May the accusers of Asia Bibi be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek her hurt.

Will Ms. Bibi make it out of Pakistan alive? It’s a cliff hanger. May G-D’s will be done.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Persecution of Christians in China and India

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
1 Peter 4:12-14

The following is reported by Renewal Ministries Fellowship:

“Remember to keep our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world in our prayers. The two most populous nations in the world, China and India, have both been suffering increasing persecution in recent years.

“The repression of Christianity in China is now at its worst since the Cultural Revolution. About 20 million people faced persecution last year in China and an estimated 50 million are expected to experience repression this year as the ruling Communist Party continues a severe crackdown on religion which has included closing and demolishing churches, removing crosses from churches, imprisoning pastors and church members under false allegations, exiling Christians from their community and putting others under surveillance. Chinese police are staking out churches, noting who attends, then appearing at their homes for “inspections”, causing fearful worshippers to stay away from church. Increasing numbers of employers are requiring that workers sign “no-faith” commitments or else be at risk of losing their jobs and livelihood. In December a 1,500 member church in Beijing was banned because its pastor refused to install CCTV to enable the Communist party to monitor those who attended.

“There were more than 12,000 reported violent attacks against Christians in India in 2018, while increasing numbers of persecution acts in this nation are going unreported. Increasing numbers of Christians are killed for their faith each year and the number of churches attacked increased from 34 last year to 98 this year. Christian NGOs are also being targeted by various government departments in attempts to accuse them of “anti-national” activities, especially concerning conversions to Christ. Hindu nationalist politicians are increasingly being elected to power and the government is systematically misusing the anti-conversion laws, religious laws, administration and police to deprive freedom to Christians while turning a blind eye to the brutal violence inflicted on Christians by Hindu extremists. Christian converts from a Hindu background face the worst of the persecution with daily harassment and constant pressure to return to Hinduism including societal pressure from family, friends and community members and local Hindu priests, beatings, hospitalizations and even death. On 9th January 2019 Hindu extremists tore down a church building in Narnepadu village, Muppalla Mandal, Guntur District, in Andhra Pradesh state, claiming that it violated Hindu principles of placement ad positioning. Earlier in neighbouring Telangana state radical Hindus stopped a Christian group’s van, beat a 51yo father of three and burned over 350 Bibles they were carrying for distribution. In a suburb of Hyderabad a group of Christian youths cleaning up their church grounds in preparation for the even service after a neighbour had dumped a large amount of trash on the site were set upon by a mob of over 40 Hindu extremists, the pastor who tried to come to their rescue and his father were also physically assaulted, but when the battered men went to the police station the police refused to take their complaint and the next day fabricated a charge of “voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons” against the pastor and his father. On 23rd October 2018 Pastor John Lakra was taking his 18 month old baby to hospital for emergency treatment in Odisha (Orissa) state when hundreds of Hindu extremists surrounded his car, began hurling stones at them and hitting the windows with rods and shouting curses at them. Soon they pulled him out of the car, slapped and beat him black and blue, ripped off his cloths, kicked him then forced him onto a motorcycle to take him to a Durga idol and forced him to kneel before it even as they continued beating him, poured a gallon of petrol on him and shouted that he should be given as a live sacrifice to the goddess. God miraculously saved him and this time the police did act against the perpetrators, but after pressure from the RSS and BJP the Sundargarh police released them and booked the pastor for “deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings”, “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion” and “criminal intimidation”, the judge rejected his plea for bail and he spent 10 days in jail. The co-pastor of one of our Affiliates in Odisha was falsely charged by police on 28th July 2018 and is still in prison and his family are struggling. On 11th February 2019 a father of five, Anant Ram Gand, who had converted to Christ nine months earlier and recently been baptised with his family members in Raigarh Tehsil village was dragged out of his home by three men and beheaded in front of his 6yo son. His wife, Sukbati, is fearful about their future and terrified what the Hindu extremists might do to her and her five children. “But I am sure I will not forsake Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord,” she said. “Please remember us in your prayers so that we stand strong in faith and all our daily needs are met. God bless.” “

Asia Bibi–Update

“She spends her days in seclusion for fear of being targeted by angry mobs clamoring for her death. In her hideout, she longs for her children who were taken to Canada for their safety.” VOA News.

While Ms. Bibi’s continued imprisonment stands as a witness against Islam, and its tenants and intolerance, it also stands as a witness of a world that simply isn’t paying attention.

Ms. Bibi is also a portent of things to come. If not this coming year, then next, or the following. It won’t be long, however, before many more Christians will face persecution. It has been foretold.

Here’s the warning and the encouragement Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Believers in Messiah Yeshua:

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, or height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:31-39)

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Selah — Psalm 46:1-3

Whatever is Commendable

The wisdom books of the Bible, such as Proverbs, teach us that there is more to life than knowledge. Eleanor Roosevelt put it this way: “Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.”

Today would be a good time to seek wisdom. Why today? Today is bound to be a full day; there are places to go, things to do, people to see. How about tomorrow? But is tomorrow going to be any different? In the Book of Proverbs, Wisdom is like a woman who cries in the street. The Book also tells of another woman who haunts the street. She is an adulterous lady that will captivate us, taking away our very soul, should she be allowed.

Captivate. It’s a good word. It means to attract and hold interest and attention. It means to charm. Synonyms are: enthrall, charm, enchant, bewitch, fascinate, beguile, entrance, enrapture, delight, attract, allure. These are not good things.

This woman that is opposed to Wisdom, this seductress, charms us, beguiles us. This reminds me of an old song first sung by the Exciters in 1963, Do-Wah-Diddy. It begins like this:

“There she was just a-walkin’ down the street
singin’ do-wah diddy-diddy down diddy-do
snappin’ her fingers and shufflin’ her feet
singin’ do-wah diddy-diddy down diddy-do

“She looked good, LOOKED GOOD
she looked fine, LOOKED FINE
she looked good, she looked fine
and I nearly lost my mind
Before I knew it she was walkin’ next to me” (emphasis added)

What’s a man gonna do but lose his mind? That’s the Siren call. That’s the call of the “other woman” of the Book of Proverbs. How is the voice of Lady Wisdom to compete with this? Psalm 1 tells us:

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night

Here we see the problem, and it’s most likely result. In this case, Madame Seductress is counsel of the wicked. We listen, and we stand like sinners, finally sitting down with scoffers. We follow the counsel of the wicked to gain the world, and lose our souls.

Here we also see the solution: to be blessed, we must be enraptured by the Law of the LORD and in that Law we must meditate. The Apostle Paul put it this way:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil 4:8

We live today in desperate times. We live with encroaching darkness; the light of day is giving way. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Messiah who are persecuted for living The Word, for believing in the One True G-d our LORD. Many have died throughout the world. Many more are homeless, without food, sick. Pray also for the people of America, as the country is engulfed in darkness as mainstream churches follow Siren song, committing adultery against G-d, as they accept the ways of the world, rejecting the Authority of Scripture. Remember, we have nothing to fear, for these things must happen. And when the Time comes, our Lord and Savior, Y’shua will return. Maranatha!

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Persecuted for Messiah

The other day, a woman asked me what book that was on the dash of my truck. It’s in a book cover that says “This Book is Illegal. . .” I said, “The Bible.” She shook her head. “Really! The Bible is illegal in some countries?”

“Yes,” I said, “it is. Not only is the Bible illegal, but sharing the Gospel message is also. Not only that, but simply holding “church” is illegal in many countries.” She continued to shake her head as if to say, it’s hard to believe.

Is it hard to believe? If you haven’t visited www.persecution.com, the web home of Voice of the Martyrs, you’ve most likely not encountered stories of persecution against Christians. The mainstream media doesn’t tell the tale of faithful Christians attempting to fulfill the mandate given us by our Lord Y’shuaJesus just before he ascended into Heaven.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Matthew 28:19,20

And it isn’t only evangelists and pastors that are persecuted, by the government and others: Too many children are injured or murdered each year. Take Weng Goodluck, for instance: (from Voice of the Martyrs bulletin)

“Weng Goodluck Tshua was three weeks old in March 2010 when Fulani Muslims attacked his village of Dogo Nahawa and slaughtered 501 Christians. All nine members of his family, including his father and mother, were killed. He was rescued from his burning house, but not before the fire had consumed his feet. As Weng has grown over the past few years, he has been unable to run around or even walk. But a VOM prosthetics team is helping change that.

“After studying his feet, the prosthetics team fashioned special shoes for both of his misshapen limbs. They returned several months later with specially fitted shoes that can be adjusted as three-year-old Weng continues to grow. Each shoe is made of three layers. As Weng grows, the inner layers can be removed as needed, to allow more room in the shoes. The team plans to provide new shoes for Weng before he grows out of the final layer of these shoes.

“This week VOM received new video of Weng, proudly walking around in is new, custom-made shoes. You can support blessings like this one to Weng and help provide for other Christians in need of medical care due to persecution by giving to support VOMedical.”

You can see the video of Weng Goodluck here.

Pray for the persecuted Church. They pray for us. And someday, we may be the ones suffering so intently simply for our choice of believing and following the Lord Y’shuaJesus.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

You are Not Allowed to Do That!

They were all eyes and ears. They monitored the doings of the people about them. They cast angry looks toward anyone who might dare to commit an infraction, or what they perceived to be wrong. They are self-appointed critics. The speak out at any opportunity, pointing out the sins of those they encounter, those they choose to hate. They are Accusers.

They are the liberals in America pointing fingers at people for doing what is, to the liberal, wrong, which is just about everything a liberal doesn’t like. They are conservatives pointing equally judgmental fingers at anyone whom they don’t approve. Some are worse than others. All have some basis they think gives them the right, the mandate, to be an accuser.

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids–blind, lame, and paralyzed [waiting for the moving of the water;] [for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.] One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.“

John 5:1-10 (emphasis added)

Now here’s the thing: “It is not lawful. . .” What they are saying is, “It’s not me telling you that you that you are not allowed to do that, it is (insert some reference here)!”

Standing upon some ruling, some law, they point there fingers saying, “I don’t judge, but the law says what you are doing is unlawful.” How many times have I heard some Christian say that he doesn’t judge people but the Word of G-d does? Too many. And yet who am I to say that he wasn’t appointed, like Jonah or Elijah, or whomever else, to point out the wrongs he is shown by Almighty G-d Himself?

How do we respond to accusations of wrong doing? To the credit of the newly healed man in the Gospel of John, he didn’t say “@$#%&$ Off!” Rather, he, according to Matthew Henry, wanted to give credit and glory to the One Who healed him, though didn’t know the man’s Name. He said, “He made me whole.” Eventually, the healed man learned the Name of the One who’d healed him, and told the Jews. Matthew Henry points out that while done with a mind to give glory to Y’shuaJesus, was like “throwing pearls before swine.”

Some points come to mind while reading the Word this morning, and reflecting upon it. One I led with, that too many people are self-appointed judges, regardless whether or not they are liberals or conservatives, or Chistians. Worse, I’m right there along with them. I have a very bad habit of pointing out the driving faults of most every one on the road, especially when my kids are in the truck with me. My excuse is that I want them to notice the wrongs so that they’ll know to do right. And I certainly get there attention when my hand goes to the horn, and it blasts away at some unwary offender. Yet, I’m just acting in the self-appointed role of accuser. Just like too many other people in this angry, volatile, ready-to-explode country, world.

But there is a more important point, easily overlooked when I get off on to a tangent. This newly healed man said, “He that made me whole. . .” told me what to do.

Thank You, Y’shuaJesus, for making us all whole in You. May we be bold and stand firm in You when accused of wrongs. For this newly healed man obeyed the One who made him whole. He stood, picked up his bed, and carried it away. In essence, his reply to those who accused him was, “I do not do it in contempt of the law and the sabbath, but I am obeying a greater law than the one you cite, for the One who healed me is greater than those laws.” (paraphrased from Matthew Henry’s Commentary) This man obeyed G-d.

Y’shua was accused of breaking the law, too. Many times. On several occasions he referred to scripture to support his action. He pointed out David’s eating of the showbread, of the priests’ slaying the sacrifices, and of the people’s watering their cattle on the sabbath day. Eventually, when accused of healing this man on the sabbath, Y’shuaJesus goes higher and alleges the example of His Father and His divine authority.

Another point: Y’shuaJesus was a radical. Why not just come back another day. That man had been there 38 years, so another day wouldn’t hurt. Then Y’shuaJesus wouldn’t have caused this man to “break the law” and carry his mat. Y’shuaJesus wouldn’t have broken the law, either. Well, why did Y’shuaJesus heal the man on the sabbath?

The other day I heard someone on the radio speak of the gentleness and kindness of Jesus. This authority on Jesus said Jesus wasn’t a zealot. I sorta figured he meant that Jesus just walked around Israel doing nice things for people, patting the heads of children, talking to outcasts, eating with sinners. Okay, so sure, Y’shuaJesus did those things. But that just isn’t ALL of the things Y’shuaJesus did. And to imply that it was, is to undermine the Word of G-d. It borders on deception. It also marks a man as not truly knowing Y’shuaJesus.

Maybe the Lord was just plain tired of the self-righteousness of a stubborn people who prized the “Law” over the people for whom the Law was given. Perhaps Y’shuaJesus wanted to stir up some trouble to make a point. I’m sure it got the attention of more than one person when He went into the Temple, in an act of fury, and drove out sellers and money changers. This gentle Jesus was also the One Who called Pharisees white-washed, empty tombs, vipers. Hum. Not so very gentle. Y’shuaJesus was a very dangerous man, one that the religious establishment knew would cause them distress, one that would undermine the all they’d done to get along with the Roman rulers. Y’shuaJesus was a rebel.

Y’shuaJesus didn’t come down from His throne to bring a temporary, carnal peace. He came to die violently for a true Peace that is eternal, offered to all. Well, to all as long as they believe that Y’shuaJesus is Lord and Savior. He said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. . .” Hummmmmmm. That’s “hate” speech, isn’t it? I mean, He excluded a lot of people who follow the universalist religious views. And humanist who believe humanity is god, as well as New Agers. Well, let’s not go there, shall we.

The One Who healed me made me whole. Thank G-d. Blessed is the Name of the Lord Y’shuaJesus.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine upon you and yours today and tomorrow, as we long for His coming. . .

Christianity as Religious Extremism

Generally, citizens and guests within the United States of America are free to believe and behave as they please. Constitutional provisions protect various rights, such as freedom of religion. The First Amendment to the US Constitution states in part: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . .” The consequences of such protection has brought about a situation in which two foreign-born men came to America, and have the right to interpret or misinterpret their religion as they please. This interpretation on their part led to the Boston marathon bombing.

For a Christian, there are within the framework of the Bible, various scriptures that self-limit our pure freedoms. Y’shuaJesus taught:

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 19:19

The Apostle Peter spoke about submitting “to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.” (1 Peter 2:13)

It’s all part of balance. We have the right to exercise our religion, and we have the duty to self-limit our rights such that we obey various ordinances that are created by our G-d-ordained government to protect all citizens.

But. There is always a “but,” isn’t there. But our responsibility is first to our Lord, our G-d. We must study His Word to be approved. We must study the Whole Word, not pick and choose from various places to suit our fleshly agendas. Our conduct is to be exemplary. We are to be models as citizens. So we do all we can to be good Citizens of G-d’s Kingdom at the same time juggling the responsibilities and duties of the country in which we reside. We want to also be good citizens in a secular sense, too.

Yet increasingly we, as Christians are told by people who aren’t part of the Lord’s Fellowship, the Lord’s Church, how we are to behave. I’ve spoken of this in the past. It is a bit of an irritant to me to hear, “The Bible Says” this or that, “and you should. . . ”

So this morning I noticed a posting on the Lighthouse Blog that bothered me. It’s more of the same setting of a stage for Christian persecution in the future. It is more defaming of Christians. The beginning of the article is taken from an article on Christian News Network, By Heather Clark:

“Washington, D. C. – Over 40 United States Congressmen have signed a letter calling upon the secretary of the Army to rescind a briefing by an instructor who classified evangelical Christianity and other faiths as “religious extremism” next to Al Qaeda and Hamas.

“As previously reported, the training session occurred a year ago in Pennsylvania, and involved an Army Reserve unit that was receiving training on worldwide religious extremism. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) obtained a copy of the Power Point presentation, which includes a slide that lists 18 religious groups that the instructor deemed to be extremist. While it is not known whether the groups were ordered in relation to their severity, evangelical Christianity appears first on the list, followed by the Muslim Brotherhood, Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, a group called “Christian Identity,” Al Qaeda and Hamas.

“The presentation had utilized information and data collected by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that classifies “hate groups” throughout the country.”

And then there is a related article to which the website refers:

Obama Administration: We Can and Will Force Christians to Act Against Their Faith The article states that “the Obama administration is claiming that the First Amendment—which expressly denies the government the authority to prohibit the “free exercise” of religion—nonetheless allows it to force Christians to directly violate their religious beliefs.” This article details the fight that a nationwide hobby store is engaging in so that it doesn’t have to comply with the presidential mandate in the health laws to provide birth control and abortions to employees.

Now this presentation that declares Evangelical Christians (are there non-evangelical Christians, really?) as Religious Extremists was initially reported a year ago. And this Hobby Lobby fight has gone on for a while, too. The crux of the matter is that as Citizens of G-d’s Kingdom and citizens of a secular nation we must voice our opposition at times to governmental measures and mandates that go against our religious views. We do this by informing our representatives in the US Congress, and we do it by actions within the legal process, in court.

While Christians may submit to ordinances made by governing administrations, they also may act within their rights, objecting to ordinances they deem unG-dly.

What Christians don’t do is kill and injure people at the Boston Marathon. That’s just plain ol’ evil.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Saeed’s Wife: Iran Doesn’t Know Who They’re Dealing With

It seems like a story from a movie. Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-born pastor with U.S. citizenship, is serving eight years in one of the worst prisons in Iran for doing nothing more than preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For his wife and children, this story is all too real.

Saeed and Naghmeh Abedini’s love story began in Iran. Naghmeh has been an American citizen since she was a child, but in 2001, she felt God calling her to go back to her homeland to minister to Muslim women.

One night, in an underground church in Tehran, she first saw Saeed. The young preacher was leading worship in one of the churches he helped start.

When asked why she fell in love with Saeed, Naghmeh answered: “His passion. As a young woman I always prayed, ‘Lord, I can’t marry someone who is mediocre.’ But I had no idea how He would answer my prayer, no idea it would be so radical.”

Not long afterward, the couple married in Iran. Their wedding drew hundreds of well-wishers and aroused the suspicion of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

“Our wedding, our union was miraculous because we were both Muslim converts allowed to have a Christian union,” Naghmeh said. “Bibles were passed out; people are still getting saved from that day. It was not a wedding day, it was a crusade.”

Some might say that it takes a special bride to share her big day with others.

“You imagine that day is all about you — it wasn’t but Jesus shined and that’s what we both wanted!” she said.

A Fairytale Becomes a Nightmare

Today, nine years and two children later, Naghmeh is living her worst nightmare.

Last July, during one of Saeed’s routine trips to Iran to establish a government-endorsed orphanage, he was detained and put under house arrest.

In January, the Iranian Revolutionary Court’s so called “hanging judge” sentenced him to eight years in Iran’s brutal and deadly Evin prison. His only crime was preaching the Gospel.

Officials at Evin prison are known for leaving on display the hanged bodies of executed criminals in an attempt to terrify inmates and their family members.

“Just the name really scared me. I’ve had family members who were hanged at that prison, abused, raped,” Naghmeh said.

She is not allowed any personal contact with her husband. Before his sentencing, Saeed was allowed to Skype with his family. But now Naghmeh can only learn news about her husband from reports and letters from her family in Iran.

The latest information is that Saeed is being tortured and pressured to renounced his faith, but Naghmeh said he will never turn his back on Jesus Christ.

“They don’t know who they’re dealing with. It almost made me smile. He would never renounce his faith,” she said.

A Mother’s Heartbreak

No matter how much faith she has in her husband and her God, Naghmeh said it’s difficult to watch her children suffer.

“As a woman, God’s given me the grace to go to Him for comfort, but as a Mom it’s a stab in my heart to see them struggling,” she said. “My son’s character has changed. He’s not as talkative. My daughter, as a girl, cries a lot, ‘Daddy, daddy…where are you?’ They draw pictures of sad children crying, missing their daddy.”

She admitted that she sank into despair for a time.

“I was on the edge of extreme depression, anxiety … almost had to check myself in. But the Lord didn’t let me break…He gave me such peace, such joy,” she said.

“I said, ‘Lord, in Philippians You promise to give peace,’ and He gave me peace,” she continued. “The Scripture is true. He does give peace and that’s my testimony. He’s bigger than the dark hole. Hold on to Him, he’ll get you through.”

Campaign for Saeed’s Release

In the meantime, the American Center for Law and Justice is going full throttle with both a legal and a media campaign to free Saeed.

ACLJ Director Jordan Sekulow said publicity could be a life-saver for Saeed, just as it was for Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkharni. He had been sentenced to death for his Christian faith, but late last year, after a major publicity and prayer campaign, Nadarkhani was freed.

Sekulow told CBN News that putting international pressure on the Iranian regime is the best chance to see Abedini walk free.

“[The] only chance is if people speak out…Chance wise, surviving one day is not great. You could be beaten to death by guards or fellow inmates. If the story is talked about people don’t get beaten as badly,” he said.

People are talking about his case. Nearly 500,000 people have signed the “Save Saeed” petition on the ACLJ’s website and several Christian musicians are also speaking out on his behalf.

Watch Here: Mercy Me, Josh Turner, Michael W. Smith, Toby Mac

Secretary of State John Kerry promised to work for Saeed’s freedom but has made no public comment on the matter since being sworn in.

Naghmeh said she believes prayer — not government — will free her husband and feeds her hope that one day she’ll see him again.

“My flesh wants to say, ‘He’s not going to survive that prison,’ but when I pray, I feel like the Lord, the God of hope, tells me: It’s in His time. He will release Saeed.”

You can sign the American Center for Law and Justice’s petition to free Saeed here.
Related Stories:
Imprisoned Pastor’s Wife: Nightmare is Not Over
Iran Prison Letter: US Pastor Describes Torture
Source: CBN News