Why are Liberals So Afraid of Prayer?

Bishop Harry JacksonBy Harry Jacskson Jr – The Christian Post  – Apr. 27 2010

The last two weeks have been anything but calm in the world of faith and religion. Conservative Christians are wondering whether they are being betrayed by both the White House and the court system. The ruling of a Wisconsin judge that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional and violates the concept of the separation of church and state has been like a blow to the solar plexus for battle weary Christians. In the much-touted culture wars, there has never been such an open case of liberals throwing down the gauntlet in a specific area that has been deemed “Christian territory.”Perhaps the blame for this change in the political atmosphere should be laid at the feet of the current administration and it’s concept of pluralism. After all, the president boldly declared last year that the U.S. was no longer a Christian nation. This remark infuriated the faithful and set the stage for millions of rank and file Christians to question his personal faith. Next, he did not attend the National Day of Prayer and refused to make a declaration or statement until late in the day last year. Conservative Christian powerbrokers watched tentatively as the administration attempted to bring new leaders into the president’s advisory circle. These new leaders had no real national cache’ with the Christian masses. Despite the fact that the president attended a Congressional prayer breakfast earlier this year, his approach seems to have been aimed at “defanging” the politically powerful, religious right.

(more…)

Continue ReadingWhy are Liberals So Afraid of Prayer?

Tony Perkins: I see ‘hostility’ toward Christianity

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council,Family Research Council chief confirms ‘politically correct’ options diminishing
April 27, 2010 - By Michael Carl © 2010 WorldNetDaily
“We see a federal judge who’s been on the bench since Jimmy Carter appointed her. She’s not a new judge. This is a judge who’s been around for quite some time. And she decides all of a sudden that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. So I do think what we’re seeing is an environment that is hostile to Christianity,” Perkins said.

He also said what is happening now parallels America’s past.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council says he sees more and more limits being placed on what is “politically correct” for Christians to do.

“I see an environment being created that is hostile to Christianity,” he said. “Two months ago, I was disinvited to speak at Andrews Air Force Base. Just last week … Franklin Graham [was] disinvited to pray at the Pentagon on the National Day of Prayer.”

He said that “shows that this isn’t about political activity. It’s not about public policy positions. It really comes down to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” (more…)

Continue ReadingTony Perkins: I see ‘hostility’ toward Christianity

Franklin Graham: Christians Will Lose the Power to Pray Outside Church Walls ‘Maybe in My Lifetime’

C:\\Documents and Settings\\JASONG\\Desktop\\Franklin Graham.jpgWednesday, May 05, 2010 By Pete Winn, Senior Writer/Editor, CNS News
Two top evangelical leaders sounded a defiant tone on the eve of National Day of Prayer — warning that the American right to freedom of religion “is being eroded every day” and may be lost in an onslaught of secularism unless Americans “have the guts to stand up.”

The Rev. Franklin Graham, who last month was officially “dis-invited” by the Army to speak at a National Day of Prayer ceremony at the Pentagon for statements he made about Islam, said he will not back down in preaching the Gospel as he sees it.

“We’re living in a time where we cannot compromise, we cannot back up, we cannot retreat,” Graham said Wednesday during a live Webcast from the Washington, D.C. offices of the Family Research Council.

“The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be preached to the ends of the Earth – that’s what He’s called us to do,” he said.

Graham, the honorary chairman of this year’s National Day of Prayer, made his comments in a sermon to an audience of leaders making final preparations for Thursday’s National Day of Prayer. (more…)

Continue ReadingFranklin Graham: Christians Will Lose the Power to Pray Outside Church Walls ‘Maybe in My Lifetime’

When the Thought Police Come Knocking on Your Door

Bill Muehlenberg of CultureWatchCultureWatch  – Bill Muehlenberg’s commentary on issues of the day…

Let me tell you in advance something you will need to know. If in the near future you notice that no new articles are being added to this website, and no new comments are being posted, there will be one very good reason for this: I will be in jail, or fighting a lengthy court battle, because of Victoria’s new EOC law which was just passed.

Now I realise that for my many enemies this will be tremendous news indeed. But for those at least concerned about freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of conscience, this should be a very worrying development.

And to be honest, I am perfectly aware that there will be some Christians as well who will see the closure of this website as a good thing: “Yes, Bill was just too radical, and too much of a trouble maker. It is probably a good thing he has been put away. He was giving Christianity a bad reputation”.

Of course I will not find such attitudes surprising. Jesus had warned about these very things. He told his disciples to be ready for the coming persecution: “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you” (John 16:1-4). (more…)

Continue ReadingWhen the Thought Police Come Knocking on Your Door

Freed Female Converts to Face Iranian Judge Again

Islamic womenBy Ethan Cole|Christian Post Reporter Fri,  Apr. 09 2010

The two Iranian female converts to Christianity, who were released in November, will again appear before a judge next Tuesday, an Iran-focused Christian ministry reported.

Maryam Rostampour, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, were summoned for a court hearing on April 13.

According to Elam Ministries, which has been following their case from the beginning, the women are still in frail physical condition from their time in prison. The two had spent 259 days in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison where they were reportedly subjected to psychological abuse and their medical requests were ignored.

Since their conditional release on Nov. 18, the women have been recuperating and receiving medical treatments. Elam reported on Thursday that they “remain unwell, weak and suffering from various illnesses.”

Despite their sufferings, Rostampour and Amirizadeh are “determined to be faithful to the Lord and speak the truth in court whatever the consequence of personal cost,” the ministry said. (more…)

Continue ReadingFreed Female Converts to Face Iranian Judge Again

Ex-Muslim Defends Franklin Graham’s Islam Remarks

By Michelle A. Vu, Christian Post Reporter, Thursday April 29th

Graham and others like him who criticize Islam are not saying they hate Muslims, said Sabatina James, a well-known Paskistani convert to Christianity who lives in Europe, in an interview with The Christian Post on Wednesday.

The granddaughter of a mullah weighed in on the Franklin Graham controversy this week, contending that there is a difference between critisizing Islam and Muslims

 “Make the difference between sin and sinner,” said James, “between Islam and Muslims. Don’t say that every Muslim is a terrorist and every Muslim is bad because that is just not true. But there are definitely things that need to be changed in Islam or else you can’t live in a democracy.”

James, who is living under police protection and constantly on the move because of death threats against her, said Islamic rights do not fit in a country like the United States.

“Nobody is allowed to beat up his wife just because she’s not obedient but that is written in the Quran,” she said. “You know you have to think about it.”

“Is there a different Quran? No they are teaching the same Quran where it is written ‘beat your wife if she is not obedient.’ They are teaching the same Quran where it is written ‘the Christians and Jewish people are evil.’ It is written in the Surah Al-Maidah. It is written there ‘don’t take Jewish and Christian people as your friend.’ That is what you are taught in the Quran schools.” (more…)

Continue ReadingEx-Muslim Defends Franklin Graham’s Islam Remarks

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU’S SPEECH ON HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NethanyahuPress Release from the office of the Prime Minister of Israel

Tonight, the eve of Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day,  we remember our brothers and sisters who were murdered in the death camps,  in the forests and in the killing fields. We listen to the voices of the survivors who serve as the voice of the millions who died. Before their deaths, many of the murdered begged, “Do not forget us. Tell our story—tell the world, tell the coming generations – how great our suffering was, how terrible the horror was, how great our sacrifice was.”

Several months ago, I headed the Israeli delegation to the ceremony marking 65 years since the liberation of the death camps Auschwitz and Birkenau. The candle-lighting ceremony took place outside in front of the monument. It was 15 degrees Celsius below zero, but it was still warmer than the terrible winter of 1944-1945 when temperatures ranged from 30 to 35 degrees below zero. We stood for about 30 minutes during the ceremony, well-dressed for the weather, nevertheless, we were freezing. Suddenly I understood a simple, chilling truth about millions of my brothers and sisters who ended up in that cursed place: those who didn’t burn, froze; and those who didn’t freeze, burned.
 
Several months earlier, I visited the Wannsee Villa in Berlin. There, I saw the original invitation for the meeting of high-level Nazi officials, in which they decided to wipe out the Jewish people. On the invitation that was sent by the Deputy Head of the SS was written: “The chief of the Reich main security office, Reinhard Heydrich, cordially invites you to a discussion about the Final Solution to the Jewish problem. Breakfast will be served at 09:00.” This is how, in an elegant villa on the shore of a pastoral lake, over breakfast and glasses of cognac, 15 men sat and decided how to destroy our people. No one batted an eyelid; no one expressed any doubt regarding the mission, either its necessity or its justness. (more…)

Continue ReadingPRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU’S SPEECH ON HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

Pastor Daniel meets ex-satanist from Mount Ainslie in Canberra

Pastor Daniel and Steve united in the LordSteve confronting Pastor Daniel on Mount AinslieDear family & friends in Christ,
 
I thank my Lord and Saviour every day for the young man who was once a Satanist, but was born again after the spiritual warfare prayer operation on Mount Ainslie in Canberra last October 2009.

 

This proves that God loves every single person, no matter who they are or what they have done, He will still forgive them of all their sin as He died for us all  (John 3:16).
 
I am sure you have all heard about this young man who was very angry and hostile towards us on Mount Ainslie last year in October 2009 when we carried out a major spiritual warfare prayer assault against Satan and his demonic powers of darkness over our capital city of Canberra and nation of Australia.  This young man at that point was a Satanist and led the anti-God mob against us right through the whole prayer operation.
 
Glory to God for miraculously opening the door for me to communicate via email with this young man, named Steve, who sometime in February this year 2010 gave his life to Jesus! I know many of you have being praying for him and I thank you so much for doing so.
 
In April during the revival meetings in Canberra, I along with my friend Pastor Glenn, met up with Steve at his home. This was the first time that I met him after he became a born-again Christian. I spent around 1 hour 10 minutes with him and oh how wonderful it was to sit next to a guy who was formerly on the other side (the dark side with Satan) and now we were both on the same side (in the light with Jesus)!

(more…)

Continue ReadingPastor Daniel meets ex-satanist from Mount Ainslie in Canberra

National Day of Prayer in America – 6th May 2010

Franklin GrahamMay 5, 2010 – Read all the articles below covering Franklin Graham’s journey as the 2010 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer. 

 Invited or not, I’ll stand in front of the Pentagon and pray.
 
Even if President Obama fails to intervene to allow him to lead a National Day of Prayer event at the Pentagon Thursday, Franklin Graham will still be there— praying for the U.S. military and his own son who is serving in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon had invited the National Day of Prayer Task Force, of which Graham is 2010 honorary chairman, to lead an official prayer service on site, but later rescinded its invitation after various groups protested.

Graham told USA TODAY that when President Obama visited his father, Billy, last month, the younger Graham asked the president to intercede with the Pentagon to restore his invitation. He said Obama replied that he would “look into it.”

Invitation or not, Graham vows to pray for the military tomorrow. He also will be leading prayer at the national observance in the Canon Office Building, and a later event on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Read all the articles leading up to this event: (more…)

Continue ReadingNational Day of Prayer in America – 6th May 2010

Reality Check: Don’t Forget Your Persecuted Brothers

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 – J. Lee Grady Newsletters – Fire In My Bones 

Last week many of our brothers and sisters lost their lives for Christ. How should we respond to the cry of the martyrs?

Last week while millions of Americans crammed into theaters to see Alice in Wonderland in 3-D, many Christians in other parts of the world were attacked, raped or killed for the cause of the gospel.

This past weekend I received an urgent message from my friend Christopher Alam, a U.S.-based evangelist, who was writing from Southeast Asia to inform me of a terrible atrocity in Myanmar.

“As long as our brothers and sisters are dying for Christ in other nations, we cannot take off our armor or live in a fantasy world of prosperity and instant blessing.” (more…)

Continue ReadingReality Check: Don’t Forget Your Persecuted Brothers

The Face of Courage—a Saudi Woman’s Powerful Poem Denouncing Fatwas and Extremism could Make Her a Winner on Abu Dhabi TV’s “Million’s Poet Contest”

Islamic woman speaks outby Aimee Herd : Apr 1, 2010 : Staff – Daily Mail Online

“My poetry has always been provocative. It’s a way to express myself and give voice to Arab women, silenced by those who have hijacked our culture and our religion.”

Hissa Hilel, a Saudi Arabian mother of four, has been composing lines of poetry since she was just 12. Now, at 43, she has a chance to win over a million dollars in Abu Dhabi TV’s reality contest, The Million’s Poet.

But, it’s not just the fact that Hilel is the first woman to make it to the finals on the show that has every talking about her; it’s her poetry itself.

One of her most recent poems addressed the subject of Islamic clerics who promote terrorism and extremism, and who issue fatwas (rules), which rob people and especially women of their rights.

In her poem, Hilel described the clerics as “vicious in voice, barbaric, angry and blind, wearing death as a robe cinched with a belt…” (a reference to suicide belts). (more…)

Continue ReadingThe Face of Courage—a Saudi Woman’s Powerful Poem Denouncing Fatwas and Extremism could Make Her a Winner on Abu Dhabi TV’s “Million’s Poet Contest”

Passion Play Drew 20,000 Onlookers in London’s Trafalgar Square

Passion of the Christby Michael Ireland : Apr 7, 2010 : ASSIST News

“One scene in particular captures people,..It is the occasion where Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves him and three times Peter says yes. Then the cock crows, because Peter did deny him once. He is forgiven, and Jesus turns to the audiences and says: ‘Be bold, love my Church.’ There’s not a dry eye. One time I was standing by this tall man…and he was crying his eyes out.”

(London, UK)—Roman soldiers dressed in authentic-styled armor of the 12th Legion, tramped through Trafalgar Square in the center of London on Good Friday afternoon, as the story of the Passion of Jesus was re-enacted by a cast of more than 100. According to Ind.Catholic News.com, the Good Friday production by the Wintershall Estate theatre company, drew an estimated audience of up to 20,000 people, among them families, church groups and tourists, who, in spite of showery weather, crammed onto steps around the Square and the front of the National Gallery for both the dress rehearsal and main performance.

The Catholic website says some members of the audience were recruited in the crowd scenes.

The drama, accompanied by a beautiful musical score, depicted some of the key events in the life of Jesus (played by actor Simon Hemingway-shown on left)—scenes of miracles, his entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, driving the shopkeepers from the Temple, the Last Supper, his betrayal and trial, death and Resurrection. (more…)

Continue ReadingPassion Play Drew 20,000 Onlookers in London’s Trafalgar Square

Son of Hamas Founder Shares Faith Journey, Reveals He Spied for Israel in New Book

Son of Hamas Founder now following Christ02 March 2010 – Ken Walker – Featured News Charisma Online
  
The son of a Hamas founder whose Christian conversion made international headlines released the complete story of his faith journey Tuesday in a memoir brimming with spy-novel-like drama.

Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef details a six-year-long conversion process that originated with a Bible study in Jerusalem and resulted in his departure from the Islamic terrorist organization. He was baptized in 2005 near Tel Aviv in a ceremony performed by a San Diego woman visiting the church that Yousef attended.

The 31-year-old says his faith has sustained him ever since, particularly since leaving his homeland in 2007. The pain of separation is better understood when one reads his account of the lifelong, close-knit ties forged by Palestinian families.

“Whenever I compare my pain to [Christ’s], I forget my pain,” said Yousef, who lives on the West Coast.

“When I feel alone in this journey, I know that He feels with me because He went through much worse. Every step I get closer to the cross I learn more about His sacrifice and pain, which absolutely makes me forget about my pain.” (more…)

Continue ReadingSon of Hamas Founder Shares Faith Journey, Reveals He Spied for Israel in New Book

U.S. Court Rules that National Day of Prayer is Unconstitutional

John Jalsevac (Apr. 16, 2010)

A little history: June 30, 1812: It being a duty peculiarly incumbent in a time of public calamity and war, humbly and devoutly to acknowledge our dependence on Almighty God, and to implore His aid and protection:

Therefore, Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that a joint committee of both Houses wait on the President of the United States, and request that he recommend a day of public humiliation and prayer to be observed by the people of the United States, with religious solemnity, and the offering of fervent supplications to the Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these States, His blessing on their arms, and the speedy restoration of peace. (Resolution requesting the President of the United States to recommend a day of public humiliation and prayer)

In a decision released Thursday, U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. The decision comes in the case filed by The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a Wisconsin-based organization, which challenged the constitutionality of a 1988 federal law giving the president the authority to designate the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer. (“The First Prayer in Congress” by T.H. Matteson 1848)

The day of prayer “goes beyond mere ‘acknowledgment’ of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context,” Crabb wrote. “In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.” (more…)

Continue ReadingU.S. Court Rules that National Day of Prayer is Unconstitutional

European Union Moves to Defend Persecuted Christians

Friday, February 26, 2010 – By Michael Ireland Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service 

Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

WASHINGTON, D.C, (ANS) — The European Union (EU) has established a working group to protect persecuted Christians and prepare a manual for embassies of member states regarding the treatment of persecuted Christian minorities.

According to International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org, Italy’s Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, in an interview yesterday with the Italian daily newspaper Avvenire said, “We could promote a group of like-minded countries who take to heart the right of Christians to profess their faith anywhere in the world. …You see, Christians have never had a political group offering them strong support through their governments.”

ICC reported that the Foreign Minister also stated that his country will hold an international conference on religious freedom this year and will soon introduce a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly regarding the rights of Christians. (more…)

Continue ReadingEuropean Union Moves to Defend Persecuted Christians