This morning I give thanks to God for answering our prayers for Saba and Anila, the two young sisters kidnapped in Pakistan and forced into Islam. Asia News reports that they are currently in the care of a state run women's shelter pending a judicial review of the case.
Please continue to pray for the speedy restoration of the girls to their parents; also that they would know healing for the physical and emotional harm meted out to them during this episode.
Multan (AsiaNews) - "The decree of the judge so far is so good, that is why we and the girls’ family felt relieved” ahead of the hearing on August 4. This is the satisfied comment of Peter Jacob, secretary of the Pakistani Catholic commission for justice and peace, on the decision by the judge Saghir Ahmed, of the Multan Bench of Lahore High Court, to entrust the two Christian sisters kidnapped by a group of Muslims to the care of a state-run women's shelter.
Since Tuesday, July 29, Saba Younas, 13, and her sister Anila, 10, have been safe from their captors: the girls were kidnapped last June 26 in the village of Chowk Munda, in the province of Punjab, where they had gone to visit their uncle, Khalid Raheel. In the days following their kidnapping, the kidnappers revealed that the two girls had converted to Islam, and that the older of them had married one of the sons of the kidnappers. In court, moreover, both father and son stressed the "girl's complete willingness to contract marriage".
Saba and Anila's family have been able to count on the concrete help of the commission for justice and peace, and on the support of the entire Catholic community in the country, beginning with legal assistance and the covering of court costs. The trial was adjourned until August 4, when the judge will have to rule on the possible - and hoped for - return of the two sisters, still minors, back to their home.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Running on Empty?
Every so often I get an e-mail that's worth sharing with you. This morning I was sent the following piece as part of a message from one of our team members. If you feel you're running on empty you might find it encouraging. Take a minute. Fill a coffee and go on, have a read!
A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked 'How heavy is this glass of water?' Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down . Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.'
Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.'
'So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.
Sounds like good advice to me! Perhaps the only thing that I would add is simply this, the best place to lay all of our burdens is of course, at the feet of Jesus. Thank you Lord for the reminder in your word that we can find true peace and rest by coming to you (Mat. 11:28).
A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked 'How heavy is this glass of water?' Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down . Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.'
Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.'
'So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.
Sounds like good advice to me! Perhaps the only thing that I would add is simply this, the best place to lay all of our burdens is of course, at the feet of Jesus. Thank you Lord for the reminder in your word that we can find true peace and rest by coming to you (Mat. 11:28).
Friday, July 18, 2008
Tearing Young Lives Apart
This week we reported on the kidnap of two young sisters from Pakistan in our weekly Persecution & Prayer Alert e-mail (see http://www.persecution.net/pnp.htm#2 for more details).
This morning, as news continues to come in to the VOMC office, I am utterly disgusted and disturbed by the bizarre and inhumane actions of Judge Main Naeem Sardar, the man appointed to rule on the legality of their kidnapping and supposed conversion to Islam. Compass Direct report that the girls, Saba Masih, 13, and Aneela Masih, 10, appeared in court to give testimony chaperoned by 16 Muslim men. Compass further reports that they were given five minutes to testify that their conversion was genuine.
Oblivious to the pain of their parents, Sardar, legitimized this wickedness stating that "because the parents are Christians and because the girls told the court that they adopted Islam, their relationship has ceased".
Is their no end to this dreadful treatment of young Christian girls in Pakistan and the other countries where such events are becoming so common? My heart is pained as I think of these youngsters being torn from the comfort and familiarity of the family home and being forced into a new religion, with its tenets being compelled upon them by a band of heartless men.
Is this not another example of Islamic Shari'a Law at its 'best'?
Lord, we implore you, intervene and bring good out of this evil!
This morning, as news continues to come in to the VOMC office, I am utterly disgusted and disturbed by the bizarre and inhumane actions of Judge Main Naeem Sardar, the man appointed to rule on the legality of their kidnapping and supposed conversion to Islam. Compass Direct report that the girls, Saba Masih, 13, and Aneela Masih, 10, appeared in court to give testimony chaperoned by 16 Muslim men. Compass further reports that they were given five minutes to testify that their conversion was genuine.
Oblivious to the pain of their parents, Sardar, legitimized this wickedness stating that "because the parents are Christians and because the girls told the court that they adopted Islam, their relationship has ceased".
Is their no end to this dreadful treatment of young Christian girls in Pakistan and the other countries where such events are becoming so common? My heart is pained as I think of these youngsters being torn from the comfort and familiarity of the family home and being forced into a new religion, with its tenets being compelled upon them by a band of heartless men.
Is this not another example of Islamic Shari'a Law at its 'best'?
Lord, we implore you, intervene and bring good out of this evil!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
All For Jesus
I was struck recently by the pledge made by missionary and martyr,
Elizabeth Alden Stam during the summer of 1925. Nineteen
years old and full of enthusiasm and zeal to serve her beloved
Saviour, she wrote:
Lord, I give up my own purposes and plans,
all my own desires and hopes and ambitions and accept Thy will
for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee, to be
Thine forever. I hand over to Thy keeping all of my friendships;
all the people whom I love are to take a second place in my heart.
Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Work out Thy whole
will in my life, at any cost. Now and forever. To me to live is
Christ. Amen.
Only nine years after this pledge was made, Elizabeth was martyred
along with her husband at the hands of Communist soldiers
in China.
As I read this short summary of her life, I was deeply impacted
by her absolute submission to Christ. Handing our ‘all’ over to
the Lord is a frightening prospect, yet it remains the wisest choice
a servant of Christ can make! As I think of Betty Stam’s devotion,
I am led to give thanks to God for your devotion as a volunteer
team. Many of you work hard during the week, others have
tremendous family responsibilities, still others face health challenges,
and yet you all share a passion and a willingness to stand
steadfastly with our brothers and sisters for whom suffering for
Christ is a daily fact of life.
What a privilege to be a part of the branch of the Vine that seeks
to walk so closely with the Lord Jesus and minister to his suffering
saints.
In closing, the encouraging words written by John H. Sammis
come to mind:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Elizabeth Alden Stam during the summer of 1925. Nineteen
years old and full of enthusiasm and zeal to serve her beloved
Saviour, she wrote:
Lord, I give up my own purposes and plans,
all my own desires and hopes and ambitions and accept Thy will
for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee, to be
Thine forever. I hand over to Thy keeping all of my friendships;
all the people whom I love are to take a second place in my heart.
Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Work out Thy whole
will in my life, at any cost. Now and forever. To me to live is
Christ. Amen.
Only nine years after this pledge was made, Elizabeth was martyred
along with her husband at the hands of Communist soldiers
in China.
As I read this short summary of her life, I was deeply impacted
by her absolute submission to Christ. Handing our ‘all’ over to
the Lord is a frightening prospect, yet it remains the wisest choice
a servant of Christ can make! As I think of Betty Stam’s devotion,
I am led to give thanks to God for your devotion as a volunteer
team. Many of you work hard during the week, others have
tremendous family responsibilities, still others face health challenges,
and yet you all share a passion and a willingness to stand
steadfastly with our brothers and sisters for whom suffering for
Christ is a daily fact of life.
What a privilege to be a part of the branch of the Vine that seeks
to walk so closely with the Lord Jesus and minister to his suffering
saints.
In closing, the encouraging words written by John H. Sammis
come to mind:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Sword of Love
It's been a while since we had a contribution from another team member! This morning Suzanna Meyer of Wallaceburg, Ontario shares her thoughts on the Christian's perpetual battle to balance feelings of anger with the requirement to forgive and love.
The Sword of Love
It can happen. There is a word, a note, a letter, and the past with all its wounds and pain is so vividly alive. The memories are once again so clear, and the helpless rage about it returns. It happened to me today because of a letter I received – I was momentarily stunned and I literally groaned, ‘Oh, not that!’
I hated again, and a helpless rage swelled up inside me. I did the only thing I knew to do. I sat down and cried out to God, so shocked about my own numb reaction of helpless rage.
And then I saw that this is what sin does and has done in the lives of all the parties involved, including mine. That is why Jesus came and died on that horrible cross! It was on that cross and through that cross that He was, and is and will be victorious over sin and over the evil one.
A joy started to fill my heart! He was, and is and will be victorious over the dark forces of evil and hate and unforgiveness. He bought forgiveness for us, for that whole situation, for all the people in those years, including me.
He was and is and will forever be victorious over the evil one and his dark domain of hate and unforgiveness. He rose from the grave… And so did I….
In Him I have the victory through the power of the Holy Spirit to forgive! I am a soldier in His army and in my hand is the sword of His conquering love.
It is in the hands of my brothers and sisters who are attacked, wounded and suffering because they are faithful soldiers in His army. But they and I have the sword of His conquering love in our hands and against the love of God, against the name of Jesus written on that sword, the enemy has no defence!
Therefore we in the army of the Lord are victorious, whether in prisons or tortured, or killed, or in the prayer infantry behind the lines; and we will remember that our Lord and Commander prayed, ‘Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.’
My heart is at rest because every time that I am tempted to give rise to my feelings of anger because of what is happening in so many lands where Christians suffer for the name of Jesus, I know that it is Satan who tempts me to give rise to my anger and hatred and I will defeat him with the sword of love.
The Sword of Love
It can happen. There is a word, a note, a letter, and the past with all its wounds and pain is so vividly alive. The memories are once again so clear, and the helpless rage about it returns. It happened to me today because of a letter I received – I was momentarily stunned and I literally groaned, ‘Oh, not that!’
I hated again, and a helpless rage swelled up inside me. I did the only thing I knew to do. I sat down and cried out to God, so shocked about my own numb reaction of helpless rage.
And then I saw that this is what sin does and has done in the lives of all the parties involved, including mine. That is why Jesus came and died on that horrible cross! It was on that cross and through that cross that He was, and is and will be victorious over sin and over the evil one.
A joy started to fill my heart! He was, and is and will be victorious over the dark forces of evil and hate and unforgiveness. He bought forgiveness for us, for that whole situation, for all the people in those years, including me.
He was and is and will forever be victorious over the evil one and his dark domain of hate and unforgiveness. He rose from the grave… And so did I….
In Him I have the victory through the power of the Holy Spirit to forgive! I am a soldier in His army and in my hand is the sword of His conquering love.
It is in the hands of my brothers and sisters who are attacked, wounded and suffering because they are faithful soldiers in His army. But they and I have the sword of His conquering love in our hands and against the love of God, against the name of Jesus written on that sword, the enemy has no defence!
Therefore we in the army of the Lord are victorious, whether in prisons or tortured, or killed, or in the prayer infantry behind the lines; and we will remember that our Lord and Commander prayed, ‘Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.’
My heart is at rest because every time that I am tempted to give rise to my feelings of anger because of what is happening in so many lands where Christians suffer for the name of Jesus, I know that it is Satan who tempts me to give rise to my anger and hatred and I will defeat him with the sword of love.
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Grace That Leads To Change
On March 1st, 1981 the Lord called Dr. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones to his eternal rest. Though twenty seven years have passed, his preaching remains highly effective and still very much in the public domain thanks to organisations such as the MLJ Recording Trust.
This week I was privileged to listen to his exposition of Psalm 16:8, 'I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken'.
Something said by Lloyd-Jones in the course of the sermon has remained with me, 'I know that I am changeable but He is unchangeable. The world will change and I will change, but Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever'.
Amen to that! The wonder of the grace that allows me to be changed! Imagine if there were no way back to God! Imagine if it remained forever impossible to rebuild the bridge between God and man! Imagine if it were impossible for the life of the aboriginal crack addict I heard speak on the T.V. last night to ever change in a positive way. Imagine if your mistakes could never be atoned for! Imagine if forgiveness could never be extended to those who despise Christ and His children! What a hopeless, helpless, desperate and dark world we would be forced to live in.
Dear Dr. Lloyd-Jones helped focus my mind upon the amazing grace of God, revealed to us in Christ by the Spirit. Man can and does change! Because of the shed blood, the crack addict can become the Christ addict; the persecutor of the Lord's people can become the preacher of righteousness! All because of this wonderful grace of change, brought about in our hearts and lives by the awesome power of the Holy Spirit who 'persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel' (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. 31).
Take a minute to thank God anew for this grace that leads to change; grace that has its source in the very Fountain of Grace who, His infallible word assures us, will never change!
This week I was privileged to listen to his exposition of Psalm 16:8, 'I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken'.
Something said by Lloyd-Jones in the course of the sermon has remained with me, 'I know that I am changeable but He is unchangeable. The world will change and I will change, but Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever'.
Amen to that! The wonder of the grace that allows me to be changed! Imagine if there were no way back to God! Imagine if it remained forever impossible to rebuild the bridge between God and man! Imagine if it were impossible for the life of the aboriginal crack addict I heard speak on the T.V. last night to ever change in a positive way. Imagine if your mistakes could never be atoned for! Imagine if forgiveness could never be extended to those who despise Christ and His children! What a hopeless, helpless, desperate and dark world we would be forced to live in.
Dear Dr. Lloyd-Jones helped focus my mind upon the amazing grace of God, revealed to us in Christ by the Spirit. Man can and does change! Because of the shed blood, the crack addict can become the Christ addict; the persecutor of the Lord's people can become the preacher of righteousness! All because of this wonderful grace of change, brought about in our hearts and lives by the awesome power of the Holy Spirit who 'persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel' (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. 31).
Take a minute to thank God anew for this grace that leads to change; grace that has its source in the very Fountain of Grace who, His infallible word assures us, will never change!
Monday, June 2, 2008
From Every Stormy Wind That Blows
It’s always very easy to say ‘don’t worry’ and ‘trust in the Lord’, etc to those who are facing difficulties that we cannot truly appreciate or understand. The truth of this statement hit home last week as I was meditating on Mark 6: 45-52. I shared my thoughts on the passage with some of the staff this morning during our prayer time. Let me share an abbreviated version with you!
The passage focuses in on the events that took place immediately following the miraculous feeding of 5,000 + by Jesus. He instructs the disciples to continue on to Bethsaida while he withdraws to the solitude of a nearby mountain to pray. While Jesus was praying He saw that the disciples were straining against a strong wind out on the water. We read, '...about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them'.
Why was Jesus originally planning to pass by the disciples as they strained at the oars during the storm? They were in a place of fear, doubting, testing, confusion, etc, etc. Why would He pass them by?
My thoughts/conclusion: 1) He sent them into the boat. 2) He told them that He would meet them on the other side. 3) They had seen him feed 5,000+ the previous day. 4) They were there in the preceding days when Jairus’ daughter was healed. 5) Had he not already calmed a storm, simply by speaking (4:35-41)? Surely all of this points to Jesus testing their faith!
Over and again the Lord has demonstrated his sufficiency to each of us; he has proved his love, compassion and concern for us – this doesn't mean that we will be free of storms and strong winds! But it does mean that we need have no fear during these trying days.
As He eventually came to the disciples (who as it happened were terrified…imagine!) and delivered them, so too will he come to us and help us through testing days. All we have to do is trust! I love the words of this hymn – may they prove to be a great encouragement to you if you have, in the providence of the Most High, found yourself straining at the oars on an angry sea of trial.
Having taken the time to read the hymn, please look again at verse 52 of the passage. May we all learn from the experience of the disciples. They were astounded having seen Jesus walk on water and calm a storm, again. It seems that the reason for their astonishment lies in the fact that 'they did not understand about the loaves'.
They spoke with Christ, witnessed his great acts of grace, yet, it seems that they did not allow these experiences to permeate their hearts to the extent that they were willing to absolutely melt into a place of submission and total trust in Him. Doesn't true peace naturally flow from total submission to King Jesus? If our hearts are troubled today, perhaps the solution lies in the fact that we haven't yet grasped the significance of the loaves either.
From Every Stormy Wind
From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
Tis found beneath the mercy seat.
There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood bought mercy seat.
There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.
There, there, on eagles’ wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more;
And heaven comes down, our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.
Oh, let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!
(Hugh Stowell)
The passage focuses in on the events that took place immediately following the miraculous feeding of 5,000 + by Jesus. He instructs the disciples to continue on to Bethsaida while he withdraws to the solitude of a nearby mountain to pray. While Jesus was praying He saw that the disciples were straining against a strong wind out on the water. We read, '...about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them'.
Why was Jesus originally planning to pass by the disciples as they strained at the oars during the storm? They were in a place of fear, doubting, testing, confusion, etc, etc. Why would He pass them by?
My thoughts/conclusion: 1) He sent them into the boat. 2) He told them that He would meet them on the other side. 3) They had seen him feed 5,000+ the previous day. 4) They were there in the preceding days when Jairus’ daughter was healed. 5) Had he not already calmed a storm, simply by speaking (4:35-41)? Surely all of this points to Jesus testing their faith!
Over and again the Lord has demonstrated his sufficiency to each of us; he has proved his love, compassion and concern for us – this doesn't mean that we will be free of storms and strong winds! But it does mean that we need have no fear during these trying days.
As He eventually came to the disciples (who as it happened were terrified…imagine!) and delivered them, so too will he come to us and help us through testing days. All we have to do is trust! I love the words of this hymn – may they prove to be a great encouragement to you if you have, in the providence of the Most High, found yourself straining at the oars on an angry sea of trial.
Having taken the time to read the hymn, please look again at verse 52 of the passage. May we all learn from the experience of the disciples. They were astounded having seen Jesus walk on water and calm a storm, again. It seems that the reason for their astonishment lies in the fact that 'they did not understand about the loaves'.
They spoke with Christ, witnessed his great acts of grace, yet, it seems that they did not allow these experiences to permeate their hearts to the extent that they were willing to absolutely melt into a place of submission and total trust in Him. Doesn't true peace naturally flow from total submission to King Jesus? If our hearts are troubled today, perhaps the solution lies in the fact that we haven't yet grasped the significance of the loaves either.
From Every Stormy Wind
From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
Tis found beneath the mercy seat.
There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood bought mercy seat.
There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.
There, there, on eagles’ wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more;
And heaven comes down, our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.
Oh, let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!
(Hugh Stowell)
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