Chris and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

One famous blogger recently wrote about favorite childhood story books. This is mine...I still have the original 1972 version missing the paper cover. I call my mom up every few years in awhile and read it to her. I read it my kids. They think Why? Because some days are like that...even in Australia! So be courageous and tell us your favorite childhood story book.

By the way...today is a really good day!

05-30) 15:07 PDT ATLANTA, (AP) --
A man with a form of tuberculosis so dangerous he is under the first U.S. government-ordered quarantine since 1963 had health officials around the world scrambling Wednesday to find about 80 passengers who sat within five rows of him on two trans-Atlantic flights. READ IT ALL HERE

Who Am I?

"Five minutes after you die you'll know how you should have lived."

Obi Wan Kenobi Goes Car Shopping

You'd Never Believe It If I Didn't Show You

Who is going to care for your pets after you are raptured into heaven?

Many Christians believe that animals do not go to heaven. So when Jesus comes back and you return with him to heaven, will there be somebody to take care of your dog or cat?

If you have a non-Christian family member, they might take care of your pet, but if not, have you made any plans? Imagine being taken to streets of gold while your dog starves to death walking around in his own feces trapped in your small house or apartment, subject to fire and earthquakes or even being eaten by heathens searching for any remaining morsel of food. Do you want that to happen?

With the imminent collapse of the global economy and rampant godlessness, even the community shelters will not have the resources to care for your poor, hungry animals. So you need to make preparations.

That’s what JesusPets is for. We are assembling a community of heathen pet-lovers to care for pets that are “left-behind.” We are coordinating with feed mills and kennels in preparation for your post-apocalyptic pet care needs.

To Think FMA Rejected Me!

The Forerunner Music Academy prides itself on quality and excellence of both the Instructors and the Students but now we discover the truth. FMA jam session exposed. Parents this is what your tuition dollars are going for. I don't get it why didn't they accept me? I play a really mean "Washtub"!

Chocolate Reveals Your Age

Yes, it's true: If you are old enough to do mathematics and you like chocolate, you might be able to figure out your age. By crunching these numbers (including the weekly frequency of your preference for chocolate), your age is mathematically revealed.

This is totally off topic but it makes me look smart so I decided to post it. Try it out to see for yourself.

Steps

Determine how many times a week you eat or want chocolate. It must be a number between 1 and 10, including 1 or 10.

Let's say you eat chocolate 8 times a week (we won't tell).
Multiply that number by 2.

8 x 2 = 16

Add 5 to the previous result.

16 + 5 = 21

Multiply that by 50.

21 x 50 = 1050

Add the current year (Gregorian).

1050 + 2007 = 3057

Subtract 250 if you've had a birthday this year. If you haven't had a birthday this year, subtract 251.

Let's say your birthday hasn't passed yet.

3057 - 251 = 2806

Subtract your birth year.

Assuming you were born in 1975...

2806 - 1975 = 831

You'll end up with a 3 or 4 digit number. The last two digits are your age (if you're under 10 years old there will be a zero before your age). The remaining one or two digits will be the number of times per week you eat or want chocolate (the number you specified in the first step).

Ever Had A Day Like This?

Global Day of Prayer

To our dear GOD TV viewer,

Saints we are here in Jerusalem for the Global Day of Prayer and would love you to join us this Sunday as we cross LIVE - from 5am - to participating nations worldwide. Don’t miss this historic event as we cross to Bo Sander in Hong Kong; Thomas Robinson in Bangalore; Chris Cole from West Ham Stadium in London; as well as the team in Dallas, who will be leading prayers from these regions. Watch and pray with us around-the-clock as believers from all over the earth connect in prayer to see a return to God. And for those who have been fasting and praying, visit for the latest message from Global Day of Prayer chairman, Graham Power entitled ‘Bringing the Healing of Christ’.

Prayer is the only thing which causes spiritual breakthroughs and allows these to be translated into the natural victories we need so desperately on the earth. It is also the one thing that the devil tries so desperately to oppose! This is why we are so committed to bringing you programming which will build up and transform your prayer life.

Tune in tonight at 10pm for the Full Flame Fire Conference, direct from Birmingham, UK; as Reinhard Bonnke and special guest speaker, Benny Hinn bring powerful teaching and God’s palpable, healing presence. This Saturday (May 26 at 8pm) we join Lou Engel, Rick Joyner and Dutch Sheets as they lead thousands of saints in 40 days of prayer in the 40 Days for 40 Years run-up to TheCall, Nashville (7 July 2007). TheCall aims to raise up a generation equipped to advance a movement that will bring revival, justice and mercy over the USA and the globe. We are also so thrilled to launch The Prayer Room: GOD TV Daily Devotional this Monday, May 28 - daily at 6am. The hour-long prayer meeting will be hosted by GOD TV’s new head of prayer, Mike Bickle, direct from the USA. For more on each of these special broadcasts please log on to our website.

We pray that God’s anointing will flow into your heart and life as you watch GOD TV this weekend.

Your fellow prayer warriors,
Rory & Wendy

Joel Osteen's Newest Best Seller

Now, you too can know the secrets of a brighter smile with Joel Osteen's latest book Your Best Teeth Now! In his new book, Joel will share with you how he keeps his teeth "whiter than the pearly gates."

While brushing, flossing and mouth rinse are all important, a healthy smile takes much more. A believer has a right to a pain free smile.

Imagine, no more toothaches, no more crooked teeth, no more fillings, no more braces. Get your copy of Your Best Teeth Now! today.

Only $12.95 for paperback, or $19.95 for hardcover.

Great Quotes

"Great leaders create great problems. If you're not willing to create problems; you're not willing to lead. Leaders create problems by changing expectations. Many churches that have been stagnant for years do not consider themselves to have any real problems. Only when a leader begins to call them out of the status quo does it begin to be perceived as a problem."
Erwin McMannus

Who Am I?

Missoura Bugs!

Fasting Motivation For A Nation

Everyone should listen to this Sermon Download of a Message by Dutch Sheets, Mike Bickle, and Lou Engle. Be Energized as you enter the fast the Lord has called you unto. How you fast and what you fast is between you and the Lord. But seek Him and let this message enliven your heart as you begin God's Chosen Fast. Down Load Here

Tornado Torn Kansas Town Has United Church Service

Pastors tell congregations in tornado-torn Kansas town not to fear future

GREENSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Church leaders on Sunday told more than 3,000 residents, volunteers and disaster workers gathered in this tornado-ravaged community they should not fear the future because God was with them.

The non-denominational service marked the first time the congregations have worshipped in Greensburg since a May 4 tornado destroyed more than 90% of the south-central Kansas town and killed nine people.

Tears and hugs were common as many residents saw each other for the first time since the tornado. Volunteers passed out flowers to mothers in honor of Mother's Day.

"We are a scattered, dispersed community. But the Lord Jesus is our redeemer and is with us. 'Do not fear for I am with you,' says the Lord," said Rev. Gene McIntosh, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Greensburg.

Tim Henning, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Greensburg, likened the city's plight to that of Job in the Bible, whom God tested by taking away everything he loved but who kept his faith through it all: "We are like him, we lost everything," he said. Read it all Here!

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

A Bit Too Relevant Preaching

Hamas Mickey Mouse Preaches Hate

Hamas 'Mickey Mouse' Preaches Resistance
By DIAA HADID

The Associated Press May 08, 2007

Hamas militants have enlisted a figure bearing a strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse to broadcast their message of Islamic domination and armed resistance to their most impressionable audience children.

A giant black-and-white rodent _ named 'Farfour,' or 'butterfly,' but unmistakably a rip-off of the Disney character _ does his high-pitched preaching against the U.S. and Israel on a children's show each Friday on Al-Aqsa TV, a station run by Hamas. The militant group, sworn to Israel's destruction, shares power in the Palestinian government.

'You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists,' Farfour squeaked on a recent episode of the show, which is called 'Tomorrow's Pioneers.'

'We will return the Islamic community to its former greatness, and liberate Jerusalem, God willing, liberate Iraq, God willing, and liberate all the countries of the Muslims invaded by the murderers.'

Children call in to the show, many singing Hamas anthems about fighting Israel.
Palestinian Media Watch, an Israeli organization that monitors Palestinian media, said the Mickey Mouse lookalike takes 'every opportunity to indoctrinate young viewers with teachings of Islamic supremacy, hatred of Israel and the U.S., and support of 'resistance,' the Palestinian euphemism for terror.'

Israeli officials denounced the program Tuesday.

David Baker, an official in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, said 'there is nothing comic about inciting young generations of Palestinians to hate Israelis.'

A spokeswoman from Walt Disney Co.'s headquarters in Burbank, Calif., did not immediately return messages asking for comment about the use of the Disney-like character.

Yehia Moussa, a Hamas leader in the movement's Gaza Strip base, denied inciting children against Jews. 'Our problem is not with the Jews. Our problem is with the (Israeli) occupation and the occupiers,' he said.

The television station would not comment.

A Gaza-based psychologist said the program proved that the culture of glorifying violence had penetrated mainstream society in the Palestinian territories, where dreams of Islamic dominion and animosity toward the U.S. and Israel are widespread.

'It's the fault of both (Israel and the Palestinians),' said Samir Zakkout, of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program. 'There's been a collapse of values. If I can kill my enemy, I can kill my brother.'

The program is opposed by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corp., which is controlled by Hamas' political rival _ the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

'I don't think it's professional or even humane to use children in such harsh political programs,' said Basem Abu Sumaya, head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corp. 'Children's nationalist spirit must be developed differently.'

Hamas loyalists launched the Al Aqsa satellite channel last year. Bearded young men read the news and Islamic music is layered over footage of masked militants firing rockets into Israel. The channel also broadcasts talk shows, programs about the disabled and cartoons.

In addition, Hamas loyalists run at least five news Web sites, one newspaper launched just last week and a radio station.

Lenny LaGuardia's New CEC Staff T-Shirt

Bono Fatigue An Epidemic World-Wide

From site host Andrew Billings:This site is for U2 fans suffering from Bono Fatigue as a result of an over-consumption of U2 music, Bono interviews, Africa-related relief ideas etc. (BF can manifest in many ways. If you don't have it, you'll know it when you get it.) Since people at this site are recovering from BF, and are hoping to work through it and re-introduce U2 back to their lives, please do not post band photos, art or quotes unless absolutely necessary to your comment. Give others a chance to walk through this at their own pace. Thanks! Heal and enjoy.

Cause we all need a place to heal.

Muslim Girl Falls In Love With Jesus!

Below is an email I recieved from one of our Intercessory Prayer Missionaries in Israel. Due to concerns for her personal privacy she asked that we not post her name on the blog. Pray for her and the Muslim and Jewish people she is praying for and working with.

Friends,

Tonight a Muslim friend of mine told me about her daughter who is in the USA studying and has been attending a Christian church while in the USA. Her daughter told her that she nowunderstands the difference between churches & mosques.

She said in mosques you are forced to believe and you must do all you are told or you will be punished by Allah. Fear of punishment and knowing that "you should do this and that" is the motivation. She said they shout and say, "We must be violent! We have enemies! We must destroy them!"

She said in churches they speak softly to God, like a real relationship, and everything they do for Him is because their hearts love Him. They love Him, so they believe Him and obey Him. They even teach to love your enemies.

She told her mother that she now believes that the way of love is the true way of God and it's not right what the Muslims teach about violence and hatred. Her daughter also had 2 dreams where Yeshua appeared to her.

In one of the dreams Yeshua asked her to marry Him and she said "yes." Her heart has fallen in love with Yeshua.Please pray for my Muslim friend and her whole family to be led into the heart of the Bridegroom God.

Another One For The World's Largest IHOP-KC Blogroll

He isn't an IHOP'er but I just found this guys blog and I Loved His Bio Page and the Blog Entries I've Read: So Check Him Out! Comments Please! Here's His Bio Stolen Without Permission But With Credit:

P.S.

Do you visit my blog? No need to be ashamed, tell someone about it! If your not linked and I generally like you I'll post a link.

I'm not part of the Roman church. Does that make me a Protestant?

I believe in one church in Christ. Does that make me a Catholic?

I believe in baptism in water. Does that make me a Baptist?

I believe in the authority of the gospel and I believe in our great commission to share it. Does that make me an Evangelical?

I believe that I'm born again. Does that make me a Charismatic?

I believe in baptism by Holy Spirit and in all of His gifts. Does that make me a Pentecostal?

Our church is currently quite small and many of our meetings are held in homes. Does that make me part of the House Church Movement?

I believe the church is built on the foundation of Apostles and Prophets. Does that make me part of the Apostolic Movement?

I lead our church. Does that make me a Pastor? Or a Minister? Or an Elder?

I've never been to Bible school, I'm still learning loads, and I do make mistakes. I'm not a theological expert. Does that make me a Fraud?

I prophesy, I receive visions from God, and I've had encounters with the heavenly, the angelic, and the demonic. I know that Jesus heals. Does that make me Bonkers?

My wife, Sue, and I are English. We moved to Scotland, which we love, because God told us to. Does that make us both Bonkers?

I play guitar. Does that make me a Musician?

I lead worship. Does that make me a Worship Leader?

I preach. Does that make me a Preacher?

I'm head over heals in love with my Daddy in heaven, my saviour Jesus, and my companion and helper Holy Spirit. Does that mean that you and I could get along?

It's 2:40 am. Does that mean I have insomnia?

A House of Prayer For All Nations!

The Prayer Room Is Being Repainted This Week! Paint Fumes Might Explain The Recent Surge In Open Visions! Just Kidding! I Am Using This Photo In My Newsletter And Realized The Flags And Quotes Were Gone Due To The Painting...So Here You Go!

Isa 56:5-7
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him,to love the name of the LORD,and to worship him,all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-- 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar;for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

What Your Pastor Is Really Thinking When You Leave!

My Bad Mac!

Think on This!

Jesus Vs. Christians

These people represent the views of many outside of our faith. Heck, they represent the views of many inside of the church. We must show the real Jesus. Not only does the world not know Him, they've crafted a Jesus in their own image. Many of the things they've said about Christians is true, because for the most part the Church in the West is made up of converts not disciples.

Orange Mocha at St. Arbucks

Am I the only one who thinks the idea of an "Orange Mocha" is gross! What are the good folks at St. Arbucks thinking these days? An orange creme frappuccino is fine think of orangecicle or orange creme soda. But orange mocha...NOT! This is a genetic mutation gone a muck. Orange and coffee and chocolate do not mix together in the same drink. It is an unnatural combination, worse than polyester (plastic and fabric is so wrong!) So has anyone tried it yet and am I wrong!

"Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me!"--Jesus

"The same Heavenly Father who orchestrated every detail of Christ's crucifixion and death is organizing your own crucifixion and death."

Rom 6:11-12
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:13-15

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

"The problem with living sacrifices is they often crawl away from the altar!"

Rom 12:1-212:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Healing Testimonies

I read Leonard Jones' Blog regularly and wanted to share this testimony. God is so good. I am so in love with You...Jesus. The stuff is real the reason we don't see more of it is because we fail to ask or we quit asking when we appear to fail!

"We rode over to Franklin, North Carolina on Monday and tried to check into the Comfort Inn. I kept ringing the bell and no one came. Finally, a girl came out with tears in her eyes and said she had some kind of bladder infection. I make it a habit to pray for people that come right out and say they are sick, no matter who is around. So I asked if we could pray for her, much to the surprise of the people waiting to check in. Chuck Mervin and I laid hands on her and God healed her. It seems that the gospel works better outside of church meetings. Although I absolutely love to meet together with other believers, and worship and hear the Word, it seems that the signs and wonders come easier outside. LEO"

Know Someone Getting "Left Behind?"

Enterprising young athiests have finally decided to stop resisting the Church and begin exploiting the faithful for profit. Those that subscribe to the "Left Behind" series can now sign up for the Post-Rapture Post. I think its funny but they are serious. Here is what they say:

"Do you know someone who is in danger of being "left behind" because of a sinful life? Imagine if you could write a letter to a friend or loved one after the Great Day of Reckoning. Maybe a message to your family telling them to trust in God, and that everything will be okay. Perhaps you would leave instructions to care for your pets after your departure. It could be that your message is the light that opens a sinner's eyes to the Glory of God and allows them entrance to Heaven during the trials before the Second Coming. This is where the Post-Rapture Post comes in. Just write your letter and it will be hand-delivered immediately following the exodus of the pure from the Earth. But you must be thinking to yourself, "How can the letters be delivered after the Rapture?" The answer is simple. The creators of this site are Atheists. That's right, we don't believe in God. How else would we be able to deliver your correspondence after the Rapture? "

You Supply The Caption!

Look carefully! Very Carefully!

You Supply The Caption

You get to supply the caption to this picture.

Leave Comments!

A Classic Returns

Remember when Coca Cola launched its "NEW COKE" campaign? .Too young click here. Not long afterward they realized that expensive Marketing Guru they paid big bucks for...made a flop...people liked their "OLD COKE" just fine...Coke found a way to turn Lemons into Lemonade and launched "Coca Cola Classic"!

A few months back you'll remember a big Marketing Guru at IHOP announced the end of an era. No more R and B for the IHOP bloggers. Well finally saner minds prevailed (kelsey said "Hey, quit posting

on my blog...get yer own!") Like a Classic

"stuff i think" has come back.

Where I Been!

Was Gone on A Ministry Trip To Asbury Seminary, Asbury College, Cornerstone International House of Prayer, and ICTHUS...will blog about the trip in a couple of days when I get awesome photos.

Taking Outreach Lessons From Denny's

by Brenton Balvin, Guest Blogger

I love what Denny's restaurant is doing to try and attract the college crowd, via Nation's Restaurant News (subscription required):

Denny's plan is to become a "social gathering" place for students who want to study for exams or meet with friends over a sit-down meal instead of grabbing a quick burger at a fast-food drive-thru, Polydoroff said.

To lure them in during the promotion, Denny's is offering meal deals because students are on a budget, he said, and using free Wi-Fi , text messages and banner ads on Facebook to communicate with students because they are heavy users of those media.

"It's pretty new and significant for us," Polydoroff said. "We never did text messaging before."
Marketing support also includes direct mail, coupons and ads in college newspapers.

Denny's is striving to communicate to their desired customers in a way that those people can understand. This is the business world's attempt at 'meeting people where they are at.' Younger generations of people are more and more entrenched in the world of technological conversation and expertise.

Are our churches keeping up? How are those of us in ministry using the communication tools of technology to connect with people in their congregations? I know that some churches are taking advantage of today's technology in communicating the Gospel, but I think this kind of thinking needs to become even more prevalent.

Who Am I?

Shuckling:from the Yiddish word meaning "to shake" (also written as shokeling) is the ritual swaying of Jewish worshippers during prayer, usually forward and back but also from side to side. This practice can be traced back to at least the eighth century, and possibly as far back as Talmudic times. It is believed to increase concentration and emotional intensity (Eisenberg 2004:360). In Chassidic lore, shuckeling is seen as an expression of the soul's desire to abandon the body and reunite itself with its source, similar to a flame's shaking back and forth as if to free itself from the wick (Tanya chapter 19).

Many Jews shuckel while engaged in anything requiring focus and concentration or extreme seriousness, even mundane activities.

The 12th century Jewish philosopher and poet Yehuda Halevi wrote that the habit began as a result of a shortage of books, forcing people to hover over a single codex laid on the ground, each one bending in turn to read a passage (The Kuzari, part II, para. 80).

Who Am I? Oh, yeah the most creative answer wins!

NOT FOR SALE

Twenty-Seven Million people are bound by the modern day Slave Trade. We imagine we've become so enlightened. We think our world is better. The reality is the depravity of man is at an all time high. Most of you know that IHOP has recently placed an emphasis on the human Slave Trade movment. America is one of the largest importers of modern slavery. I'll be posting on this periodically. Because we can pray and make a difference. Do you believe in prayer? Do you believe God responds and breaks in on our behalf when we pray. Do you believe God knows every face and heart of each one of those 27 million? We must pray and we must act to rescue and irradicate this vile practice. NOT FOR SALE

New "Rapture Ready" Public Service Announcements Hit Airwaves

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Written by Thomas Slawson



For Fellowship Church of God in Little Rock "community outreach" means more than just helping people right now; it also means helping them for the future. About four months ago the church was looking for new ways to reach out to the surrounding community when a phrase on a t-shirt gave them the idea.


"I saw a woman wearing a shirt one day that said 'If the rapture happens, you can have my shirt.'" Said Chris Koister, the church's pastor. "That just gave me a wonderful idea. We need to be teaching people what they need to do in case they get left behind."


So several members of the church got together with Koister and formulated a plan to inform the non-Christian community what to do in case the Rapture occurs. The plan includes a series of public service radio announcements that address different subjects such as How to Avoid Out of Control Cars, What to Do with All of Those Extra Clothes and How to Fly an Airplane, the script of which states,


"In the event you find yourself aboard a large passenger jet in which the pilot and co-pilot have been raptured, do not panic! The first thing you will want to do is see if there are any other pilots on board the aircraft. While a professional pilot familiar with commercial aircrafts is preferred, any pilot with limited experience is acceptable. If no pilot is available be sure to make contact with the nearest air traffic control tower and they will assist you in landing the plane safely. It, IS, however, extremely important that you get through this situation alive as your being left behind is indicative of the peril of your soul."


While the church has been extremely pleased with the quality of the announcements, people in the Little Rock community have not taken favorably to them.


"These radio announcements are absolutely absurd." Said Carol Hampton, one angry listener. "I was driving the other day and I heard this message about what to do if a car starts driving towards me out of control because of the rapture. I thought it was a joke at first then I heard the tag line that this was a public service announcement from some church."


"We've received a number of calls complaining about the adds." Said Koister. "We may have gone a little too far with a couple of them perhaps. In the plane one we have a bunch of people at the beginning screaming in terror as the plane swerves out of control. We might have to tone them down a bit."


But despite the criticism, Koister says his church still plans to expand their ministry to those who will be left behind."We really want to put in a driving track out back and teach people how to avoid all of those out-of-control cars that will be zipping around out there." Said Koister. "We're just here to help the community."

Young Turks Slaughter 3 Christian Missionaries

Floyd McClung writes this...Please read the whole thing and then pray and support those you know on the mission field.

A letter to the Global Church from The Protestant Church of Smyrna

Dear friends,

This past week has been filled with much sorrow. Many of you have heard by now of our devastating loss here in an event that took place in Malatya, a Turkish province 300 miles northeast of Antioch, the city where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
On Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, 46 year old German missionary and father of three Tilman Geske prepared to go to his office, kissing his wife goodbye taking a moment to hug his son and give him the priceless memory, "Goodbye, son. I love you."

Tilman rented an office space from Zirve Publishing where he was preparing notes for the new Turkish Study Bible. Zirve was also the location of the Malatya Evangelist Church office. A ministry of the church, Zirve prints and distributes Christian literature to Malatya and nearby cities in Eastern Turkey. In another area of town, 35 year old Pastor Necati Aydin, father of two, said goodbye to his wife, leaving for the office as well. They had a morning Bible Study and prayer meeting that some other believers in town would also be attending. Ugur Yuksel likewise made his way to the Bible study.

None of these three men knew that what awaited them at the Bible study was the ultimate testing and application of their faith, which would conclude with their entrance into glory to receive their crown of righteousness from Christ and honor from all the saints awaiting them in the Lord's presence.

On the other side of town, ten young men all under 20 years old put into place final arrangements for their ultimate act of faith, living out their love for Allah and hatred of infidels who they felt undermined Islam.

On Resurrection Sunday, five of these men had been to a by-invitation-only evangelistic service that Pastor Necati and his men had arranged at a hotel conference room in the city. The men were known to the believers as "seekers." No one knows what happened in the hearts of those men as they listened to the gospel. Were they touched by the Holy Spirit? Were they convicted of sin? Did they hear the gospel in their heart of hearts? Today we only have the beginning of their story.

These young men, one of whom is the son of a mayor in the Province of Malatya, are part of a tarikat, or a group of "faithful believers" in Islam. Tarikat membership is highly respected here; it's like a fraternity membership. In fact, it is said that no one can get into public office without membership in a tarikat. These young men all lived in the same dorm, all preparing for university entrance exams.

The young men got guns, bread knives, ropes and towels ready for their final act of service to Allah. They knew there would be a lot of blood. They arrived in time for the Bible Study, around 10 o'clock.

They arrived, and apparently the Bible Study began. Reportedly, after Necati read a chapter from the Bible the assault began. The boys tied Ugur, Necati, and Tilman's hands and feet to chairs and as they videoed their work on their cellphones, they tortured our brothers for almost three hours*

The rest of his letter is at the following link. It is very graphic but you should read it. We must pray for believers all over the world. Floyd's Blog
Times ONLINE

Heroes or Saints? Who are Our Cultural Icons?

Ben Witherington has this post on his blog and in light of yesterdays Superhero post I thought it was good to look at. Heroes or Saints? Who are our Cultural Icons? Believe it or not, the word hero never comes up in the NT. But the word saint occurs over 60 times. And here's the really interesting thing-- it always in the plural! Saints are not formed in a vacuum or by isolate action or spiritual effort. Saints are formed in a community, the community of faith. Read it here.