Reading List

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883, by Simon Winchester.

Shocking ... or maybe not

Planned Parenthood worker advises man posing as pimp how to get abortions for underage sex slaves.

Why should this surprise people? This is Planned Parenthood after all. Genocide is their business, so helping sex trafficking might be considered a moral step up for them.

Planned Parenthood professes to be shocked by this. Of course they are:

Today's verse

Wash me with hyssop until I am clean and whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7 (CEV)

(This verse is appropriate since we are snowbound today and everything is closed!)

Update on Asia Bibi

Pakistan's ruling party has withdrawn support for a bill to amend Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Meanwhile, Asia Bibi remains in jail with her future in doubt.

Here is the story about Asia Bibi's unjust imprisonment and death sentence for "blasphemy" against the Prophet Muhammad.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family.

The faith of President Obama

President Obama says his first two years as President have deepened his Christian faith.

Today's verse

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 15 (KJV)

Today's verse

I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

II Corinthians 11:1-4 (NLT)

Today's verse

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

John 10:37-38 (KJV)

Today's verse

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Romans 12:10-13 (NKJV)

Sweet Ps - a prayer for my son

Almighty and gracious Heavenly Father, I come before You with thanksgiving.

I thank You for the wonderful blessing of my son J. Please bless him and watch over him every day of his life.

Lord, there is so little that I understand about my son's autism. Create in me a patient and kind heart. Help me to be not only my son's earthly father, but also his teacher.

Lord, I also ask that you create a clean and pure hear in me. Let my son see Jesus in me. Let him learn about the love of Jesus by watching me. Let him accept Jesus as his Savior. This in something that I cannot do by earthly means. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit may he come to You. Let me be an instrument of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, I thank you for my son's wonderful teachers at his school. They are so patient and kind, and have helped him so much. Please bless his teachers and their families.

Amen.

Today's verse

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29-30 (KJV)

Pray for Joanne

Follow the above link to find out latest news. Please continue to pray for Joanne Heim.

Today's verse

Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice.

Psalm 51:8 (NLT)

Update on Asia Bibi

Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) has called for Sunday, January 30, 2011 to be a "Day of Prayer" for the release of Asia Bibi.

Here is the story about Asia Bibi's unjust imprisonment and death sentence for "blasphemy" against the Prophet Muhammad.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family.

Today's verse

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Acts 2:22-24 (KJV)

Today's verse

Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Psalm 127:1-2 (NKJV)

Today's verse

"The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed."

1 Samuel 2:10 (ESV)

Today's verse

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 (KJV)

(WWJH) Who Would Jesus Hate?

A conservative "comedy" site is hawking merchandise claiming that Jesus hates President Obama. An ad designed to air during the Super Bowl promoting their site was rejected by Fox. (I refuse to link to the "comedy" site)

No, He does not hate President Obama. Just as He does not hate homosexuals, Glenn Beck, liberals, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, soldiers, William Jefferson Clinton, alcoholics, George W. Bush, conservative evangelicals, Ronald Reagan .....

Today's verse

Finally, Jesus said:

What is God's kingdom like? What story can I use to explain it? It is like what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. It is the smallest seed in all the world. But once it is planted, it grows larger than any garden plant. It even puts out branches that are big enough for birds to nest in its shade.

Mark 4:30-32 (CEV)

Martyr: Asha Mberwa

Asha Mberwa, a Somali mother of four children, was murdered for her Christian faith.

Please pray for the family of Asha Mberwa.

Update on Asia Bibi

The European Parliament is calling for Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari to pardon Asia Bibi.

For those of you who are not familiar with her story, here is the background on Asia Bibi's unjust imprisonment and death sentence for "blasphemy" against the Prophet Muhammad.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family.

Malaria vaccine research in Tanzania

The Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre of the Ifakara Health Institute is part of world-wide efforts to develop a vaccine for malaria. Annually, malaria kills 900,000 people.

Here is an earlier article that interviews Dr. Salim Abdulla, head of the Ifakara Health Institute.

Tebow ad wins award

Pro-life Super Bowl ad that featured Tim Tebow and his mother has won National Religious Broadcasters award.

Key quote from the aricle:

"Most importantly," NRB said, "one woman told Focus on the Family that because of the Tebows' story she decided to keep her own unborn baby after considering abortion."

Focus spokesman Gary Schneeberger said that he recently met the woman's baby, Avita.

Praise God! Here is the ad again:

Today's verse

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:10-13 (KJV)

Prayers still needed

Please continue to pray for Joanne Heim.

Update on Asia Bibi

Lawyers representing Asia Bibi have asked that her appeal hearing take place in prison rather than a courtroom.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family.

UPDATE: Congregations who have voted to leave the ELCA

David R. Barnhart has an updated list of congregations who have voted to leave the ELCA. Some of the congregations on the list will need to vote a second time.

A prayer for the new semester

Almighty and gracious Heavenly Father, I come before You with thanksgiving.

I thank You for the opportunity to teach.

I thank You for my wonderful colleagues, and for the fine service that they do.

I thank You for my students, and for their eagerness to learn.

I thank You for the college administration and the staff, who do so many thankless jobs they never get credit for.

May You bless all of them and their families. I ask for a special blessing on the families of my students. They have sacrificed so much so their children can attend school.

Lord, You know there are so many dangers in the world. Keep everyone at our school safe from harm. Send an army of your angels to protect them from illness and accidents. Remind students that learning is a privilege that is not to be wasted.

Amen.

Today's verse

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise.

Jeremiah 17:14 (NKJV)

Update on Martin Gaskell

The University of Kentucky has settled its lawsuit with Martin Gaskell.

Gaskell is the scientist who was rejected by the University of Kentucky for the position of director of its Lexington-based observatory. Gaskell sued, claiming religious discrimination. As evidence, he produced emails that detailed how some members of the university were upset with his Christian views.

Gaskell is an astronomer and a supporter of evolution. However, he has expressed support for a dialogue between science and religion. He has rejected a purely materialistic view of natural history that leaves no room for God. Apparently this was too much for some professors at the University of Kentucky, who seem to regard him as some sort of potential Christianist theocrat.

Others worried about adverse media reaction. Here is a quote from the article:

“[A non-committee member] suggested, in particular, that we might one day wake up to a [Lexington] Herald-Leader headline citing ‘UK hires creationist as Observatory Director,’” wrote one member of the search committee in an e-mail. “Such a headline would probably not be a fair representation of Martin’s personal views, which are not simple, but the headline could appear nonetheless.”

I do not think that fear is unfounded. The secular media, whose scientific and technical knowledge is poor at best, seems more interested in eradicating every single possible idea that even suggest that God may exist than in giving the public the facts and letting them decide.

On the other hand ... whatever happened to courage in the face of ignorance and superstition? I am sure that many of these professors would have trampled each other to be first in line to stand up to (say) a preacher who criticized the university's position on homosexuality or the hiring of an avowed terrorist (William Ayers). It appears there is a difference between courage and, you know, courage!

Regardless, the University of Kentucky did not exactly cover themselves in glory with this debacle. Whether it was fear of the secular media that motivated the rejection of Gaskell, plain religious bigotry, or a combination of both, no one in academia can be happy with this.

Today's verse

I am lonely and troubled.
Show that you care and have pity on me.

My awful worries keep growing.
Rescue me from sadness.

See my troubles and misery and forgive my sins.

Psalm 25:16-18 (CEV)

Today's verse

I am suffering and in pain.
Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.

Psalm 69:29 (NLT)

Update on Asia Bibi

Asia Bibi may be moved to a women-only prison for her safety.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family

Prayers needed

Please continue to pray for Joanne Heim.

Today's verse

Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.

Psalm 2:11 (NKJV)

John 3:16 - no longer banned in Vermont

Shawn Byrne, a Vermont man, has won the right to display the Bible verse John 3:16 on his vanity plate. The state will also pay Shawn Byrne's $150,000 legal expenses.

Here is John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Yup - really dangerous words. Don't ya feel safer knowing that government is working overtime to protect us from such obvious hate speech?

Today's verse

(The following verse comes from Psalm 46. The family of Joanne Heim, who suffered a stroke, has asked people to meditate over this Psalm.)

Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psalm 46:8-11 (KJV)

Prayers needed

Please continue to pray for Joanne Heim, who has suffered a stroke.

Update on Asia Bibi

Dilpazeer Awan, the brother of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer's assassin Mumtaz Qadri, says his brother will never be prosecuted for the crime. Salman Taseer had supported Asia Bibi and called for changes to Pakistan's blasphemy laws.

Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family.