Muddling Toward Maturity Blog

PRAYER ALERT FOR NIGERIA

Elizabeth Kendall headlines a report:

LEGISLATION WILL FURTHER ISLAMISE NIGERIA

One year after the official swearing in of President Muhammadu Buhari the government is considering two bills that, if passed, will further Islamise Nigeria. A bill to establish grazing reserves for the Fulani in every state would facilitate Muslim Fulani expansion deep into the Christian south. This is despite knowing the Fulani have been infiltrated by Boko Haram which uses the Fulani as a means to Islamic expansion. A bill proposing to amend the Nigerian constitution to expand the scope and jurisdiction of Nigeria's Islamic Sharia courts passed its second reading without debate on 19 May with apathetic and corrupted Christian lawmakers waving it through. Christian and Muslim students have protested in Abuja against the government's move to divide and Islamise Nigeria. Please pray for Nigeria and for her Church.

The above is an executive summary.  More details can be found here.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

        II Chron. 7:14 - "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land."

Some weeks ago at a spiritual renewal weekend we heard the following prayer of confession, a prayer which continues to guide my thinking and quicken my conscience.   It is a prayer offered in response to God's call to us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 to "seek my face and turn from your wicked ways.."

                                                               *  *  *

             Lord, we thank you for inviting us -- for urging us -- to "seek your face."    We earnestly desire to respond to this call with whole-hearted obedience.

             We recognize, Lord, that you are HOLY, and we are sinful.  We cannot seek your face and at the same time cling to our sins.     We come renouncing our sins, our disobedience, our rebellion.

             We confess we have failed to keep the Two Great Commandments:

                       We have not loved you with our whole heart.   We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves.  

                       "We are truly sorry and we humbly repent"

              Because we have chosen ourselves as the center of our lives instead of you, our lives have fallen into decay and bondage, distractions and addictions.

              Many times we have heard your Voice whisper to us,  "No...  Don't...   Stop...  Turn away -- and we have gone ahead anyway.  We earnestly repent.  We thank you for your Voice speaking to us.  We know your Way is the way to our good and your glory.  We repent of our willfulness. 

              Far too often and far too much, we have been living scandalously self-indulgent lives.  Duties have been neglected.   Marriage vows have been broken.  Children have been neglected.  We have given in to the desires and impulses of the flesh.  We know little of self-control, of self-discipline.   We hear the Apostle Paul speak of those "whose god is their belly."  We repent of our self-indulgence. 

             Our feet have taken us where they ought not to have gone.  Our eyes have looked upon that which they ought not to have looked upon.  We have soiled our mind and our imaginations.  We have entertained ourselves by means of the flesh and deprived ourselves of the good, the true and the beautiful -- those objects of meditation and thought that could have nourished our moral imagination and built us up in the Spirit. 

             Our tongues have spoken that which they ought not to have spoken.  We have not consistently adhered to strict truthfulness.  We have uttered half-truths and lies, slandered others, insulted others, gossiped, even borne false witness.  Our word has not been our bond.  We have broken trust.   Oh Lord, we repent and we renounce these various abominations of the tongue.

             The sins of the spirit have been rampant within us.  We have envied, we have nurtured jealousy, we have raged with anger.   We have thought ourselves superior.  We have inflated ideas of our own importance.  We have taken others for granted.  We have withheld sympathy.  We have failed to show compassion.   Oh Lord, we repent and renounce all these attitudes and behaviors. We seek your cleansing.

             We live in a rebellious world that speaks ill of You.  Too often we have been silent, we have not stood for truth.   We have taken on the color and hew of the world, seeking to blend in and not stand out.  We have failed to be salt and light in an ever-darkening world.  We want all that to change.  We repent of our failure to bear witness to what we know is true. 

             Father, we come humbly, penitently, and with a heart desiring to truly "seek your face."    We turn from our self-centeredness, our rebellion, and our sins that we might be made new, cleansed and forgiven. 

             We make this prayer of confession in the name of Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Savior and Lord, asking for your divine forgiveness. 

DOES THE RAINBOW OVER WASHINGTON, D.C. HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANCE?

Does this rainbow have any significance?  A person who participated in a special call to prayer thinks so and wrote:

"This was taken July 8. My friend and I … drove around Independence Avenue and crossed in front of the Capitol, we saw this magnificent, double rainbow. I firmly believe the Lord sent this "DOUBLE" rainbow as a direct answer to all of our prayers with the 777 initiative, reminding us He is a covenant-keeping Lord and He has heard our prayers.  This double rainbow is a reminder of the double portion of His grace I believe He desires to shed on this great nation."

The "777 Initiative" was a call to prayer issued June 20, 2014 by Anne Graham Lotz.  The announcement read:

Anne Graham Lotz has formed a national prayer initiative entitled 7 7 7:  An Urgent Call to Prayer, calling God’s people to pray for each of the first seven days in the seventh month—July 1-7, 2014.  Then, on the final day, July 7, people are urged to pray and fast for 7 hours. The purpose of the 777 Prayer Initiative is:

• For God the Father to restrain, protect, and deliver His people from the evil that has come into our world.
• For God the Son to be exalted, magnified, and glorified in His church, in our nation, and in our lives.
• For God the Holy Spirit to fall on us in a fresh way, compelling the church to repent of sin and our nation to return to faith in the living God, resulting in a great national spiritual awakening.

Maybe indeed the Lord is about to bring about great change in our land and in our lives.  This morning I received a letter from a pastor friend who wrote to praying friends:

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER - THURSDAY, MAY 1ST

I think it important to join city-wide and/or  county-wide public gatherings to pray for our nation, it's leaders, our communities, our schools, our military, our foreign policy and all areas that touch our common life.  This has been my practice for many years andI always come away thanking God for the opportunity to join with brothers and sisters of different races and denominations in doing so.

 

GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER STARTS TODAY

I received an email with information which follows.  This "call to prayer" was new to me.  After checking it out, I think it is definitely of God and something to participate in.  

Today marks the first day of 10-days of praying by Christians all around planet Earth.  It culminates on the 11^th day being Pentecost Sunday, May 19^th this year.  On Pentecost Sunday many churches will unite to pray.  Both the Jews and Christians have something to celebrate on Pentecost Sunday.

 For the Jewish person it is called Shavuot or Feast of Weeks that starts 50 days after Passover  “Shavuot is traditionally a joyous time of giving thanks and presenting offerings for the new grain of the summer wheat harvest in Israel. The name "Feast of Weeks" was given because God commanded the Jews inLeviticus 23:15-16, to count seven full weeks (or 49 days) beginning on the second day of Passover, and then present offerings of new grain to the Lord as a lasting ordinance.”

For the Christian it is called Pentecost Sunday.  “In Acts 1, just before the resurrected Jesus is taken up into heaven, he tells the disciples about the Father's promised gift of the Holy Spirit, which will soon be given to them in the form of a powerful baptism. He tells them to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which will empower them to go out into the world and be his witnesses.  50 days from His crucifixion on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the disciples are all together when the sound of a mighty wind comes down from heaven, with tongues of fire resting on them. The Bible says, "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." They were amazed and thought the disciples were drunk on wine. Then Peter got up and preached the Good News of the kingdom and 3000 people accepted the message of Christ! That same day they were baptized and added to the family of God.”

If you are a Messianic Jew, then you get to celebrate twice as much and hopefully will appreciate a greater depth of meaning to this important day!!

My investigations:

* The history of the  Global Day of Prayer is fascinating.  It began in South Africa in 2000 and has now spread worldwide  - http://www.globaldayofprayer.com/index.php/about-us/history/

*  Here's a one-page prayer guide suitable for printing  - http://gdopusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/GDOP13-Ten-Day-Black-White-REVISED2.pdf

* I love this prayer to be used collectively around the world on Pentecost Sunday - http://gdopusa.com/gdop/

* Here's a video the Global Day of Prayer has Produced:

 

PRAYERS FOR COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

Click through to a wonderful website with short suggested prayers for many nations of the world, mostly those who persecute Christians. Examples:

Father, we pray for . . .

AFGHANISTAN
•    for religious freedom to become a reality, so that the remnant Church will be free to witness and grow, bringing hope, healing and life to Afghanistan’s oppressed and suffering millions. Until then, Lord, sustain, comfort and build your Church and provide her every need. May the LORD of hosts break through in Afghanistan.




ALGERIA
•    where the government's tenuous peace with Islamic fundamentalists depends in part on its willingness to restrict and repress Christianity. May the largely young, growing and now vulnerable church grow in faith and grace, trusting in the LORD in all circumstances and for all things. May Christ continue to build his church in Algeria.  

 AZERBAIJAN
•    an authoritarian state threatened by the rise of intolerant fundamentalist Islam. Lord, give grace to the authorities that they may distinguish between good and bad, blessing and threat; so that the church need not be swept up in anti-terror measures that target 'non-traditional' and 'foreign' religion (i.e. jihadist and revolutionary Islam coming in from outside). Grant your people wisdom. May the church grow in faith and numbers.

 

 BANGLADESH
•   that the nation will remember its secular roots and preserve liberty and rule of law. May Bangladesh's persecuted Christian minority not lose hope. May they endure their trials and hardships as shining lights, with wisdom and grace. Lord, be their shield and defender, and add to their number.

PRAYING THROUGH THE MUSLIM FILM CRISIS

Elizabeth Kendal offers helpful analysis on how to "pray through the [Muslim] riots."

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 177 | Wed 19 Sep 2012

PRAYING THROUGH THE RIOTS

By Elizabeth Kendal

The current 'Film riots' bear many similarities to the 'Cartoon Intifada' of February 2006. The Danish cartoons had been published months earlier -- even republished in Cairo during Ramadan (Nov 2005) -- to no effect. Similarly, the offensive film, 'Innocence of Muslims', has been available on Youtube for many months. The 'Cartoon Intifada' was incited by Arab-Islamic leaders ahead of the scheduled April 2006 sitting of the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC). It was anticipated that at that sitting the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance would present his conclusion as to whether or not defamation of religion should be banned. Similarly, the 'Film riots' were initially incited (so it seems) by Islamists, as a cover for planned 9/11 'revenge' attacks on US embassies in Cairo and Benghazi. Because decades of radicalisation have created a tinderbox, Islamists only need to strike a spark to get the fire of arrogant, hateful rage burning. Fanned by social media, it spread quickly around the globe.

As with the cartoons, the film is far less offensive than much of the anti-Christian material that offends, hurts and sickens Christians -- who do not riot. Indeed, the internet is full of anti-Islamic material that is far more offensive than the Danish cartoons or 'Innocence of Muslims'. For rioters, this is less about offence and more about the fact that Islam demands universal respect and criminalises non-submission. Meanwhile fear motivates the appeasers.

In praying through this crisis, there are three things we should particularly remember.

1. CHRISTIAN SECURITY
As security is tightened around embassies and US economic interests, Islamists may well turn their anger to softer targets with perceived US ties and/or sympathies such as Christians and churches. The riots could evolve into a grinding, communal jihad or terror campaign. We must pray concerning Christian security in these times, especially in places where Christians are already a persecuted, vulnerable minority. The situation for the Copts, Egypt's indigenous Christians, is especially perilous.

2. FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Islam's totalitarian, apostaphobic, religious dictators live in constant fear that, given a chance, the masses will apostasise (leave Islam). These religious dictators will doubtless seek to exploit the crisis to advance their goal of having criticism of Islam criminalised internationally. As was done after the Cartoon Intifada, the riots are being put forward as the reason why criticism of Islam must be banned. Muslims should regard this as profoundly offensive as it implies that they are easily provoked and incapable of responding in a civilised manner. On the other hand, non-Muslims should regard this as an Islamic threat.

The Grand Sheikh of Cairo's al-Azhar University, Professor Dr Ahmad at-Tayyib, has already released a statement calling on the UN to enact international laws that will punish those who insult or defame Islam. Egypt has issued arrest warrants for eight Americans (including seven Copts) who they charge have defamed Islam. They will be tried in absentia and may well be sentenced to death, possibly heralding a new wave of 'Salman Rushdies'. (On 16 September, Iran increased the bounty on Rushdie's head by half a million dollars to $US 3.3 million.) Egypt wants Interpol to issue wanted  notices [Red Notices] for the accused. Pakistan also has appealed to Interpol: for legislation that would ban 'sacrilegious [specifically anti-Islamic] materials' from the Internet. Pakistan aims to present draft legislation to the forthcoming UN General Assembly. We can also expect to see renewed efforts by the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) for implementation of UN Resolution 16/18, 'Combating intolerance . .  . ', which equates 'defamation' with 'incitement'.

3. AWAKENING
If the terror attacks of 11 September 2001 left many nominal Muslims profoundly confused and conflicted, the Cartoon Intifada of February 2006 compounded those feelings into deep disillusionment. So revolted and embarrassed were most nominal Muslims by the sanctimonious hysteria, barbarity and uncivilised behaviour of hundreds of thousands of Muslims around the world that the trend of apostasy increased markedly through 2007. (See Religious Liberty Trends 2007-2008, 15 Feb 2008) We can pray for a similar awakening now.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT --

* the Holy Spirit will draw vulnerable, threatened Christians to find shelter under the 'wings' of the LORD. ' . . .  in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.' (Psalm 57:1b ESV)

* God will use the struggle over free speech to expose hidden evil and awaken the world to the value of truth.  'Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.' (Proverbs 19:21 ESV)

* the current crisis will serve to awaken many Muslims and further accelerate the exodus from Islam. 

'The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest'. (Matthew 9:37,38 ESV)

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PRAYING THROUGH THE RIOTS

Whilst the 'Film riots' may well have been incited by Islamists as a cover for planned 9/11 revenge attacks on US embassies in Cairo and Benghazi, they have spread around the world like 'fire'. For the rioters, this is less about offence and more about the fact that Islam demands universal respect and criminalises non-submission. Meanwhile fear motivates their appeasers. In this climate, Christian minorities are profoundly at risk. Freedom of speech is also at risk. We should expect to see efforts being made to punish those who have offended Islam, and to criminalise criticism of Islam internationally. Most critically, we must pray for an awakening amongst nominal Muslims who are appalled by the hysteria and uncivilised behaviour of hundreds of thousands of Muslims around the world.

CHRISTIAN WORLD PRAYER ASSEMBLY TAKING PLACE IN INDONESIA

I hadn't known of this gathering until this morning.  How magnificent that thousands of Christians from all over the world are coming together in Muslim Indonesia for this five-day prayer gathering. 

 

George Thomas of CBN News reports:  (my bolding)

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Thousands of the world's Christian leaders are in Indonesia seeking God's guidance on how to transform the nations with Christ's message of love.

It's an historic prayer gathering in many ways, not the least of which is Indonesia's decision to host the event. The huge Southeast Asian island nation is home to the world's largest Muslim population.

"That's what we are well known for, but there's something else taking place in our country," one Indonesian woman said.

Her words echo a deep desire among Indonesia's minority Christians to make the name of Jesus Christ famous. 

"We are a small percentage of the population, but we are compelled to tell others about Christ," the woman said.

Winds of Revival

A massive prayer movement is underway, connecting some 500 Indonesian cities with more than 5 million believers.

This week, an hour's drive south of Jakarta, the capital city, Indonesian churches invited more than 9,000 Christians to take part in the World Prayer Assembly 2012.

"We feel that the epicenter of the world revival is going to be Asia and especially Indonesia," World Prayer Assembly's John Robb told CBN News.

Such a large Christian event has never been held in this majority Muslim country.

"We see the WPA as kind of a stepping stone toward the fulfillment of Habakkuk 2:14: 'For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea,'" Robb said.

For five days, representatives of more than 60 countries will network and strategize on how to bring Christ's salvation and healing to the nations.

"A new wave is coming so we wanted to catch it, the spirit of prayer, so that we can bring revival to our nation," Pricilla Abbathurai of India said.

"I've been praying that I would be a part (of) what God is doing in my country and for the whole world as we fulfill the Great Commission," Philippines resident Julius Velasco said.

"My prayer for this Congress is that this movement of prayer, this movement of mission will be joined together to see the Great Commission accomplished in the coming decades," American Paul Eshlemen said.

Organizers say worship and intercession will serve as the cornerstone for all the week's activities.

Throughout Indonesia some 1.5 million believers have committed to praying this entire week, and about 300 cities are joining together with all of their focus and prayer right here outside Jakarta.

The highlight of the gathering comes Thursday, when an estimated 100,000 Christians are expected to fill Indonesia's largest stadium with several more hours of worship and prayer for the nations.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, THURSDAY, MAY 3RD

From the Family Research Council:

Dear Praying Friends:

[...]  National Day of Prayer, Thursday May 3, 2012 - Just one week away, Thursday, May 3^rd, believers across America will observe America's 61^st annual National Day of Prayer (NDP). Over 50,000 NDP prayer events will take place across America. If you have not made plans, visit the official Task Force site to Find an Event in your area!

The National Observance on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, will take place from 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon EDT, and will be broadcast LIVE via webcast and through GOD TV and Direct TV (Channel 365). Presenters will include NDP Honorary Chairman, Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. James Dobson, Shirley Dobson, Bishop Harry Jackson and others.

FRC will host NDP's private men's prayer meeting on Wednesday, May 2. Leading the meeting will be Dr. David Jeremiah, Judge Francisco Firmat, Tony Perkins, Dr. Kenyn Cureton and John Bornschein. The by-invitation-only meeting, will be webcast live, allowing men across the nation to participate (the video will be archived).

The National Day of Prayer (NDP) is an anchor for the prayer movement (see History). It has played a huge role in restoring prayer to our churches and nation. Congress passed a resolution to establish the National Day of Prayer in 1952 and President Harry S. Truman signed it into law. In 1988, due to the lobbying efforts of Vonette Bright (wife of the late Dr. Bill Bright and founder of the National Prayer Committee), President Ronald Reagan signed a law designating the first Thursday in May as the official day to observe NDP each year. Later, Shirley Dobson (wife of Dr. James Dobson) became chairman of the NDP Task Force, which has facilitated NDP events across the nation, and helped catalyze a prayer movement that has powerfully impacted America's churches and given a public face to the nationwide prayer movement.

• May God stir his people to make the National Day of Prayer a solemn assembly unto the Lord. May it grow in numbers and power and may God hear the united prayers of his people! Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to live in a nation whose Forefathers were praying men. Thank your for those who labored to make this event possible! May God now use this great day to stir America to prayer and, ultimately, to make every day a National Day of Prayer for our nation!!! (2 Chr 7:14; Joel 1:14; 2:15-17; 1 Tim 2:1-8; Re 8:3-5)

"TEBOWING"

I hadn't realized what a world-wide phenomenon "Tebowing" has become until I read the excellent, must-read, Wall Street Journal article on Denver Broncos' quarterback, Tim Tebow.  His practice of offering a short prayer, putting one knee down following a game, has produced a worldwide "Tebowing" phenomenon. 

The website "http://tebowing.com" has new pictures posted every few minutes.   I especially liked this one:

                “Taken immediately after saving this patients life”

And I found this one incredibly sweet:

          “Tebowing for a cure…with his stuffed puppy affectionately named “Tebow”.

        **Nathan has mitochondrial disease. His stuffed puppy, “Tebow”, has been through thick and thin right along beside Nathan through his entire life. He takes his “Tebow” as comfort to help through all the hardships he endures.”

Remember that the Tebowing website posts additional photos many times a day.  And be sure to read the Wall Street Journal article.

- Update 12/11/11 - I see Tim Tebow heads the Tim Tebow Foundation doing good work around the world.  I love this video of him making a boy's dream come true (from 850 KOA News Radio):

Here's an article on other Christian NFL players.

 

WILL IRAN EXECUTE YOUCEF NADARKHANI?

Elizabeth Kendal, who writes the Prayer Bulletin for the Australian Evangelical Religious Liberty Alliance, provides a perceptive analysis.  [Bolding is my own; see previous post on Nadarkhani here.]

As was reported in RLPB 127 (28 Sep 2011) the trial court has ruled that
whilst Youcef Nadarkhani was not a practising Muslim before his conversion to Christianity, he is an apostate because of his Muslim ancestry. As mandated by the Supreme Court, Pastor Nadarkhani was brought before the trial court on 25, 26, 27 & 28 September and provided with a daily opportunity to renounce Christ and return to Islam. Those who maintain that this blatant disregard for religious liberty is contrary to Islam are wrong. Some schools of Islamic jurisprudence maintain that three opportunities should be provided on the grounds of Sura 4:137. Other schools maintain that no opportunity should be given on the grounds of Sura 2:217 that deems 'fitna' (anything that shakes the faith of a Muslim) is worse than killing. Also the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) is very clear: 'He who changes his [Islamic] religion, kill him.' This is about Islam and politics: sanity has really nothing to do with it. Meanwhile, standing firm in his faith, Youcef Nadarkhani has refused each opportunity to renounce Christ and return to Islam.

The case has caused an outcry in the West -- not 'internationally', as is
widely reported -- with Western leaders decrying the situation as
appalling and demanding Pastor Nadarkhani's immediate release. But, it
must be noted, no such outcry is emerging from the Muslim world or from the regimes behind emerging powers such as China or Russia, or from the UN. Furthermore, as noted in RLPB 126 (21 Sep), Iran is working hard to exploit the Arab uprisings with the aim of drawing Sunni Arab Islamists into the Iranian (political) axis. As Islam rises and Western leverage and influence declines, the Iranian regime may decide that a stand for Islam in defiance of the West can only profit them.

Now that the court has confirmed Nadarkhani is an apostate and sentenced
him to death, the regime has three options. It may: (1) defiantly execute
Pastor Nadarkhani for apostasy, making a stand for Islam in defiance of
the 'colonialist' and 'Christian' West; (2) condemn Nadarkhani's apostasy,
confirm his death sentence and then release him in a very public
'humanitarian' gesture before making sure he is quietly eliminated by the
secret services. This is exactly what Iran did in 1994 in the case of
Pastor Mehdi Dibaj. The Church will get the message, even if the Western
political and journalistic elite do not. Or it may (3) change the charge
to one that otherwise discredits the accused and evokes revulsion (such as
rape), and for good measure throw in a charge that, according to the
constitution, is punishable by death or life imprisonment (such as
treason).

JULY 3, 2011 - A TIME FOR REPENTANCE AND PRAYER

This needs to be taken seriously.  The most extraordinary time of my week is Saturday morning when I am privileged to meet with others for prayer.  That's where it's at for our individual lives, for our nation and for the world.  Tony Perkins says, "More than one million Christians in all 50 states have pledged to join the Family Research Council (FRC) to get on their knees this Sunday to pray for our nation."  He continues:

Call2Fall is based on 2 Chronicles 7:14, which reads: "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Of the event, Perkins said:

"Our nation's journey back to God begins on our knees in humility and repentant prayer. America is at a crossroads no less critical than when our nation's founders bowed together in humble prayer before Almighty God. God answered their prayers, and He still hears and answers the prayers of those who call on Him with sincere hearts.

"This Sunday, more than one million believers across the nation will fall on their knees for at least five minutes to cry out to God to heal our nation, and thank Him for the wonderful gifts He has bestowed on us.

"Like our great Founding Fathers, we will declare our dependence on God, even as we celebrate our independence."

 

KEN TADA (JONI EARECKSON TADA'S HUSBAND) SPEAKS AT FRC MEN'S PRAYER MEETING

The Family Research Council hosted the National Day of Prayer Task Force (NDPTF) annual men's meeting at FRC headquarters yesterday. A video of the event can be seen here (and below). Ken Tada, husband of 29 years to Joni Eareckson Tada (Joni is the 2011 National Day of Prayer Honorary Chairman), shared a profound message and personal testimony about our call to serve.  Tada begins speaking around the 28 minute mark.  (The picture below is of Tony Perkins.  It disappears after only a couple of seconds).

 

THE APOSTLE PAUL'S PRAYER FOCUS

I recently acquired the Dictionary of Mission Theology edited by John Corrie.  Under the "Prayer" entry, D.R.J. Evans concludes his contribution with this observation: 

It is striking that the content of much of the intercessory prayer material recorded in the NT has to do with the process of sanctification of God's chosen people.   Paul was not always praying that the churches around the Mediterranean would be more outward looking, develop five-year evangelistic plans and move from maintenance to missions!   But he was always praying that converted men and women would become increasingly holy and, by so becoming, adorn the doctrine of the gospel, providing thereby a magnetic and attractive power to draw people to Christ (e.g. Col. 1:9-14).  It is the transformation of the lives of Christian converts that is the most powerful witness in society and the best propaganda for mission.

A MORNING PRAYER

One of my most valued possessions is John Baillie's A Diary of Private Prayer.  A couple of days ago I made special note of the morning prayer for Day 26.   I have broken up Baillie's single paragraph into the following segments:

O Thou to whom I owe the gift of this day's life, give to me also, I beseech Thee, the spirit to use it as I ought.

Forbid that I should stain the brightness of the morning with any evil thought or darken the noontide with any shameful deed.

Let Thy Holy spirit breathe into my heart today all pure and heavenly desires.

Let Thy truth inform my mind.

Let Thy justice and righteousness make a throne within me and rule my errant will.

Let Christ be formed in me, and let me learn of Him all lowliness of heart, all gentleness of bearing, all modesty of speech, all helpfulness of action, and promptness in the doing of my Father's will.

Isn't it wonderful? 

ADOPT A TERRORIST FOR PRAYER

I read something this morning that strikes me as a good idea:

Why Pray for a Terrorist?
"The war on Islamic terror is primarily a spiritual battle.  Fear is the primary weapon against our liberties, and terrorist are Satan's primary tools.  If terrorists begin turning to Christ in increasing numbers, the Islamist agenda will fail.  Christ has told us, 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  In view of this command, we heartily suggest that you go to the following Christian website to adopt a terrorist for prayer:  http://www.atfp.org

PRAY FOR PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO CHINA

From Christianity Today -

Add one more China Olympic Prayer Band to the 500,000 given by Voice of the Martyrs supporters to raise awareness of persecuted Christians. Just a few days ago, President George Bush received a prayer bracelet from Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association. Read the official White House story.

President Expresses Concerns about China

Bob and four other Chinese human rights advocates met with President Bush in a room usually reserved for diplomats. White House officials said President Bush organized the historic 45-minute meeting to "discuss his concerns about human rights in China," ahead of the Olympic Games next month. "The President seems very concerned about the worsening situation for human rights in China," Bob Fu said. "I gave him five China prayer bands for his family to wear and four house churches addresses and told him he would be welcomed to attend their Sunday service when he is there next week."

Click Here Now To Receive Your FREE Olympic Prayer Band

Pray for President's Visit to China

The President told Bob that he will talk to the press and the Chinese people about the importance of religious freedom. He also promised to tell China's leaders that they cannot use the Olympics as a pre-text to further crackdown on human rights. Please pray President Bush will be successful in advocating for the persecuted church to Chinese leaders. Pray the President will heed Bob's request to intercede for house church Christians in China such as Zhang Rongliang, who is currently serving 7 1/2 years in prison.

"QUIET TIME" MISNAMED; SHOULD BE "TALKING TIME"

I have on occasion advocated praying out loud.  This piece by David Powlison (via Justin Taylor), goes even further in that direction.  He responds to a Justin Taylor post on Hearing, Praying, and Speaking the Word.   Powlison writes:

Many years ago I worked through the psalms looking for the vocal cues. By my count, more than 95% of the psalms portray or invite audible words directed to God. You "hear" what is written, because so much of it is out loud: crying out, the sound of my voice, songs, shouts, the tongue and lips, asking God to listen, groaning, roaring, seeking, calling on, making requests, and so forth. In the mere handful of psalms with no vertical verbalization, the psalm speaks about people in relation to God (e.g., Ps. 1), or speaks from God (e.g., Ps. 110), or speaks to other people (e.g., Ps. 49). An audible response is then the most natural thing in the world.

   In the verbal actions of the psalms—rejoicing, asking for help, and expressing thanks (cf. 1 Thess. 5:16-18)—we talk to someone else, in this case, God himself. It's fair to say that having a "quiet time" is a misnomer. We should more properly have a "noisy time." By talking out loud we live the reality that we are talking with another person, not simply talking to ourselves inside our own heads. Of course "silent prayers" are

Secularist Europe Silences Pro-Lifers and Creationists

Paul Belian of the Brussels Journal files the following report.  In your reading, I encourage you to click through to an embedded link,  "Europe's Culture War: Secularism on the March.

Last week, a German court sentenced a 55-year old Lutheran pastor to one year in jail for “Volksverhetzung” (incitement of the people) because he compared the killing of the unborn in contemporary Germany to the holocaust. Next week, the Council of Europe is going to vote on a resolution imposing Darwinism as Europe’s official ideology. The European governments are asked to fight the expression of creationist opinions, such as young earth and intelligent design theories. According to the Council of Europe these theories are “undemocratic” and “a threat to human rights.”

Without legalized abortion the number of German children would increase annually by at least 150,000 – which is the number of legal abortions in birth dearth Germany. Pastor Johannes Lerle compared the killing of the unborn to the killing of the Jews in Auschwitz during the Second World War. On 14 June, a court in Erlangen ruled that, in doing so, the pastor had “incited the people” because his statement was a denial of the holocaust of the Jews in Nazi-Germany. Hence, Herr Lerle was sentenced to one year in jail. Earlier, he had already spent eight months in jail for calling abortionists “professional killers” – an allegation which the court ruled to be slanderous because, according to the court, the unborn are not humans.  .  . .

"Volksverhetzung" is a crime which the Nazis often invoked against their enemies and which contemporary Germany also uses to intimidate homeschoolers. Soon, the German authorities will be able to use the same charge against people who question Darwin’s evolution theory.

Indeed, next Tuesday, the Council of Europe (CoE), Europe’s main human-rights body, will vote on a proposal which advocates the fight against creationism, “young earth” and “intelligent design” in its 47 member states.

According to a report of the CoE’s Parliamentary Assembly, creationists are dangerous “religious fundamentalists” who propagate “forms of religious extremism” and “could become a threat to human rights.” The report adds that the acceptance of the science of evolutionism “is crucial to the future of our societies and our democracies.”

Should We Pray to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit?

This may seem an unusual topic for this blog to write about. I am thinking about starting an additional blog some time in the future with a more decidedly "spiritual" emphasis.   But for now I'll write about the question because I think it is something that some people (including myself) have wondered about. Wayne Grudem addresses the question in his book, Systematic Theology (Zondervan, 1995), pp. 380-381.  I find his response fairly satisfying. 

A survey of the prayers of the New Testament indicates that they are usually addressed neither to God the Son nor to the Holy Spirit, but to God the Father.  Yet a mere count of such prayers may be misleading,