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Friday, February 28, 2014

Divine Appointments Spark Jesus Discussions in Muslim Lands

Divine Appointments Spark Jesus Discussions in Muslim Lands

Divine Appointments Spark Jesus Discussions in Muslim Lands

Middle East
Pray for those serving in the Arabian Peninsula. Pray for the Lord to provide divine appointments and meaningful connections amongst the local communities where they serve. (OM International)
At an early age, Kassef* was saved from a life-threatening condition by doctors in a Christian hospital. As he grew up, his mother would remind him that Christians had saved him from certain death. His religion, however, taught him that the Christians had departed from truth. Yet this caused conflict within him, since he knew that his only experience with them had literally saved him.
One day, as he walked the street, he encountered a 15-year-old boy selling Bibles—something beyond belief, which he had never witnessed before or since. Kassef bought one and began to devour it, later coming to Christ as the result of this process.

Witness of Love

A transformed life and the witness of love and integrity is the single greatest factor in influencing people. A young Muslim boy, Omar*, while walking to school fell into line with a Christian woman who walked the same route to her office. They would chat, and her kindness made an impression. Later, she visited his family and brought gifts.
As the young man grew, he became disillusioned with Islam and forsook it. Over time, he had a desire to seek truth and then remembered the love of this woman for his family. This was instrumental in his decision to explore Christianity.

People of the Book

A Filipino pastor received a visa to minister to Filipinos and other expat non-Muslims only. He wondered how to reconcile this with his passion to connect with the local people. He interacted socially with his neighbor, who asked what he did and why he was in the United Arab Emirates. He replied that he was a pastor. This delighted the neighbor, since the Quran says that if someone has questions about Jesus, he should go and ask people of the Book. He said, “You are a man of the Book; now I can come to you with questions about Jesus.” And he has had questions—many questions.

Dialogue With Dignity

Focused outreach among university students is carried out in similar fashion as anywhere else. Young Arab believers, once trained in sharing their faith, can be quite bold and creative. For the last decade, they have held a biannual Muslim and Christian dialogue in the university, a nearly four-hour event that attracts more than 800 students.
A well-known and respected Muslim speaker and a moderator were happy to participate in the discussion, which is carried out with dignity and respect on both sides.
Two weeks before the event, the Interior Ministry canceled permissions. The event organizers approached them and asked, “What shall we communicate as the reason why you have done this?” Two days later, permission was granted.
Two hundred Bibles to follow along with were brought in for students. None were returned! The event was broadcast on the Internet to eight surrounding countries with more than 1,000 connections as various groups followed along.

Conversation With Respect

In a main city, one couple sought to offer a conversation club in local cafes, as there is great interest by many to improve their English. This often provides opportunities to talk about spiritual matters and life in general. They asked a manager in one shop if they could display their sign and use an area, to which he agreed.
Soon after, security personnel in the mall objected, and the couple had to contact the owner for permission. He at first was resistant, but as they explained the purpose he became excited and suggested they visit all 24 cafes in the chain throughout the area.
The owner then said, “I also want to improve my English but not in public. Would you be willing to come to my home?” Several other upper-class people expressed the same desire.
This is a huge step forward in the ultimate purpose of the conversation clubs: engaging people in their homes and returning hospitality as a way of loving and respecting them in Christ’s name.

Excellence in Education

How could a Muslim-owned private school employ a Christian principal and teaching staff? In the Arabian Peninsula, thinking outside the box of the possible is normal. The owner, passionate about excellence in education, searched widely to find examples of exceptional schools and thus became linked with an ex-pat believer who has operated several private schools overseas. Wisely, he put results above other considerations, and the new principal was given freedom to recruit high-quality teachers from abroad for this English-medium school, which quickly gained an outstanding reputation and whose staff are equally passionate about creating a loving Christian environment.
Students are a mix of ex-pat and local children, ages 4-18. At no other school in the area does the principal greet the students as they enter, and the sense of calm, respect and efficiency has made an impression on local parents who are opening up with staff. There are plenty of opportunities for teachers in this school.
Pray for those serving in the Arabian Peninsula. Pray for the Lord to provide divine appointments and meaningful connections amongst the local communities where they serve.
* Name has been changed
This is just one article in a series that explores what God is doing in the Middle East. Click here for more articles in this series. 
Greg Kernaghan, a writer for OM International, traveled through the Arabian Peninsula in November. He observed and listened to the hearts of Christian workers who have invested decades in understanding and loving their Arab neighbors. Greg writes this collection of stories from the United Arab Emirates from the perspective of OM workers in the Middle East, in their own words, fastidiously avoiding using real names and places so that the story itself may be told widely.

Ukraine's Interim President Calls for Prayer, Meanwhile Ukrainian Believers Thank Christians around the World for Interceding

Ukraine's Interim President Calls for Prayer, Meanwhile Ukrainian Believers Thank Christians around the World for Interceding

UKRAINE'S INTERIM PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PRAYER, MEANWHILE UKRAINIAN BELIEVERS THANK CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD FOR INTERCEDING

Aimee Herd : Feb 28, 2014 : Ruth Kramer – MNN

"Alexander Turchinov (interim president) is a good Christian man. He belongs to one of the largest Baptist churches in Kiev. We are praying, and [we] ask you to pray with us that God will grant wisdom to our brother and to the other elected officials to head the country." - Sergei Gladishko, SGA.
Oleksandr Turchinov(Ukraine)—Ousted Ukrainian president, Victor Yanukovich has reportedly fled the country, seeking refuge in Russia, while he calls the acting president and parliament of Ukraine "unlawful."(Photo via MNN)
Meanwhile, Ukraine's interim leader, President Oleksandr Turchinov—a Baptist pastor—warned his countrymen against "dangerous signs of separatism" in parts of the country, according to a Mission Network News report.
"At this point, it seems more like it may be more saber rattling than anything else, but the situation remains very fluid," said Turchinov. "We just really have to lift this matter up in prayer. Ukraine is a very unique country, and a lot of places have very strategic interests in it."
Sergei Gladishko, of the Slavic Gospel Association posted an open letter of gratitude from Ukrainian Believers to everyone who has interceded in prayer on behalf of their country:
We are very thankful to you for your prayers and encouragement. We praise God for your faithful partnership in ministry. We are very thankful to God for leading us through a difficult political situation. Now the process of forming a new government has begun. On February 22, the deputy chairman of Ukraine's "Motherland" party, Alexander Turchinov, was appointed as Chairman (or Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, which is called the Verkhovna Rada). Later in the day, parliament voted to remove President Viktor Yanukovich, declaring him constitutionally unable to carry out his duties. Next, the parliament set May 25 as the date for a special presidential election. In the meantime, Alexander Turchinov was appointed as acting president of Ukraine. He has also been authorized to sign laws adopted during this transitional period. Alexander Turchinov is a good Christian man. He belongs to one of the largest Baptist churches in Kiev. We are praying, and [we] ask you to pray with us that God will grant wisdom to our brother and to the other elected officials to head the country.
Because of the former government, the capital city of Kiev has not had a mayor for two years. May 25 has also been set for a special mayoral election. Please, join us in praying a good mayor to be elected. We are trusting that God will grant us an honest and worthy president, new government, and new mayor.
Read this full report here.

Another ‘Noah’ Movie to Be Released the Same Day as the Hollywood Version

Another ‘Noah’ Movie to Be Released the Same Day as the Hollywood Version

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Another ‘Noah’ Movie to Be Released the Same Day as the Hollywood Version
‘Theirs is a fake Noah, ours in the real thing,’ claims controversial filmmaker, Ray Comfort

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST MinistriesLOS ANGELES, CA (ANS) -- According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has been lobbying to get Pope Francis to agree to watch his new biblical adventure story Noah.”

Russell Crowe in a scene from “Noah,”
due for release in late March 
(Photograph: Niko Tavernise/Paramount Pictures)
But according to Los Angeles-based filmmaker, Ray Comfort, the movie is anything but a “biblical adventure.”

Comfort, whose award-winning movies have been seen by millions, has produced his own version of “Noah” called “Noah—And The Last Days,” which is being released on March 28, 2014, the same day as the Hollywood version.

Jon Blistein writing in Rolling Stone magazine says that Russell Crowe has “pitched” a screening of his upcoming “biblical” blockbuster “Noah” to “one man who knows the plot quite well: Pope Francis.”

He said that Crowe tweeted, “The message of the film is powerful, fascinating, resonant,” but so far the Vatican has yet to respond.

Pope Francis
The story also stated that Crowe has asked his followers to help spread the word via retweets, before apologizing to the Pope for causing “havoc” in his social media world.

He added: “Holy Father, it would be my deepest pleasure to bring the @DarrenAronofsky film to you to screen. That this may happen Inshallah.” (“Inshallah” is Arabic for “God willing.”)

“Darren Aronofsky’s retelling of the classic tale of the flood and Noah's ark opens March 28th, and then in Italy two weeks later – though we imagine if Pope Francis did agree to watch the movie, he could probably get an advanced copy,” added Blistein.

In response to this news, Comfort told the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), “It seems like a ‘Hail Mary’ to the Pope. Perhaps he, Darren Aronofsky, and Paramount, should have listened to their critics, when they had prescreening a long time ago.

“Maybe they will even consider making a sequel called ‘Muhammad,’ where they portray him as an evil character as they did with Noah, and see if Muslims file in two-by-two to see it. But they wouldn’t dare malign Muhammad’s character, because they know that there would be serious repercussions.

Ray Comfort
“With ‘Noah’ they have shown that they have no respect for Christians and Jews, by painting Noah as a psychopath.”

New Zealand-born Comfort, who now lives in Southern California, added “It’s a no-brainer for Hollywood to have success at the box office. All they need do is make a movie about the Bible, have their ‘poetic license,’ but stay true to the Scriptures--and we will support you by the millions.”

He then cited “The Ten Commandments,” “Ben Hur” as examples. “The Ten Commandments” became the highest-grossing film of 1956 and “Ben-Hur—A Tale of Christ” was the highest grossing film of 1959.

Comfort then stated, “They [Hollywood] have no qualms about sensationalizing the story of Noah in order to make it more profitable. That's their bottom line. But the movie strays so far from the Biblical account that it omits its essential message--God's judgment for man's sin and evil. Taking ‘poetic license’ on this story further erodes the public's perception of the Biblical account--and of the Bible in general.

“That's why we produced our version of Noah, which looks at him from a different perspective. We reveal ten undeniable Bible prophecies that link to Noah, and show that we are living in what the Bible calls ‘the last days.’”

Ad for Ray Comfort's 'Noah' film
Comfort, no stranger to controversy, continued by telling the ASSIST News Service, “When I posted some of the ‘signs of the times’ on my Facebook page last year, it exploded with interest. It seems that we are all fascinated in the future. But most people don’t know that the Bible is a perfectly accurate ‘History Book of Humanity.’ It tells us about the future and yet it was written before history happened. So we have brought out ten indisputable signs (from the Scriptures) that we are living in ‘the last days.’

“The second catalyst for our movie was Hollywood’s arrogance in making a supposedly ‘Biblical’ film about Noah, listing it as ‘fiction,’ and twisting his character. That made me mad. Theirs is a fake Noah, ours in the real thing. But we haven’t even mentioned their movie in ours. Instead, we have done something different, and it’s going to make a lot of people in Hollywood angry.”

Dan Wooding during his appearance on Ray Comfort's TV show along with co-host
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Comfort concluded by saying, “Incidentally, California has been in severe drought for months. The day we completely Noah, it poured with rain. That was a good sign.”

To see the trailer, and download a pre-release version of the movie, please go to: www.NOAHTheMovie.com.

Explaining the pre-release, the website says, “When some of you took advantage of our pre-release download offer on our 'Evolution vs. God' film, you put us in position to fund the production of 'Noah—And The Last Days.' We would be grateful if you would consider doing it again with this movie, and in turn help us to continue our work on similar future projects.

“When you download this movie for $19.99, you will get a free downloadable Companion Guide containing further arguments for the Ark and the worldwide flood, plus a special message by Ken Ham, 'Creation and the Last Days' (valued at $12.99). ‘Noah—And The Last Days’ will be available on YouTube and DVD starting March 28, 2014.”

To contact Ray Comfort, you can e-mail him at ray10@livingwaters.com and his ministry website is www.livingwaters.com.

Note: To see Dan Wooding’s special appearance on Ray Comfort’s TV show called “On the Box,” go to http://gospelriot.com/special-guest-journalist-dan-wooding-521/ 


Share          See all ASSIST News articles at www.assistnews.net
Dan Wooding, 73, is an award-winning journalist who who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 50 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States and around the world. He is the author of some 45 books, the latest of which is a novel about the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother called "Mary: My Story from Bethlehem to Calvary". (Click to order)

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Hezbollah Vows Revenge Against “Zionist Enemy” | Breaking Israel News

Hezbollah Vows Revenge Against “Zionist Enemy” | Breaking Israel News

Hezbollah Vows Revenge Against “Zionist Enemy”





“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21)
Palestinian students seen during a military-styled exercise routine at a course conducted by the Hamas-run ministry of education, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip January 9, 2014. (Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)
Palestinian students seen during a military-styled exercise routine at a course conducted by the Hamas-run ministry of education, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip January 9, 2014. (Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)
After an unusual silence from Hezbollah, the terrorist organization based out of Lebanon confirmed that it was indeed attacked by an Israeli airstrike. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television network broadcasted a statement that vowed revenge on Israel, calling the airstrike an attack on the whole of Lebanon.
“The resistance will choose the right time and place to retaliate for the Israeli offensive,” the Hezbollah statement said. Previously, the group denied any casualties or damage from the airstrike, which occurred near the city of Janta, a popular Hezbollah stronghold.
Janta is a key strategic location for Hezbollah since it lies in the middle of one of the terrorist organizations key arms smuggling routes between Lebanon and Syria. As of 2012, Hezbollah has also maintained an active training facility that trains its operatives in urban and guerilla warfare.
“This new assault is a flagrant aggression against Lebanon, its sovereignty and territories, not against the resistance only,” the statement said.
LIBI-PurimBaskets2-600WIDE
According to a late statement made by the Lebanese army, “At 21:50 p.m. yesterday [Monday], four Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace above the sea to the west of Chekka [in north Lebanon] and then headed to the east, all the way to the regions of Baalbek and Hermel.
“[The planes] performed circular flights over different Lebanese regions and then left Lebanon’s airspace at 22:25 p.m., flying over the sea facing the village of Naqoura.
“At around 11:15 p.m., an Israeli reconnaissance airplane violated Lebanese airspace above Naqoura and preformed circular flights above the areas of Riaq, Baalbek, Hermel, Beirut and its suburbs and then left Lebanese airspace above Alma Shaeb at 12:15 a.m.”
Location of the airstirke
Location of the airstirke
Lebanese media outlet The Daily Star reported from anonymous Lebanese security sources that two trucks, which were transporting missiles and missile launchers from Syria in Lebanon, were destroyed in the airstrike.
Al-Manar also confirmed that four Hezbollah operatives were killed in the strike. Lebanon’s president and the army chief are said to be conferring on possible counter-responses to the airstrike. According to The Daily Star, President Michel Shleiman and Army Chief of Staff Maj. Walid Salman discussed how to deal with “such aggressions.”
Hezbollah has called on Palestinians in Israel to increase their aggression and resistance against the “Zionist enemy.” Hezbollah believes that the best way to fight the “crimes of the Israeli army” is by “utilizing the political conditions in the region to carry out projects,” such as destroying Jewish holy sites on the Temple Mount.
The IDF and Israeli government have neither confirmed nor denied their involvement in the airstrike. The most that has been said is by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told reporters: “Our policy is clear – we will not speak about reports of what we did or didn’t do – but we do all that is necessary in order to defend our citizens.”
As of Wednesday, the IDF has put all troops stationed at the northern border with Lebanon on high alert. The IDF is taking seriously Hezbollah’s vow of vengeance. Farmers in the north were instructed to stay away from the border and civil defense communities are also operating on a high alert status.
Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security in the Iranian Parliament Alaeddin Boroujerdi told reporters in Iran, “If the Zionist entity is thinking about carrying out an attack, Hezbollah will cause it to taste defeat again.”
The last time Israel and Hezbollah faced off was during the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/11544/hezbollah-vows-revenge-zionist-enemy/#y1XQ8KuhuM2IyPLg.99

The IRS’ New Anti-Speech Regulations | Free Speech, American Center for Law and Justice ACLJ

The IRS’ New Anti-Speech Regulations | Free Speech, American Center for Law and Justice 

ACLJ Files Objections to the IRS’ New Anti-Speech Regulations:

Women pro-choice protesters gather in judges' gowns and hold gavels outside the Supreme Court in Washington.
Last Friday, the ACLJ launched the next phase of its opposition to the IRS targeting scheme by filing a formal objection to the IRS’s unconstitutional proposed regulations of 501(c)(4) organizations.
The IRS’s proposed regulations represent merely the latest effort to unlawfully restrict the free speech of conservative and Christian groups and indeed fits the longstanding pattern of Obama Administration lawlessness: Overreach, retreat, and try again.
The ACLJ first sounded the alarm against the Obama Administration’s unlawful targeting of grassroots conservative groups in the spring of 2012. While the mainstream media gave the Administration the benefit of the doubt and ignored if not completely dismissed all of facts as nothing more than political stunt from the “angry,” vindication of these groups finally came with Lois Lerner’s apology in May of 2013 made it clear that the bureaucratic targeting was widespread, it was systemic, and it was focused on conservatives.
In a pending lawsuit, the ACLJ represents 41 such conservative, grassroots organizations whose applications for tax-exempt determinations were improperly and unconstitutionally handled based upon their political viewpoints. We argue in this lawsuit that the IRS and its employees deprived our clients of their rights to freedom of speech and association under the First Amendment and the equal protection of the laws under the Fifth Amendment. 
Under fire, what has the IRS done? Has it turned from its unlawful ways? Hardly. It’s seeking to dismiss the ACLJ’s suit, it’s stonewalling Congressional investigators, and it’s proposing new regulations to restrict free speech.
There is clear evidence that these regulations were initially formulated not to undo the damage from IRS political targeting, but to render targeting unnecessary by stripping the free speech rights of nonprofits. These regulations were never an afterthought. They were instead drafted as part of a calculated and systematic attempt to silence the Administration’s critics.
Conservative leaders are correct when they state that these new IRS regulations “would redefine political activity so broadly that grass-roots groups all across the country will likely be forced to shut down simply for engaging in the kind of non-partisan educational/issue based activities the 501(c)(4) designation was designed to support."
The ACLJ is acting. ACLJ opposes the proposed regulations in their entirety. To read our official comments that we filed to stop these unconstitutional and burdensome regulations, click here.
This article is written by ACLJ Attorney Miles Terry.