From: Open Doors USA

Send a card to a persecuted Christian (Hebrews 10:32-35)

From: The Voice of the Martyrs

Pray for AFGHANISTAN & ALGERIA

AFGHANISTAN & ALGERIA Islamic Scholars Call for Crackdown on Christians – VOM Sources
Christians came under fire in Algeria and Afghanistan in recent weeks by Islamic scholars who have called for government crackdowns on Christian activity in the two countries. In Afghanistan, members of the Afghanistan Islamic Council warned President Karzai not to allow foreign missions into the country, especially to the impoverished areas. The council claimed that missionaries in Kabul and in the provinces were forcibly converting Muslims, enticing them by giving them Bibles and promising to send them abroad. The Islamic scholars warned of serious consequence if the government did not stop Christians from preaching and evangelizing. In Algeria, the head of the Algerian Associations of Muslim Scholars, Sheik Abdul Al-Shayban, called on all officials to counter Christian missionary campaigns, claiming they had “reached the point of aggressions against Algerians.” Ask God to stop the attempts of those who seek to hinder His work in Afghanistan and Algeria. Pray that His servants in these countries will be emboldened to carry on their service to Christ wherever Gods leads them.
Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 8:31

Pray for INDIA

INDIA UPDATE: Christians Believe Orissa Attacks Premeditated – VOM Sources
Christians in India believe the deadly attacks by Hindu extremists against Christians during the Christmas season were premeditated. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in India, “It is beyond doubt that the violence was premeditated, pre-planned and the work of a well-disciplined group to ensure simultaneous eruption of violence across the Kandhamal district within hours of the first incident and to sustain it for five days despite the presence of the highest police officers in the region.” Pray for Christians in Orissa state and India as a whole. Thank God for their faithfulness, and ask Him to protect them and provide for their needs.
Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 27:1

Pray for CHINA

CHINA Christian Businessman Released from Prison – China Aid Association
On January 4, Christian bookstore owner Shi Weihan was released from prison in China along with two dozen others. According to China Aid Association (CAA), the Chinese government decided against a formal trial for Weihan and dropped all criminal charges against him and the others. CAA reported, “Eye witnesses said, ‘Weihan was in good spirits and in a relatively stable physical condition when he was released from prison.’” Weihan and two dozen other individuals had been in prison since November under charges of illegal printing and distribution of Christian literature. Weihan is one of many Christians who have been imprisoned in China because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Pray for believers in China as they faithfully serve the Lord in the midst of great persecution.
Psalm 91, Romans 8:11

Pray for IRAQ

IRAQ Churches and Convents Bombed – VOM Sources/Media Reports
On January 6, four churches and three convents were damaged in coordinated bombings. According to numerous media reports, the blasts occurred within five minutes of each other and involved mortar shells, explosive devices and car bombs. In Baghdad, the St. George Chaldean Church in Ghadir quarter, a Chaldean convent in the Zaafaraniya quarter and a Greek-Melkite parish were attacked. In Mosul, the St. Paul Chaldean Church and the House of the Holy Spirit, a Chaldean convent, were simultaneously bombed. A Dominican convent in Mosul was also attacked and an Ancient Assyrian Church in the al-Nur district was damaged when a parked car blew up outside the building. At least six people were injured, one of them seriously, in the explosions. Pray for Iraqi Christians as they deal with the effects of this attack. Pray for healing for those injured. Ask God to enable Iraqi Christians to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer as they suffer for Him.
Romans 12:12, Psalm 91

I have been thinking a lot about sin lately. Specifically I have been thinking a lot about why I sin. I echo Paul’s thoughts in Romans 7:17-19 [ESV] where he laments:

“¹⁷ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”

The Question

Why do I sin? Why is it that I seem to struggle with the same sins over and over and over again? Why is it that, just when I think that I have gained mastery over one of my sins that it comes back and bites me in the tuchus?

The Answer (at least part of it)

¹² Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. ¹³ But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. [Hebrews 3:11-13; ESV]

I live under the sin and curse of unbelief. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God. I know He’s there and I know that He will do what He says He will do. I know that He is the creator and sustainer of all life and that He sent His son to die and rise so that those who place their trust in him will live forever in heaven. I know all of that and I believe it. In my head. Where I stumble and where the root of all my sin and struggle lies is in my lack of trust in Him.

I find myself sinning for a couple of reasons; one is that I do not believe that God will do as He says, so I try to take matters into my own hands and the other is that I am angry with Him for not doing what I want Him to do so I sin to get back at Him . . . to punish Him. How childish. That is something I would expect from my three-and-a-half year old son, while I should clearly know better. (It amazes me how often I see myself reflected in my son, but that’s a story for another day.)

I know that there are other “causes” for my sin, but I also see that my unbelief is the greatest single contributor to my sinning.

The Resolution

This entry was inspired, in part, by this post by Tim Bayly, Pastor of the church we attend and I think he says it best:

The first step in that battle is to recognize God’s command that we believe, and to pray asking Him to give us what He commands. Remember the father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus to be healed? When the father approached Jesus, he expressed some hesitancy concerning whether or not Jesus could or would heal his son. Jesus answered him, “All things are possible to him who believes.” The boy’s father then responded with honesty and humility, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

The temptation in unbelief is to continue in it; to despair in never truly trusting. The good news is that God is faithful to His promises and will reward “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man” [James 5:16b; NKJV]. I know I will continue to struggle with unbelief, along with a host of other sins, but knowing where the battle lies is the first step in fighting it.

I received this devotional today from The Institue for Creation Research — a creationist ministry (the first, I believe) founded in 1970. This very clearly sums up why I feel so passionate about my beliefs as a Christian and a creationist. Creationism is anything but a fringe issue in the church today — it is central to all Christian theology.

Fringe Issues August 18, 2005 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient” (II Timothy 2:24). One of the plagues of modern-day Christendom is that many take up side issues and deem them all important–a point of separation between them and other Christians. Health foods, dress codes, and church constitutions are not unimportant, but Christians can hold different opinions and still be walking with God. Note the Scriptural admonitions: “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace [i.e., primary issues]; not with meats [i.e., fringe issues], which have not profited them that have been occupied therein” (Hebrews 13:9); “foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes” (II Timothy 2:23). On the other hand, there are many Scriptural commands to hold “fast the faithful word” (Titus 1:9); to “k eep that which is committed to thy trust” (I Timothy 6:20). Many of these points of “sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9) are absolutely essential, such as the Deity of Christ, the authority of Scripture, salvation by grace, the resurrection of Christ, and many others clearly and specifically taught in Scripture. Perhaps the rule might be, if it’s an essential doctrine, teach and defend it at all costs; if it’s a secondary doctrine, teach it in “meekness” and love (II Timothy 2:25). But if it’s a fringe issue, avoid strife over it, allowing brothers to exercise their freedom. Is creationism a fringe issue? No! Few doctrines are so clearly taught in Scripture. Is it crucial to salvation? No! But it is essential to adequately understand the great, primary doctrines for it is foundational to them all. Furthermore, it is the subject of origins which the enemy has identified as a major battleground, vowing to destroy Christianity over this issue. Here we mu st stand, if we are to guard our faith. JDM