When Ramadan begins tomorrow (Wednesday August 11) many Christians will be praying for Muslims to find Christ.

It is becoming more and more common in the last several years to hear about Muslims seeing visions and dreams of Jesus and converting to Christianity during the 30 days of Ramadan.

Also it is a great time to remember Christians living under persecution in Muslim dominated countries. During Ramadan the Christians are subjected to even more pressure and persecution than at any other time during the year.

In fact Open Doors Ministries has developed the

30-day Ramadan Prayer Calendar.

Each day is specific to a country on the organization’s World Watch List—a ranking of 50 countries where the persecution of Christians is most severe.

Also, millions of Christians from around the world will be supporting a prayer campaign initially launched by YWAM:

30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

Check out these sites and participate. You may not be able to go to the Middle East as a missionary but your prayers can get there and make a real difference.

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(Dr. Tiller’s church by Getty Images via Daylife)

Over the weekend in Wichita, Kansas, late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller was murdered while attending church. A terrible tragedy on so many different levels. Terrible first for the family of Dr. Tiller, that it would happen in a church is obviously beyond the pale.

Immediately the media went into full attack mode against the pro-life movement. Yet every organization and every church leader which is in the pro-life movement condemns the murder and stands for the sanctity of life. Not one Christian group will be celebrating over this (except maybe the nutso “Westboro Baptist Church” family), exactly the opposite—this is the worst possible thing to happen for the movement.

Notice that the word “terrorism” is all of a sudden in the government dictionary again—this time being applied to the pro-life movement—just like the Homeland Security recent bulletin suggests–the threat is no longer from radical Muslims, the real “terrorist” threat in this country comes from the ‘right’. The left wing bloggers are going ecstatic!

For years to come this murder will be cited as an hypocritical ‘terrorist’ action of the whole pro-life movement and its conservative Christian supporters.

A suspect has been arrested in Kansas City and already every effort is being made to tie him to some pro-life organization or church. One blog already found that the suspect posted a “creepy comment at the Operation Rescue website in 2007” about Dr. Tiller. So there you have it after one day the suspect is already being linked to Operation Rescue. Forget the fact that Operation Rescue organization officially condemns the murder.

The end result of this will be a collective demonization of pro-lifers and conservative Christians in particular—and an attempt to paint us all as hypocritical extremist haters that need to be better monitored and regulated by the government.

*UPDATE: It is already happening, National Organization for Women has released a statement which includes the following:

"Bringing the killers to justice is not enough – the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security must root out and prosecute as domestic terrorists and violent racketeers the criminal enterprise that has organized and funded criminal acts for decades. We call on the new attorney general, Eric Holder, and head of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to treat these murders in the same way they would treat politically-motivated domestic terrorism of any other kind and put the full resources of their two departments behind that effort."

Who is “the criminal enterprise” they are referring to?—Pro-lifers like you and me. Also, Attorney General Eric Holder has already taken action, directing U.S. Marshals to protect "appropriate people and facilities around the nation," (ie: Abortion clinics and Doctors) according to a statement, in order to "help prevent any related acts of violence from occurring."

Wow, complete hysteria! Unbelievable.           *Top       (Cross-Posted @ Answers For The Faith)

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"We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised."

Carrie Prejean did get ‘first runner up’ but quite a few folks believe that her support for traditional marriage may well have cost her the Miss USA crown. Her statement caused a media feeding frenzy that included all of the AM TV shows and was the topic of the day on many radio programs across America, particularly on the liberal coasts.

While under fire on the "Today Show" yesterday morning, Prejean defended her answer:

"I knew at that moment after I answered the question, I knew, I was not going to win because of my answer, because I had spoken from my heart, from my beliefs and for my God. I wouldn’t have answered it differently. The way I answered may have been offensive. With that question specifically, it’s not about being politically correct. For me it was being biblically correct."

Response: The persecution of conservative traditional Christian perspectives is already a reality in the main stream media. It is really shocking how the press has been rather one-sided and biased towards the homosexual agenda.

Since the passage of Proposition 8- ‘The traditional Marriage’ amendment in California, the media has been particularly active in putting down Christians and pastors who support traditional marriage. 20 year ago and even maybe 10, the statements of Miss Prejean would have been considered normal—then again that question would have never even been asked!

We now live in times when that which is ‘Biblically correct’ is considered evil and controversial and that which use to be hidden and immoral is now called good. Nevertheless, ‘for such a time as this’ we are called to stand up for the truth.           *Top   (Cross-Posted on ANSWERS For the Faith)

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• Street Ministry Attacked in SF Castro District
• -Christian Street Ministry Attacked in SF Castro District

(Video length- 4:45) I found this video on Michelle Malkin’s blog.

It shows the San Francisco police department  protecting and escorting a group of Christians out of the Castro District in San Francisco, CA. It’s only 4 minutes and 45 seconds long but it seems to last forever–actually viewing it for a minute is probably more than enough to get the idea.

The event happened last Friday night in the Castro District, a predominantly gay community in the city of San Francisco, California.

A group of Christian young people had been conducting a street ministry every Friday night for quite some time in the Castro district–talking to people about Jesus and how the Lord loves them and can change lives. Also, they would usually sing worship songs and pray over the community.

Last Friday night was different. <Read the whole article>            *Top

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Image by Getty Images via Daylife

In some ways I am beginning to feel like I’m at ground zero in the culture wars.

We are still living with the aftermath of the election with thousands of gay activists taking to the streets last weekend protesting the passage of Prop. 8 that supported traditional marriage and ended same-sex marriage in California.

I wonder what this weekend will bring–many activist websites are calling for greater and more radical responses today and Sunday.

Last Sunday, nearly 300 ( some news reports say 1,000–no way!) or so were gathered two blocks from my house in front Rick Warren‘s SaddleBack Church, shouting obscenities to all who passed by but especially at those who dared to enter for worship. The news folks were there of coarse.

There was also a few down in Laguna Niguel near where I go to church.

Speaking about the media–all seem to be sympathetic to the poor victimized gays and rather one-sided against Catholics, Mormons, and Evangelicals–with an attitude that we’re all bigots and getting what we deserve.

Catholic Churches have been vandalized, even some black churches in So.Cal., but the greatest attacks seem to be against Mormon churches, temples, and business folk. 

Although the support for Prop. 8 was 70/30 in black areas and that really swung the election, the activists have decided to key in on the Mormons instead. Mormon Church leaders specifically asked their members give support to the Prop. 8 cause.

The activists are publishing ‘McCarthy-type’ blacklists on the web of key contributors especially business owners, and have started to picket some of the stores and restaurants owned by Prop. 8 supporters.

It should be interesting to see what comes our way in the next couple of days.            *Top 

A summary of some of the worst: http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/274878646.html 

Reactions across the country: picketing at Mormon temples everywhere including NY City, An Evangelical Church attacked in Michigan, JC Smith also blogged on it and talked to the pastor.

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Coptic Altar- Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem -via Wikipedia

I keep track of what is happening to Christians in the Middle east, it is really heartbreaking. I’ve been a supporter of Israel and still am, but let’s face it Palestinian Christians receive persecution from both the Jews and the Muslims. I have no answers for what’s happening except to pray.

Seven years ago, the Lord gave me a burden for the Muslims and for revival in the Middle East and I have been praying ever since. Everyday I search the net for stories about Christians in Muslim countries and unfortunately the reports are nearly always bad–except there is the beginning of a hidden revival going on among the Christian community in a number of places.

As near as we can tell, 200,000 Iranians have come to Christ in the last 5 years or so. Nearly every week I read from Compass Direct News or on the VOM Persecution blog of Iranians being arrested, killed, or their children being taken. In response to the revival, the Iranian Parliament just passed a law that would place an automatic death sentence on all who convert to Christianity.

There is also a revival going on in Algeria as near as we can tell, 50,000-70,000 have come to Christ in that country and persecution has increased to the point that they have made it illegal for Christians to gather together in private homes for prayer–it is only legal in an official church. Like the Chinese revival, the real expansion is going on in house churches and not in the recognized churches. 

Egypt is another story. The Coptic Christian community comprises about 10% of the Egyptian population but persecution is increasing because the Muslims are becoming more radical, but also because more and more folks are coming to Christ regardless–usually in miraculous ways. It is illegal there for Muslims to convert to Christianity, but ok the other way around. If a father converts to Islam, all his children and grandchildren are considered to be Muslims whether they want to be or not!

Presently, churches are illegal in Saudi Arabia and it is also against the law to hold bible studies or worship services in the home, but that is the only place that the 1.5 million Christians in the country can meet together. If caught, Christians are thrown in jail after receiving lashes for their faith (just like the book of Acts). There is hope that soon some churches may be allowed in the country.

I could go on for ever about this subject—here are the two articles that got me going today:

Persecution Blog- "Christians Are Being Persecuted in Most Arab Countries"

Christianity Today-"Listening and Learning in the Middle East"

*Top 

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Here are some specific prayer requests from the VOM Persecution Blog:

Please pray:
The Lord will give courage to His people who are enduring persecution for His Name

The Lord will place His restraining hand on those who seek to harm His people
Churches facing government opposition will stand firm in their ministry

Christians will have opportunities to reach out with the Gospel without fear of intimidation or harassment

Servants of the Lord will be able to deliver Bibles and Christian literature to places where they are most needed

Christians who have been left without pastors and teachers may be kept strong in their faith

Christians who have been imprisoned for their faith will be released safely

The Lord will restrain the callousness and brutality of prison guards in their treatment of Christians in prison

Pray against the increasing problem of young Christian girls being kidnapped, raped and forced to marry

Those who have lost loved ones by martyrdom will be comforted and strengthened by God during their grief

Christian pastors will be kept from danger and strengthened in their faith as they care for the people of God

New converts may be protected and provided for should their family turn against them.

The current laws in many restricted nations forbidding evangelism, missionary activity and religious instruction, will be repealed

Response: The persecution of Christians has been on the increase this year. Remember particularly the 50,000 that had to leave their homes behind in Orissa, India and the thousands that recently fled Mosul, Iraq.

Also, remember the thousands of Christians who are continually subjected to persecution, discrimination and worse in Muslim dominated countries or regions around the world.   (Cross-posted @ Answers For The Faith)            *Top

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Video: 29 min. 54 seconds

This is an incredible documentary about the Chinese church, a story of persecution, blessing, and perseverance–a story of true revival that cannot be stopped by a godless government. The church continues to expand against all odds at an incredible rate in spite of persecution.

This video gives a taste of what it is like to stand up for the faith in the midst of persecution. It is nearly 30 minutes long but it went by fast for me and gave me a perspective on the church in China that I will never forget.

During most of this documentary, Chinese worship and choir music is playing in the background–a real blessing. I really did experience the Holy Spirit in the midst of it!             *Top

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I just read this article over the weekend in the June 2008 Charisma mag.:  "A Martyr’s Cry"  by Joel Kilpatrick.  Wow!, it is a must read for those interested in true revival.

It is the story of Haik Hovsepian, the Iranian AG leader who was martyred for his faith. It is a story about a land that has made it illegal to convert from Islam, however, Christ has different plans for Iran and like China, the Gospel is spreading at a phenomenal rate in this country, totally hidden from view.

Right now Iran is experiencing one of the greatest revivals of modern times–due to supernatural phenomena such as dreams and visions. A few short years ago there were only a few thousand Christians in the country, now there are 200,000+!

According to Carl Moeller, president and chief executive officer of Open Doors USA:

“Iran remains one of the worst places in the world for a Christian to live out their faith, preceded only by North Korea and Saudi Arabia,”

“The abuse of Christians, literally, in the justice system is legendary. Christians do not have the same rights as the other Islamic citizens. They are routinely discriminated against, restricted, and in many cases when they seek to evangelize and disciple, church leaders are arrested, interrogated, tortured and even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.

“However, the church there is growing incredibly. In Iran there is a revival that maybe is only rivaled by the Chinese revival [of recent years]. Honest, seeking Muslims are having dreams of Jesus Christ.

“Some are being approached by what we can only call angels in parks and being confronted with their personal sins and told they need to come to Jesus Christ. It’s a revival the likes of which we’ve rarely seen in the history of the church. It’s been Holy Spirit-driven through dreams and visions and the technology available to us in the 21st century.”

What an incredible turn of events and totally unprecedented in an Islamic country, praise God! I can’t tell you how encouraging this is to me at this time, thank you Lord.            *Top

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