Ask the Lord to protect the U.S. from any revenge attacks that may be planned by Moslems. Ask that the Lord would give intelligence sources sharp knowledge and understanding of harmful actions that could be planned. The Lord is our strength and shield. Look to Him as our strong tower.
“Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just; for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” (Psalms 7:9)
“They say nothing good happens in Washington today. I beg to differ.
Granted, it's easy to become cynical about current events in the nation's capital. The polls tell us that voters are tired of Washington politics amid the constant clamor of problems and solutions. While the pundits claim that "Washington is broken," candidates in both parties run on the pledge to "fix" Washington.
But there is something good going on in Washington, and you won't find it highlighted on the 6 o'clock evening news. Prayer is happening. Not just the prayers of those who gather outside the Capitol to protest or rally (although those prayers are important too), but prayers from within the Capitol itself - our lawmakers! A bi-partisan group of 94 Members
- all elected congressmen and women - meet regularly to pray before votes are cast on the floor. Known as The Congressional Prayer Caucus, the group formed in 2005 and is now an official Caucus of the United States House of Representatives. According to Founder and Co-chairman Congressman J. Randy Forbes of Virginia, the Members recognize "the role that prayer has played in strengthening the fabric of our society throughout our more than 200-year history."
I don't know about you, but this makes me feel hopeful. Following the examples set by Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, this group exists to acknowledge the importance of the role of our Creator, our nation's dependence on prayer, and the reality of God's presence woven throughout America's history since its founding…
We can only pray that those who participate in the Caucus would vote in a manner according to God's will, and that our country would elect more representatives who would increase and enrich the group's fellowship. Let's lift up these current Caucus Members in prayer…let's pray for them specifically as a group and as individuals. Click on the following link to use the list of current Members to intercede for them by name:
http://forbes.house.gov/PrayerCaucus/Members.aspx
Serving in Washington can be a perilous job for believers today. These men and women need our prayers to remain strong in their faith, true to their word, and aligned with God's plans for this nation. Is Washington broken? Certainly not all of it. praise God!”
Forced labour investigations across Wales by Soca
Factories, farms and hotels could be forcing hundreds of people across Wales to work against their will. The Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) is conducting several investigations into forced labour across Wales, the BBC understands. These businesses could be breaking new anti-slavery laws and employers may end up in prison. The chair of the assembly's working group on people trafficking said boys as young as 16 were forced to work. Joyce Watson said along with government action, the onus was on employers to ensure forced labour did not take place. Anti-Slavery International estimates 5,000 people are in some form of forced labour across the UK. Most forced labour investigations have focused on women being trafficked into the British sex trade, but the BBC has learned Soca is investigating people being made to work in places such as factories, farms and hotels against their will.
Pray: for an end to forced labour in Wales and throughout the UK. (Gal.5:1)
Ofcom issues warning over risqué pre-watershed TV
Ofcom has clamped down on scantily clad singers and dancers appearing on TV before the 9pm watershed, in its new guidance for broadcasters. It comes amid much concern about the sexualisation of children, and follows a furore over sexually provocative dances on last year’s X Factor final. The move also comes as the BBC has reportedly cut some overtly sexualised dance moves from its Strictly Come Dancing show. In relation to music videos broadcast before the watershed, Ofcom gives guidance on issues including sexual images, clothing and dancing. The group, which has a statutory duty to protect young people, also cautioned broadcasters to take ‘particular care’ with ‘family shows’ – programmes that attract a significant child audience despite not being made for children. An editorial in The Observer backed the new guidance, saying it ‘is not prudery to believe that there is an adult duty to try to manage information on behalf of the children in one’s care’.
Pray: for all media leaders to recognise their responsibility and duty to protect children and young people from such sexualisation. (Pr.4:5)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/ofcom-issues-warning-over-risque-pre-watershed-tv/
PM’s speech criticised by church leaders
The Prime Minister has faced a backlash from Christian leaders after stating in his speech at the Conservative party conference that he backed legalising homosexual ‘marriage. Mr Cameron said in his speech: ‘We're consulting on legalising gay marriage. To anyone who has reservations, I say: Yes, it's about equality, but it's also about something else: commitment. His comments on homosexual ‘marriage’ were picked up on by a number of church leaders. The Most Rev Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark, said: ‘Whilst we welcome the Prime Minister's support of marriage, the proposed redefinition of marriage cannot be right. Marriage by its very nature is between a man and a woman and it is the essential foundation of family life. The state should uphold this common understanding of marriage rather than attempting to change its meaning.’ A spokesman for the Church of England said ‘The Church’s view remains of marriage as the life-long union between a man and a woman.’
Pray: for Mr Cameron to recognise the dichotomy of his view and to ensure the Government’s positive support for heterosexual marriage. (Gen.1:27-28)
Christmas removed from Thomas the Tank Engine to be politically correct
The daughter of the clergyman author who created Thomas the Tank Engine has criticised television producers for writing Christmas out of a new series. Hilary Fortnam said that her father, the Rev W Awdry, would have been distressed after executives decided to omit religious references from one his adventures. His relatives have now protested after the television company which is recording new adventures for the little blue engine rebranded Christmas as ‘the holidays’ in its latest storyline, to comply with ‘politically correct’ thinking.‘He would feel very strongly about this politically correct age and that those who now write his stories should not have taken Christ out of Christmas. Political correctness against Christian beliefs offends,’ Mrs Fortnam said in a letter to the Daily Telegraph. She explained that her father, who worked as a vicar for nearly 30 years, ‘always impressed on reporters and publishers that he ‘was a priest first and a children’s author second.’’
Pray: for such misguided political correctness to be abandoned and replaced by a better understanding of the needs of different faith groups who understand and respect each other’s traditions. (1Co.2:13)
“Please join in praying – 138 least-reached people groups live in Sudan, the largest being the Sudanese Arabs.
KHARTOUM, Sudan – Muslim extremists have sent text messages to at least 10 church leaders in Khartoum saying they are planning to target Christian leaders, buildings and institutions, Christian sources in Khartoum said. “We want this country to be purely an Islamic state, so we must kill the infidels and destroy their churches all over Sudan,” said one text message circulating in Khartoum last month. The text messages were sent in July and August.
Church leaders here said they fear more persecution as they and their flocks become targets of local Islamists. In addition, Muslim extremists from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh arrive in sudan every two weeks to undergo training in secret camps in Khartoum before they are sent to various parts of Sudan to preach Islam and demolish church buildings, according to a Christian source in Khartoum…
The Rev. Ramadan Chan Liol, general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches, told Ecumenical News International last month that threats have caused Christians to stay away from some church services, and some government leaders have ordered pastors to close down churches without proper documentation.”
A friend in Afghanistan asks us to pray:
“This is another article on the Haqqani group. It is interesting that Admiral Mike Mullen, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said recently before the US Senate Armed Services Committee that Pakistan military’s spy agency, ISI, was closely tied to the Haqqani network, the most violent and effective faction allied with the Taliban in Afghanistan and that they have very credible evidence about this. This is probable while they are so effective and absolutely dangerous. “
Much prayer is needed that the Gov. of Pakistan would stop that and that this Haqqani network would be stopped or destroyed.
Also, the continued serious deterioration of the relationship between Pakistan and the US is of great concern and effects Afghanistan, also.
The Global Day of Worship (GDW) is a call for a unified, global worship movement to see the name of Jesus Christ lifted up throughout the earth. It will be a day that will unify many denominations within the body of Christ while embracing and celebrating the differences in our expressions of love for Jesus Christ. Through a unified celebration and adoration of the name of Jesus, the world will see that we are His disciples. Join us on November 11, 2011 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in each time zone – for a wave of worship and adoration that will span the globe and unite all believers as one body. Utilizing 24 time zones, we will agree with and join the 24 elders, spoken of in Revelation 4, who are already worshiping Jesus around the throne. It is when the worship of heaven meets the worship of earth that spiritual climates of nations will shift as we serve faithfully here and now in preparation for His return.
In recent weeks, the city of Jos in Plateau State, Nigeria has experienced a dramatic upsurge in seemingly un-ending sectarian violence. Scripture encourages us to don our spiritual armour, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6)
This is why CSW is calling for a day of prayer and fasting for Jos on Thursday, 22 November. Please stand with everyone in the CSW family as we ask for peace in Jos.