Friday, 06 Aug 2010

By Chuck Colson Christian Post Guest Columnist

Earlier this week, the proposed New York City mosque at ground zero cleared its final hurdle. Nothing seems to stand in the way of its construction.

I am appalled that peace-loving Muslims would want to do this on what is, for most Americans, hallowed ground. I am even more appalled that the mayor of New York is in favor of the idea.

It would be like the Japanese building a Shinto shrine at Pearl Harbor! At a speech in front of the statue of liberty, Mayor Bloomberg made the case for the mosque on the grounds of tolerance. But tolerance isn’t the issue here. And certainly not tolerance as Bloomberg means it. Tolerance used to mean listening respectfully to others’ opinions, even when you disagree. Tolerance as Bloomberg understands it, means “I won’t say no to you for anything you want, and you don’t say no to me for anything I want.”-The ultimate expression of political correctness, and the most certain formula for moral chaos.

But the construction of the mosque at ground zero is not about tolerance. And it isn’t about religious liberty. This is about prudence: the good sense to do what is right. That’s one of the four classic, cardinal virtues given to the West.

Let me give you an example. It isn’t a violation of tolerance or religious liberty when a local zoning commission tells a church, or a synagogue, that it cannot build a sanctuary in a residential neighborhood. Parking issues, traffic, could adversely affect the neighborhood. So, local government can make the prudent decision to tell the church to build somewhere else.

So it would not be an act of intolerance to deny the construction of a mosque at a certain location-particularly one, ground zero, where the mosque will serve as a daily reminder to New Yorkers of the terrorists, who, motivated by their Islamo-fascist beliefs, killed 3,000 innocent people in the name of Islam.

Go build the mosque somewhere else.

Earlier this week in the Wall Street Journal, columnist Bill McGurn wrote about a marvelous example of prudence in a similar situation during the early 1990s. Catholic nuns had moved onto an abandoned building at Auschwitz-the site of the Nazi death camp-to pray for peace and the victims of the Holocaust. The Jewish community was quite outraged.

Although the nuns had the legal right to be at Auschwitz, Pope John Paul II intervened. Recognizing Jewish sensitivities, he ordered the nuns to move somewhere else to carry on their work. And they did.

Because I believe that the vast majority of Muslims are peace loving citizens who do not support terrorism, I can’t imagine why they would want to tempt us to think otherwise by building a mosque at the site where their co-religionists perpetrated the most barbaric acts of modern times.

If they-and Mayor Bloomberg-don’t have the prudence to respect the sensibilities of others, then Congress ought to step in. With the upcoming elections, I’m sure your congressman will be all ears to your concerns.

I understand the dilemma of religious freedom in this case. But as Bill McGurn pointed out, “having the right to do something doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.”

The Pope understood that at Auschwitz, and the Muslim community ought to understand it at ground zero.

One young lady received deliverance from demonic spirits at the Holy Spirit meetings. She told Pr Daniel that she was being tormented by the devil, but glory to God she was set free.
 
Pr Daniel along with 15 intercessory prayer warriors from Canberra carried out another prayer offensive from four different points around the Federal Parliament building on Saturday morning the 28th August.
 
They started praying from the Foundation Stone right in front of Parliament, then proceeded to the place where the Magna Carta is documented (our links to the British), from there to Reconciliation Point and finished off at Red Hill, where you find engraved on iron the whole Parliament structure, over looking the Parliament building.
 
After this the whole prayer team shouted out in Hebrew RUA, RUA, RUA (Rise Up Australia) meaning - God has given us victory over our enemies! This was a further spiritual warfare assault on the powers of darkness to see God’s righteous government established in Australia.

In the past Pr Daniel has had many prophetic dreams from the Lord which have come to pass. Following are a few of them.

1) In Saudi Arabia he had a dream - Approaching the King of Saudi Arabia to get permission for Christians to worship in their homes. This became a reality when it happened through some members of the British government led by Pr Daniel in 1996.
 
2) Then in 2000 in Ethiopia he had the dream of the Vilification Laws in Australia, which became a reality in 2002.
 
3) More recently he had the dream of the Bush Fires in Oct 2008, which came to pass in February 2009.
 
4) A few months after Kevin Rudd was elected in 2007, he had a dream of Julia Gillard back stabbing him and taking the place of PM. This came to pass in June 2010.
 
5) Last Friday 27th Aug 2010 in Canberra he had a dream of Julia Gillard giving her final speech as PM, conceding defeat, and then he heard the words ‘it is finished’. On Saturday and Sunday at the services in Canberra Pr Daniel shared his dream with the congregation and prayed for the new  government.
 
Pr Daniel stated this morning, ‘There are so many types of dreams you have. Every dream is obviously not from God, but some dreams you just know are from the Lord. I really believe with all my heart that this dream was from the Lord and I pray that it will become reality soon.”
 
Let us continue to pray that God will protect us from the unrighteous ruling over us in Australia!

The Bible clearly states in Joel 2:17, “Let the Priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the HEATHEN should rule over them; Wherefore should they say among the people, ‘where is their God?’”

Rising Up Australia and the Nations as His Kingdom Comes,

Jason Golden
Catch the Fire Ministries

Dear family and friends in Christ,

Click the following link to download the flyer for the March for the Babies in Melbourne on Saturday 9^th October 2010.

http://catchthefire.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/march-for-the-babies-9th-october-2010.pdf

Date: Saturday October 9th, 2010 beginning at 2pm

Location: Treasury Gardens, Corner of Spring Street & Wellington Parade, East Melbourne MEL REF 1F R12

 Click the following link to read a letter from MP Bernie Flynn regarding the March for Babies.

http://catchthefire.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bernies-letter-final-email.pdf

Please note that the March will proceed to the steps of Parliament House.

We encourage you to bring carloads and busloads of people from your town or region.

For details regarding logistics, please contact Gayle at 0411 211 413 or marchforthebabies@gmail.com

Please email this to your contacts in Victoria and encourage them to attend as this year the March for Babies falls just weeks before the State Election and we have the chance of sending a significant message to the Parliamentarians, if we can get a large number of people to participate. 

Rising Up Australia and the Nations as His Kingdom Comes,

Jason Golden

Catch the Fire Ministries

by Teresa Neumann : Jul 20, 2010 : David Carson - Canadian Christianity

“Canada is a healed nation, more healed today than before because of what we were able to sign this morning. Mr. Prime Minister, we forgive you!”

(Ottawa, Canada)—On April 12 of this year, we shared a report from Canadian Christianity entitled, In Prophetic Act, Former First Nations’ Chief on Canadian Cross-Country Tour Urging Tribes to Forgive. Now we can report that from June 11-13 the Journey of Freedom team led by Chief Kenny Blacksmith finally reached Ottawa for the “National Forgiven Summit.”

As reported in Canadian Christianity, thousands gathered at the Civic Centre where a coalition of First Nations, Métis & Inuit responded with forgiveness to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology made in 2008 in which he “sincerely apologized to the aboriginal peoples and asked for their forgiveness for the federal government’s role in the residential schools system.”

According to the report, Chief Elijah Harper shared a vision he had that “the First Nations would be recognized in Canada as full equal partners—and for them to live abundantly in their own country.

Though much work still needs to be done to bring total healing and restoration, Chief Billy Diamond was quoted as saying “full healing came out of the divine order of repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration,” adding that he believed the First Nations would bring revival to Canada.

Though Prime Minister Harper was unable to attend the event, he addressed the summit via video, affirming the Charter of Forgiveness and Freedom and expressing his support.

In response Chief Kenny said: “Canada is a healed nation, more healed today than before because of what we were able to sign this morning. Mr. Prime Minister, we forgive you!”

AFTER five months of traveling across Canada with the ‘Journey of Freedom,’ the team led by Chief Kenny Blacksmith finally reached Ottawa for the ‘National Forgiven Summit’ - held June 11-13.

On a beautiful sunny evening, thousands gathered at the Civic Centre for an historic occasion: where a coalition of First Nations, Métis & Inuit would, as individuals, respond with forgiveness to the Prime Minister’s apology - which Stephen Harper made exactly two years before.

On June 11th, 2008, the Prime Minister had sincerely apologized to the aboriginal peoples and asked for their forgiveness for the federal government’s role in the residential schools system. For many, now was the time to set Canada free through choosing to forgive — and thereby gain their own freedom from the painful past.

As we entered the atrium lobby, we were welcomed by the sound of worship as Russ Rosen and a team from Vancouver played gently for attendees, and to honour the Lord. The arena had been transformed with vivid lighting and smoke effects; and a wide stage had the outline of both a tepee and an inukshuk with a large screen between them.

Chief Kenny Blacksmith opened with a big smile, saying that we had waited a long time for this moment. He urged us to expect much from our Chief Cornerstone! Chief Kenny was partnered by Pastor Alain Caron from Gatineau, who translated into French.

There was a very warm welcome from the local Algonquin Nation with a reading of Psalm 24 and a prayer that the “King of Glory may come in.” Pastors Ken Hall and Ken Roth also welcomed the summit on behalf of the Ottawa churches. Chief Kenny could now say “that we are free to do whatever needs to be done.”

The nations came together to lead us in worship. An 11-piece, multi-ethnic band, that had never played together before, excelled in leading us in celebration worship to the Lord.

They started with: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate” - which underlined the fact that his love and mercy are the basis of our being able to forgive others.

Throughout the weekend, the worship was vibrant and creative in song and dance. Many First Peoples dancers from across Canada combined with Polynesian Islanders (Island Breeze from Medicine Hat & Winnipeg); the Dance Barn from Langley; and Alliance et Vie from Saint-Hubert, QC.

The drums, energetic and passionate, gave us an experience of Psalm 150 style worship. The Inuit throat singing was also very special.

There were consecutive important addresses by Chief Elijah Harper and Chief Billy Diamond on Friday evening.

Chief Elijah’s vision was that the First Nations would be recognized in Canada as full equal partners — and for them to live abundantly in their own country.

While he was willing to express forgiveness to the government, he was also clearly looking for more apologies and more respect. He noted that the Prime Minister’s apology was only for the Residential Schools issue — and even that had been lacking in one aspect.

He asserted that at the time of the apology in the House of Commons, the Speaker actually left his chair and sat on the floor of the House, thus causing the Commons to officially become a ‘Committee’ instead of a full Parliament. Chief Elijah said the government missed an opportunity to treat the First Nations leaders present in the chamber as equals — and said there was still a lot of work to be done.

Chief Billy Diamond said this conference meant freedom. At the age of seven, he was torn from his parents and became a number: 316. He later experienced joy when he learned about the power of John 3:16.

In the church residential schools, they had misrepresented the nature and love of God. They told him to pray to a God who never answered; and he had felt abandoned and rejected by both his parents and by God.

 He said full healing came out of the divine order of repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration. The Prime Minister’s apology, he said meant that “the last veil of secrecy over Canada has been torn.” He said he believed the First Nations would bring revival to Canada, and exhorted them not to stay in the prison house of unforgiveness.

Toward midnight, David Mainse led a group of pastors in a Declaration of Repentance, kneeling before the aboriginal leaders and asking for forgiveness on behalf of the Church of Canada. In a very moving response, Elijah Harper and Billy Diamond expressed their forgiveness.

The Saturday morning session opened with individual Inuit and Métis also accepting the apology of the pastors. James Arreak said: “I choose to forgive you!” Pastor Eva Deer, of Nunavik, said: “Church of Canada, I forgive you; we are reconciled through Jesus Christ.” Métis Evelyn Lipke said, “I also forgive and release you, O churches of Canada, from any judgments I have had.” A reading of Psalm 126 also summed up for Lipke what she was sensing regarding God’s restoration.

Chief Kenny explained that the Journey of Freedom had encouraged individuals to make a choice, to come together and forgive. They were not speaking on behalf of anyone except themselves. Forgiveness was not political or economic, he said, but rather it was spiritual — and it was for each person individually to make that choice.

We then came to the time of release. Chief Kenny read aloud the lengthy ‘Charter of Forgiveness and Freedom,’ which declared forgiveness for many offences. 24 elders who had survived the Residential Schools then signed the Charter on behalf of the coalition. This was then witnessed by 12 young people with the hope of freedom for future generations: “Let us break the yoke of the past; let us find wisdom and hope together.”

There was then a spectacular Grand Entry of First Peoples in full regalia with feathers, furs and drums. A most moving moment was when a dozen young children from the Flying Dust Reserve in Saskatchewan sang the National Anthem in Cree.

The Charter was then presented to the Minister for Indian and Northern Affairs, Chuck Strahl, who represented the Prime Minister. Due to international commitments, Stephen Harper was unable to attend. However, he addressed the summit by video — affirming the Charter and expressing his support.

In response Chief Kenny said: “Canada is a healed nation, more healed today than before because of what we were able to sign this morning. Mr. Prime Minister, we forgive you!”

Chief Herman Yellow Old Woman then pronounced that Blacksmith and Strahl would be given the highest expression of honour. In an elaborate ritual with a buffalo dance, ancient songs and impartation, they were given the right to wear an impressive headdress — to make them stronger leaders. Other gifts were given on behalf of the Prime Minister, including a hand made paddle symbolizing the healing journey of Canada.

Chief Noel Pootlass (Bella Coola, Nuxalk) anointed Strahl and Blacksmith with eagle down, and the fine filaments were carried out over the congregation for peace and blessings. This was now the time to embrace and celebrate freedom. Jonathan Maracle then led us into loud celebration with his Native Mohawk Fusion Band.

Sunday continued in celebration, and included an extended ceremony of appreciation, honour and highest respect for David Demian and his family. He was presented with a variety of gifts, and it was declared that David’s walk and influence through Watchmen for the Nations had been an indispensible factor in bringing the First Nations leaders into unity. His example of allowing the Spirit to set the agenda in the Gatherings had become the model for their present and ongoing journey.

We pray that the spiritual momentum will increase and that the Lord will continue to surprise us in wonderful ways.

A few days after the Forgiven Summit, the first Truth and Reconciliation national event was held in Winnipeg. The commission was created to talk about all of the experiences and impacts of the residential schools, and to establish an historical account of the system.

This is another step in restoring respect and honour to the First Peoples.

David Carson is one of the key organizers of Hope Vancouver.
 

Tuesday, 13 July 2010  Adrienne S. Gaines News - Featured News

A Florida evangelist is responding to efforts to build a multimillion-dollar mosque two blocks from Ground Zero with plans to open a religious center of his own.

Bill Keller, host of the evangelistic website Liveprayer.com, said his 9/11 Christian Center near Ground Zero will begin holding Sunday prayer meetings Sept. 5. The services will be held at a hotel in downtown New York until Jan. 1, when the center moves a permanent site. The facility will be open daily and will house a prayer chapel. Local ministers also will lead regular outreach ministry.

“I was in prayer and God said, ‘Listen, if the Muslims can build a temple to their false god at Ground Zero, why can’t there be a place dedicated to the true God of the Bible on that same area?’” said Keller, whose website claims 2.4 million subscribers. “Rather than a [protest] event we’re going to have an ongoing work of God right there because the Bible says you combat the darkness with the light.”

The proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan has generated a firestorm of controversy. The $100 million project calls for a 13-story community center that includes a mosque, performing arts center, meeting rooms and gym. The center, called the Cordoba House, is a joint effort between the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative, which says its mission is to improve relations between Muslims and the West.

Feisal Abdul Rauf, a New York imam and chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, said the center is intended to prevent the next 9/11 and will include a public memorial to the nearly 3,000 victims of the terrorist attack.

“My colleagues and I are the anti-terrorists,” Rauf wrote in a New York Daily News op-ed. “We are the people who want to embolden the vast majority of Muslims who hate terrorism to stand up to the radical rhetoric. Our purpose is to interweave America’s Muslim population into the mainstream society. People who are stakeholders in society, who believe they are welcomed as equal partners, do not want to destroy it. They want to build it.”

Thousands have gathered to protest the proposed mosque, saying it is insensitive at best for Muslims to build near a site destroyed by Islamic terrorists.

Last week, the debate became a campaign issue in New York’s race for governor when Republican candidate Rick Lazio called on his Democratic rival, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, to investigate the funding sources of the group behind the Islamic center. In a letter sent to Cuomo’s office, Lazio cited media reports claiming Rauf refused to label Hamas a terrorist organization and that the imam was a “key figure” in a group that sponsored the flotilla that sought to break Israel’s Gaza blockade.

In media statements, Cuomo said his office would review any evidence of wrongdoing while accusing Lazio of religious intolerance. On Monday, the Associated Press reported that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican turned Independent who has defended the planned mosque, said it would be un-American to vet religious organizations.

Many mosque opponents are supporting attempts to confer landmark status on a century-old building at the proposed site. New York’s Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing Tuesday to debate the issue, but a vote is not expected until later this summer. A community board decided earlier this month that the building was not structurally significant enough to landmark.

Some critics, including several Christians, say building a mosque so near Ground Zero would be viewed as a victory for Muslim terrorists. They see it as an attempt to establish a beachhead for political Islam in New York.

“The situation in New York is really insulting,” said James Lafferty, head of the Virginia Anti-Shariah Task Force who led a protest last month against the building of Cordoba House. “All of the people who were involved in the cowardly attacks on the World Trade Center were from radical Islam … and they are now establishing a mosque … in the shadow of the World Trade Center.”

Lafferty, whose wife, Andrea Lafferty, is executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition, said the Islamic center is part of efforts to establish Shariah law in the U.S. He points to four Christians who were arrested last month in Dearborn, Mich., while preaching during an Arab festival there and says the U.S. could become like Europe, which has considered the strict Islamic law in some cases of family law among the region’s large Muslim community.
“We’ve watched this movie before, and in Great Britain and in France and even some of the other countries, there’s a pattern, there’s sort of a template for all this, and that is massive migration then the establishment of mosques and schools, and then attempts to impose Shariah law on a given territory or enclave,” Lafferty said.

Rauf, author of What’s Right With Islam Is What’s Right With America, in 2008 supported efforts to incorporate aspects of Shariah law into British law—a move the Archbishop of Canterbury also endorsed at the time. The Rt. Rev. Rowan Williams told the BBC there was “a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law, as we already do with some other aspects of religious law.”

In a 2009 Washington Post On Faith op-ed, Rauf said U.S. law and Shariah law had common characteristics. “The principles behind American secular law are similar to Shariah law—that we protect life, liberty and property, that we provide for the common welfare, that we maintain a certain amount of modesty,” he wrote. “What Muslims want is to ensure that their secular laws are not in conflict with the Quran or the Hadith, the sayings of Muhammad.”

Warren Larson, director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at Columbia International University, said he isn’t convinced the mosque is part of a grand conspiracy to establish Muslim dominance in the U.S. But he said building a large Islamic center near Ground Zero sends a different message.
“I’m against [the mosque] because I think it’s going to be perceived wrongly,” said Larson, who ministered among Muslims in Pakistan for 40 years. “It’s going to be perceived as a possible takeover, but I don’t think it is. I don’t think that’s what Muslims are thinking. They’re thinking this is a house of prayer. And Muslims do pray; Muslims don’t just blow up buildings.”

Too many Christians are responding to Islam out of fear instead of faith, said Rick Love, co-founder of Peace Catalyst and former director of Youth With a Mission’s U.S. Muslim outreach. He said the vast majority of Muslims aren’t terrorists, and while refusing to take sides on the mosque issue, Love said upholding religious liberty gives the U.S. the moral authority to challenge nations that persecute religious minorities.

For Larson, the real danger is not the encroachment of Islam in the U.S. “I hope it doesn’t come across as arrogant, but my main concern in the United States is not Islam, it’s not fundamentalist Islam, it’s weak Christianity,” he said. “It’s Christianity that is less than what it should be. … It’s the sense that the church is often not the church. I think our main struggle is not political, but it’s really to be good, strong, vibrant Christians who love the Lord and live for Him.”

Keller agrees. He has called Islam “a 1,400-year-old lie from hell” and has been the focus of a protest by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. But Keller said his reason for founding the 9/11 Christian Center is not to set up a confrontation with Islam as much as to present an alternative to it.

“I’m looking for people who are lost, hurting, looking for hope and answers—that’s who we’re looking to attract,” said Keller, who plans to commute from St. Petersburg, Fla., to lead the Sunday services until the center opens in January. “That’s why Islam has grown. That’s why some of the cults and false religions have grown so fast because people, quite honestly Christians, have hid behind the four walls of the church, they’ve taken themselves out of the marketplace. … My whole thing is to get into the marketplace and not battle Islam for souls but battle Satan for souls.”

Dear family & friends in Christ,

It’s with  great joy that we bring to your attention that Pr Daniel will be leading a ministry team from Australia to Sri Lanka for revival meetings in the capital city Colombo from the 19th to 21st November 2010 (with the possibility of extending for 3 more days).

The revival meetings in Sri Lanka will be held at the Nawarangala Hall (Royal College) Colombo from 19th to 21st Nov 2010 at 5.30pm every night.

We’re prayerfully trusting the Lord for the supernatural anointing of His Holy Spirit to reap a great harvest of souls, with mighty healings & miracles in the name of Jesus!

If you are interested in joining us on this Kingdom mission in shaking the nation of Sri Lanka with the miracle healing power of God, please contact travel agents Fiona or Kit from Travel Talk in Dandenong on (03) 9792 4444 for a special group rate of Aus $1310 (inclusive of all taxes) to depart Melbourne on 17th November and return on the 29th of November. Please note that this fare does not include your accommodation.

You can talk to the travel agent regarding accommodation and an additional 5 day tour of Sri Lanka after the crusades. Please also keep us informed if you are planning to be a part of this mission to Sri Lanka.

The Spirit of God has used Pr Daniel to save, heal, deliver and set free many thousands of people over the past 15 years. He has personally seen thousands of souls added to the Kingdom of God in more than 20 countries where he has ministered to crowds of up to 20,000 people. The Lord also saved him miraculously at least on 2 occasions from possible death.

He is originally from Sri Lanka and now lives in Australia with his wife and 3 children. He is the President of Catch The Fire Ministries Australia, which is a prayer ministry with more than 60 prayer centres across the nation of Australia and other countries.

In the past 2 years alone we have seen more than 75 deaf people healed and many others healed of cancer, tumours, diabetes, asthma, ulcers,  blindness and many others set free from depression and many additional demonic bondages.

Pr Daniel stated, “I am so excited to go back to my country of birth. I am really trusting God for mighty miracles, signs and wonders. I am really looking forward to it. I know my mother who lives there is praying for this crusade. She is the one who prayed me into the kingdom of God. I would really appreciate if you could please pray for a great outpouring of God’s mighty presence in Sri Lanka during these revival meetings.”

For those who are on our email data base in Sri Lanka, we will send you a brochure in the next few weeks with local contact details. Please pass this message around throughout your network.

On his return, Pr Daniel will be ministering at a Christmas crusade in November Indonesia where crowds of up to 10,000 people are expected. Please uphold these meetings too in prayer.

Rising Up Australia, Sri Lanka and the Nations as His Kingdom Comes,

Jason Golden
Catch the Fire Ministries

19.08.10 Jewish World

Thousands of Messianic Jews reside in Israel, perform Jewish ceremonies and serve in IDF Yoaz Hendel.

Some 15,000 Messianic Jews currently live in Israel, but if you saw one on the street you would almost certainly fail to recognize any difference. They honor Jewish circumcision, bar-mitzvah, and wedding ceremonies, but believe Jesus is the messiah.

 The small community of Yad Hashmona, near Jerusalem, is home to a number of Messianic-Jewish families. They believe in Jesus – or Yeshua, as they call him – and in the teachings of the New Testament as well as the old. They are Jews in every sense, but for the most part keep this side of their faith to themselves. When these families gather for the Shabbat meal, however, Jesus is the guest star at their table.
 The Second Coming?

Many Americans expect Jesus’ return by 2050 / Associated Press 

Around 350,000 Messianic Jews live in the US, and one would be just as hard-pressed to recognize them there as in Israel. Some are Orthodox, and dress as the haredim do, while others are traditional and wear a yarmulke or no religious symbol at all. They are for the most part Zionists, and see IDF service as a top priority. In the army they serve as pilots, commanders, and elite unit members, but usually make sure to keep their messianic beliefs under wraps. 

The fact that Jesus was Jewish is generally agreed upon, but what happened after his death is subject to rancorous theological debate. History books tend to recall the first century as a time of rebellion and prophets in Jewish antiquity, and this was also Christianity’s first chapter, bringing about pre-historic inter-religious quarreling and anti-Semitism.

 But in separating between Jews and Christians, history largely ignores the story of those Jewish people who believed Christ was the messiah and continued this tradition well after his death – the ancestors of the Messianic-Jewish faith in modern times.

 ’Faith in Yeshua is personal’

Jonathan Bar-David is a 30-year old Messianic Jew. He attended secular Israeli schools, served as a paratrooper in the IDF, and then went on to travel before settling down to study engineering at the Technion in Haifa. But before all this, he was educated on the teachings of Christ in Yad Hashmona.

“When I was little only my closest friends knew I was a believer,” he says. “But in high school, when I was ready, I revealed it to my entire class.”

Bar-David married a non-Jewish member of his community, so according to the halacha his children are not Jewish. He says that if he could he would have them converted, “but the rabbinate will never agree”.

Bar-David explains how he is able to maintain his faith while living in secular Israeli society. “We don’t exactly have secular and religious people (in our community),” he says. “Faith in Yeshua is personal. If you decide to be secular, that’s a very significant statement. It’s a disconnection. As a child growing up in a messianic family, one of the main missions is to understand that Yeshua is the messiah who came into being according to prophecies in the Torah. We are Jews. The Torah is a basic principle for us.”

Nevertheless, he says, there are many daily tasks required by the messianic religion. “There are a lot of prayers – before a meal, before traveling, before bed,” he explains. “A messianic family has some ten prayers thanking Yeshua the messiah.”

The Jewish rites, or mitzvahs, Bar-David performs are also plentiful, and do not always conform to those of religious Jews. He doesn’t work on Saturday, but can light a fire. He attends prayers at his community and even teaches the Bible to younger members. He fasts on Yom Kippur, but doesn’t keep kosher.

“Yeshua says human beings need to pay more attention to what comes out of their mouths than what goes in,” he explains. “There are those who want to maintain Jewish identity through symbols, but I, like many Israelis, don’t feel the need. I am a Jew who lives here, rejoices and laments Jewish and Israeli occurrences. I don’t need any proof.”

Despite his faith, Bar-David adamantly rejects the label of a missionary. But, he says, “Just as God wanted others to know of his glory, I want to tell others about my faith. There is controversy among Messianic Jews about the spreading of our religion, but many do not like the idea of missionaries.”

‘Faith is more important than religion’

Lihi Einav is a 52-year old student of Second Temple Literature at Bar-Ilan. Until the age of 35 she was totally uninterested in religion, and busied herself with the healing profession. But then she met a British couple who gave her a copy of the New Testament, and she was immediately captivated by Christ’s powers as a healer. Later she became interested in the Old Testament as well, and her path to Messianic-Judaism became clear.

Einav immediately came face-to-face with the lack of female leadership in her newly-acquired faith. But she visits one of the community’s centers in Jerusalem once every two weeks.

“Faith is more important than religion,” says Asher Interter, a 57-year old messianic rabbi in Jerusalem. Interter grew up in a haredi family in Washington, and studied Asian philosophy and religion at Harvard.

When he came of age in the ’70s, Interter decided to delve into every religion he could think of, “aside from Christianity, which didn’t interest me,” he says. He finally decided Messianic-Judaism was most suitable for him.

Now he performs all of the Jewish Orthodox rites but, he says, as he sees them. Interter perceives Messianic Jews as the followers of first-century Jews who dispersed after the destruction of the second temple, and Christianity as the erroneous development of the messianic faith among non-Jews. “They were wrong and we must now lead the movement to fix this mistake,” he says. “It is our global mission.”

Interter describes a growing population conforming to these values in Israel, with 120 new community members and counting. “The new members are secular people looking for God without the need for rites, or members of the religious population who want to be free but still maintain God’s presence in their lives,” he says.

In Interter’s eyes, the prophecy of the messiah came true in 1967, with the Jewish conquering of Jerusalem. “The New Testament talks about the destruction of the temple, a long exile, and finally the return to Zion, and that is exactly what happened,” he explains. This may seem a political view to some, but Interter rejects this. “We have no political view,” he says. “But we read the Bible and see Jerusalem as our sacred city.” This perception leads inevitably to Zionism, and Interter’s sons are products of this, having all served in elite army units.

For a community living under the perpetual wrath of the haredim, who for the most part alienate and discriminate against them, Messianic Jews remain inexplicably optimistic. Perhaps it is because they still follow in the footsteps of that Galilee-born Jew who wandered into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, the one who believed in turning the other cheek.

ASSIST News Service Wednesday, July 7,

Every Month in Europe Many Iranians Are Becoming Christians and Are Being Baptized

HANOVER, GERMANY (ANS) — The Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) — www.fcnn.com — is reporting that many Iranians who have fled to Europe to escape the persecution of their homeland, have become Christians.

According to reports received by FCNN, a reliable German news agency, DW, in a recent report, disclosed the 40 Iranians who reside in Germany have recently converted and been baptized as Christians in the city of Hanover.

“These baptismal ceremonies were conducted in both Farsi and German,” said the story.

The report also adds that every month tens of Iranians refugees and residents in Germany officially convert to Christianity, “but,” it continued, “this incident in Hanover is the first of its kind where a large group have together converted and been baptized as Christians.”

FCNN reports that the pastor of the church in the city of Hanover who conducted these ceremonies disclosed that many of these people had come from various cities in Germany to participate in these ceremonies.

Hans Jorgen Kutzner is the protestant pastor who is personally responsible for prayers and shepherding of more than 1,000 Iranians all over Germany. He is responsible, on behalf of the Protestant church, to oversee the matters related to the welfare of Iranians residents in Germany.

He said that he has personally baptized dozens of people in the past, adding, “These people come from a country that appears to be very religious and there is no separation between religion and politics.”

He further added, “Many of these people suffered the brutal and oppressive hand of Islam in their country. Anyone who has experienced such dictatorial oppression seeks to be freed from it at the first available opportunity.”

According to this Hanover pastor, the number of conversions and requests for water baptism by Iranians has been on “a significant increase since the presidential elections and the widespread protests that followed it in 2009.”

He went on to say that the issue if not just a matter of a change of religion.

“Even people who choose not to convert are offered help and assistance. The issue is more about humanity,” he said.

It has been reported that most of these new believers are men between the ages of 25-45, but not all are men.

Among those who was recently baptized is Parisa, a 30-year-old woman who, up until recently, was wearing her head scarf and was a teacher in the city of Isfahan in Iran. She said that she got into trouble when she refused to wear a chador* in order to teach at her school and therefore was transferred to small village near Isfahan.

Shortly after, she escaped to Germany.

When recounting her story, she said, “I was never a practicing Muslim.”

Moreover, she stated that she constantly “suffered from discrimination” that was so obvious against women in Iran.

“She has a great appreciation for the principle of religious freedom which is enshrined in the German constitution. She says that she feels like being born anew,” said the FCCN story.

Darius, another refugee from Iran, has been a Christian now for almost 2 years. This 31-year-old mechanical engineer is currently living at a refugee center and is not sure whether he will be allowed to stay in Germany. He says that his parents, after hearing of his conversion and faith in Christ, not only have disowned him, but have threatened to kill him.

Pastor Kutzner says there are many unfortunate incidents that are part of this “phenomenon.”

The German government, according to Pastor Kutzner, does not care at all about the religious status of these refugees and often deports them without due consideration about their conversion and the potential danger they may face in being returned to Iran.

FCNN has recently reported that in Sweden, 13 Iranians were baptized, among whom was an 83-year-old man.

It went on to report that the pastor of the local Iranian church in Sweden, “along with his words of encouragement and the great work that the Lord has been doing in the lives of Iranians,” expressed his wish and prayer by saying, “May the Lord grant us that as the great harvest of souls that is ahead of us we would witness the salvation of hundreds and thousands of Iranians for His service and the glory of His Kingdom.”

* A chador is a loose robe which is worn like a cloak by some devout Hindus and Muslims. Many people associate the chador specifically with Iran, but it is also worn in other parts of the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. Muslims typically wear their chadors with the hijab, a headscarf which covers the hair, throat, and neck, to ensure that their appearance conforms with Islamic laws about modesty and comportment.

1) Firstly, let us thank you all for praying and standing in the gap for the Federal Election over the last few weeks. We have definitely seen the effects of prayer.

However, we all do know that our nation is at a very critical crossroads right now and desperately needs unceasing urgent prayer throughout the Body of Christ to see the formation of a Government which will acknowledge the Word of God.

Starting today Julia Gillard (Labor) and Tony Abbott (Liberals) will be meeting with the 4 elected Independent Members of House of Representatives in order to strike a deal to form a minority Government. Please pray for  Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor, and Andrew Wilke who will possibly decide on who will lead our nation for the next 3 years.

Pray that they will not be deceived by promises of financial gain, but will think of the future of our nation and the next generation. Pray that the Holy Spirit will lead them to support a Government which will bring glory to God and a PM who will acknowledge the name of Jesus.

Please also pray that the Governor General will be unbiased when she makes the decision as to who should form the government, as the media has exposed that the Governor General’s son-in-law Bill Shorten (Labor) was the master mind behind the axing of Kevin Rudd and the putting in Ms Gillard as PM.

2) Yesterday, Sunday the 22nd of August, men and women of God from NSW, SA, QLD, ACT & VIC gathered at the Catch The Fire base in Melbourne for a wonderful time of Holy Spirit anointed praise, worship and to hear the Word of the Lord.

At this very special service the first batch of Ministers of the Gospel under Catch The Fire Ministries in Australia received their credentials.

The place was packed out with family and friends of those who received their credentials as everyone who came was mightily blessed by the presence of the Lord. Pr Daniel preached the anointed Word of God from 1 Samuel regarding Eli the Priest and Samuel the Prophet. He challenged the people of God that if the Priests (Shepherds / Pastoral Leadership of the Church / Particularly the Denominational Leadership) are not willing to move with the Spirit of God and do the will of the Father in heaven, then the Lord will bypass the recognised order (just as He bypassed Eli and spoke to Samuel), in order to fulfil His prophetic plans and purposes for our nation, this Great South Land of the Holy Spirit! 

Pr Daniel stated, “I am so excited that finally the day has come to credential men & woman of God into the fivefold ministry. This is how the church is supposed to be as in Ephesians 4:11-13 (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Teachers & Pastors).  The Lord does not want the rocks and trees to cry out. If the political correctness continues in the church amongst the leadership, the Spirit of God will have to bypass the recognised order and raise up those like Samuel in the Bible who are willing to stand in the gap to fulfil His plans for our nation and the nations. Oh Lord, we desperately want to see your glory manifested.”

“We are not starting another denomination, but I know for sure that this is a new move of God through which the Heavenly Father will demonstrate His true love to His Sons & Daughters. We want to see this move of God as relational rather than controlled by man. It is very easy to be a natural Christian, but if you are to experience the supernatural realm of the Spirit of God, the spiritual covering you come under is very important.  The supernatural life of Christians cannot function if you are boxed in and not free to let the Holy Spirit move in your life and church.”

This was clearly demonstrated at the morning service when the Holy Spirit fell in the place and many who had never received a hug from their natural father lined up for a BIG HUG from Pr Daniel who ministered with the loving Father heart of God. The altar was full of people weeping as the Heavenly Father touched many, healing them from past traumas and emotional problems.

Many testified, “when Pr Daniel gave us a hug, it seemed like Jesus was holding us in His arms. We feel so free now and feel so much love from the Father in Heaven.”

We at Catch The Fire are so happy to see people getting healed, delivered and set free at every service.

3) This weekend Pr Daniel will be ministering in Canberra this Friday 27th, Saturday 28th, & Sunday 29th August at The New Connection Church at 18 Walder Street, Belconnen. Please contact Pr Glenn at 0414 705 847 for more details.

4) For those of you in the Melbourne area, we welcome you to join us this Friday 27th August at 7:30pm for our weekly intercessory prayer meeting for Australia’s transformation. There will be special prayer for the Government.

Be encouraged to also join our weekly Sunday services on 29th August at 9.30am & 6.30pm.

All the services will be held at Catch the Fire Ministries Apostolic Centre at 23 Melverton Drive, Hallam   (Melways Ref: 96 G2)

Rising Up Australia and the Nations as His Kingdom Comes,

Jason Golden
Catch the Fire Ministries

One election result is already clear - and makes this debate about Tony Abbott’s “secret” plans even more brainless.

Wake up, people. The Greens will have the balance of power in the Senate.

Labor sealed that deal when it agreed to swap preferences with a party which its wiser heads know would devastate the economy if it could.

That’s politics, I guess.

Winning is all, and to hell with the national interest. But how grotesquely irresponsible?

Labor is helping into power a party which demands we scrap our power stations and close industries that earn us at least $60 billion a year.

Oh, and it wants us all to have more holidays, because hard work and making money really sucks.

Some 12 per cent of voters say this is just the party for them, and even Labor now says it’s the best of the rest.

Yes, that really is how infantile our society, and our politics especially, has become.

But Labor, whose primary vote has been unusually low, says this only because it badly needs Greens preferences.

In exchange, it’s agreed to help the Greens save its own five Senate seats - and to probably win a couple more.

It was already inevitable Labor would win back some Senate seats from the Coalition.

But this deal also kisses goodbye to Family First Senator Steve Fielding, who lucked his seat in 2004 when Labor absentmindedly preferenced him but will lose it now Labor is steering votes to the Greens.

That will be all it takes. After this election, no government will be able to pass a law against the opposition’s objection without the support of the Greens, and Greens alone.

Never has this party had such a great chance to inflict on us policies that many voters treat as position statements, rather than a deliberate manifesto for the deindustrialisation of our economy and the tribalising of our society.

This now is the real issue: How much of our future did Labor sell off just to get these Greens’ preferences?

Never mind this week’s scare campaign about what workplace laws Abbott might secretly plan. The hapless schmuck couldn’t get them through a Greens-Labor Senate even if he wanted to.

No, what really needs debate is what the Greens might now demand from a Gillard Government in exchange for its vote. And that, in turn, needs journalists especially to take seriously this party’s policies.

The Greens’ manifesto is not written down for a joke. It is the serious work of ideological warriors hiding behind Bob Brown’s amiable front.

Vote Greens in this election and you won’t get cuddlier koalas, bigger hugs and cleaner rivers. In fact, you’ll be voting to “transition from coal exports”, which means ending a trade worth $55 billion a year .

You’ll be voting to end “the mining and export of uranium”, worth $900 billion a year. You’ll be demanding farmers “remove as far as possible” all GM crops, which includes cotton worth about $1.3 billion a year.

You will be voting to close down many other industries, including export of woodchips from old-growth forests, certain kinds of fishing, oil and mineral exploration in wildernesses, and new coal mines.

You’ll even be voting to close the Lucas Heights nuclear facility, even though it actually produces treatments for cancer.

In fact, you’ll be voting for policies deliberately intended to make us poorer. Less industrialised. Or as the Greens’ policy puts it, for a “reduction of Australia’s use of natural resources to a level that is sustainable and socially just”.

Maybe you think it won’t matter if a few industries get shut. Maybe you really are that stupid. But you haven’t heard the rest of the Greens’ policies yet, have you?

You see, the Greens also plan to shut coal power stations that produce 80 per cent of our electricity. They not only “oppose the establishment of new coal-fired power stations” - claiming they make the planet dangerously hot - but intend to ban new coal supplies for those we already have. And they’ll hit power stations with a new tax to make electricity too expensive for you.

Do you have any idea how many businesses would be driven broke by this Green frolic? How many hundreds of thousands of jobs would be lost?

If you think the Greens must have alternative power sources in mind, you’re dreaming.

The Greens want to keep Labor’s ban on nuclear power. They even want to scrap government-funded research into carbon capture.

So consider. If the Greens get their way we’ll have huge industries banned, businesses driven broke and power prices driven through the roof, with not enough electricity for what industries will be left.

So, with our income slashed to ribbons, what do the Greens propose? Not deep cuts in every government program but a spending spree to make Kevin Rudd seem a miser.

It’s free money for everyone. If you vote for the Greens, you’re voting for an extra week of holidays for all, “mandated shorter standard working hours”, more pay for women workers, higher pay for casuals and better weekly benefits to students and artists.

More pay for less work, at the mere stroke of a Green pen. Isn’t that a darling way to reorganise the economy? What could possibly go wrong?

They promise to lift foreign aid to “a minimum of 0.7 per cent of GDP by 2010″, which means an instant rise in handouts of $4 billion a year.

Another $2 billion a year will go to scrap tertiary fees and forgiving all HECs debts.

The Greens lazily assume that the bill will be covered by hiking corporate taxes, hitting the richer 5 per cent of Australians with wealth taxes, and slugging air travellers. Show us your costings, Bob.

I’d be amazed if after a year of two of this that anyone would want to come to a country which by then would be a smoking hole in the ground.

Yet the Greens plan to do their best to attract more people to their new nation of freeloaders. Any “asylum seeker” making it here by boat would be freed into the community within 14 days, security checks permitting, and rewarded with benefits, medical services and school for children. These goodies will be offered to “environmental refugees”, too.

A new, militant industrial agenda is also buried in this New Age madness, signalling the arrival in Brown’s party of “watermelon Greens” - green outside and red inside.

These, like NSW candidate Lee Rhiannon, seem Green more of convenience than faith, using this doctors’ wives party to smuggle in the kind of hard-Left politics that would scare voters if they saw it coming under a hammer and sickle.

This is what a vote for the Greens really means. And it’s this party of vandals, tribalists and closet totalitarians that shameless Labor now helps to such threatening influence.

by Aimee Herd: Jul 13, 2010 

News Staff – Mission Network News

“The Lord has opened a door of opportunity spiritually, where tens of thousands of voodooists in Haiti are asking huge questions about their beliefs. So the opportunity for the Gospel to be preached and taught is unprecedented in Haiti.”

Despite the fact that six months after the devastating earthquake rocked the impoverished nation of Haiti, last January, most of the rubble and piles of destroyed buildings still remain, there have been unprecedented changes in the spiritual atmosphere.

According to a report in Mission Network News from the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) team, there has opened a remarkable open door for the Gospel to be shared and received—even among those who had previously been directly opposed to it.

MAF president John Boyd notes that as his ministry reaches out physically with that “cup of cold water,” the prospects of communicating the Good News of Jesus are “phenomenal.”

“The Lord has opened a door of opportunity spiritually, where tens of thousands of voodooists in Haiti are asking huge questions about their beliefs. So the opportunity for the Gospel to be preached and taught is unprecedented in Haiti.”

Boyd warns that conditions and needs in Haiti are still at an “emergency” level, and the ministry is straining to continue bringing aid and relief, in addition to the Gospel message, to the people of Haiti.

Haiti (MNN) ― Six months after the devastating earthquake destroyed Haiti, reports indicate little has changed. Many working there say much of the rubble remains right where it fell January 12th, killing up to 300,000 people and displacing hundreds of thousands more. Since feeding people and providing medical care and temporary shelter have been top priorities, major rebuilding efforts are stymied.

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has a base in Port-au-Prince. The ministry’s president John Boyd said the first days after the quake were challenging. “We had a double challenge on our hands, to be able to respond in a way that MAF does, but to also take care of and deal with the trauma that our missionaries experienced.”

Boyd says none of their expatriate workers were injured or killed in the quake, but one of their national workers died tragically.

Immediately following the devastation, Boyd says MAF became a key part of the relief effort. “That little hanger [at the] Port-au-Prince Airport became the hub for so much that happened on the civilian side of the rescue attempts — [such as] the distribution [of medical aid] and food.”

“Over half a million Haitians left the capital of Port-au-Prince and went into the interior. They went back to their villages,” says Boyd. “Can you picture and imagine the stress and the strain on an infrastructure that’s already non-existent, particularly in those outlying areas?”

While Port-au-Prince is still in great need, MAF is helping outside the city as Haitians continue to leave the capital. “Our people are flying in and out, taking food stuffs, medicines, and everything that’s needed in the interior to help sustain this group of people,” he adds. Boyd says they’re also flying in doctors, church teams, and pastors.

MAF’s work is more than just a delivery and shuttle service. “We’re reaching out physically with a cup of cold water; then the opportunities to share the Gospel are phenomenal,” Boyd says. “The Lord has opened a door of opportunity spiritually, where tens of thousands of voodooists in Haiti are asking huge questions about their beliefs. So the opportunity for the Gospel to be preached and taught is unprecedented in Haiti.”

However, an emergency situation like this saps a ministry financially. “It’s like a rocket ship, actually,” Boyd adds. “Your cashflow goes from being well managed to just going through the roof. But, if just one soul is saved by an MAF plane and pilot, you can’t put a dollar cost to that.”

While it’s been six months since the earthquake, your generous support today will help MAF reach the lost who are still searching for spiritual answers, while providing aid to those who are still desperate. For only $1 a day, you can adopt a plane and help open the doors to the Gospel in Haiti.

Click here to help http://www.maf.org/plane6010

by Aimee Herd : Jul 29, 2010 : Gary Lane – CBN News

“If we remain firm in our belief that God is on our side, is there anything impossible for us to achieve?”

(Manila, Philippines)—Newly elected Philippine President Benigno Aquino lll, may have known he had quite a task before him in his quest to clean up corruption and end poverty in his country, however, he was reportedly “shocked to learn that the previous administration had already spent 94 percent of the nation’s $33 billion budget. Only $2 billion remains for the second half of the fiscal year.”

Aquino wasted no time in getting started, though, according to a CBN report, he is establishing a “Truth Commission to investigate government corruption.”

But, perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of the new administration is that the new president is not acting in his power alone, but is publicly stating his reliance on God.

“My firm belief is that our fate is in the hands of God and our people,” says Aquino. “While we focus on uplifting the lives of our fellow men, I have an unshakeable faith that Almighty God will give us blessings and support.”

He added, “If we remain firm in our belief that God is on our side, is there anything impossible for us to achieve?”

MANILLA - An ecumenical prayer by a Catholic bishop, Protestants, and a Muslim opened the first State-of-the-Nation address of the newly elected Philippine President Benigno Aquino lll.

During his presidential campaign, Aquino pledged to end poverty by first ending corruption.
 
In keeping with that theme, Aquino exposed irregularities allegedly committed by the administration of former President Gloria Arroyo, most of which were misuse of government funds.

“Now is the time to end the extravagance of government officials and squandering the people’s money,” Aquino said.

Truth Commission

He was shocked to learn that the previous administration had already spent 94 percent of the nation’s $33 billion budget. Only $2 billion remains for the second half of the fiscal year.

Aquino said he believes a partnership with the public and private sectors is one way to help overcome the budget shortfall. He’s also establishing a Truth Commission to investigate government corruption.

“We will hold murderers accountable. We will also hold those who are corrupt that work in government accountable for their actions,” Aquino warned. “We will search for the truth of the alleged wrongdoing committed in the last nine years.”

Hours before the State of the Nation address, thousands of protesters gathered in Manilla as close as they could get to the capitol building to put pressure on the new president.

They want to make sure their new president keeps his promises to stamp out corruption and end poverty in this nation. Thirty-three percent of the country’s 92 million people live below the poverty rate.

God Must Save

While the intention of the address was to give hope to the country, Aquino said he realizes that his administration is limited in what it can do. The country must look to a higher power for help in solving the nation’s problems.

“My firm belief is that our fate is in the hands of God and our people,” he said. “While we focus on uplifting the lives of our fellow men, I have an unshakeable faith that Almighty God will give us blessings and support.”

“If we remain firm in our belief that God is on our side,” he said, “is there anything impossible for us to achieve?”

The last few months have been very exciting and challenging with people from all walks of life entering the debate about the upcoming Federal Election this Saturday 21st August.

I first want to thank you all for your overwhelming support through the many responses we have received. I would love to respond to every email, but unfortunately it is not practically possible, as I too have a family. My motto is Jesus first, family second and ministry third.

A few people have asked me, “Pastor, should we not pray for Julia Gillard’s salvation? Maybe once she wins the election she might become a Christian. Don’t we as Christians have to love her? Nothing is impossible with God.” And the list goes on and on.

Let me say this, we have to definitely pray for Julia Gillard’s salvation, we even pray for Bob Brown’s salvation.

When the election was announced, during that first week, we had one of our RUA prayer meeting in the western suburbs of Melbourne in Ms Gillard’s electorate. Around 20 of us went down to her office, placed oil on the doors and windows, and prayed for an hour around the place.I found myself and a few others weeping for Ms Gillard’s salvation as we were praying for her. My heart is to see every man, woman & child saved. Many Christians get married to non Christians, believing to get them saved, even though the bible says not to be unequally yoked. Unfortunately, in most cases there is a lot of trouble in the marriage and the children pay the price. I have also noticed that the Christian has become lukewarm. In a very few cases the spouse has got born again.

Someone once said, ‘A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.’ We should not make the mistake that most Christians in Germany made with Hitler. Some 85% of German Christians voted for Hitler. Why, because he said and did everything which the Christians liked to hear. I recently read an article from Christian History Institutes that stated that Hitler never closed a church, he banned pagans from school boards, banished pagan literature from the military, and ordered some churches to remove his picture from the altars. The Hitler youth had youth pastors and over 100 Hitler youth camps had bible teaching. The Gestapo raised funds for African missions.

Well we all know that Hitler went on to slaughter millions of men, woman, and children. So what was the problem? We must love everyone but need to discern through prayer as to who and what is from God and what is not from God.  The decisions we make today will determine our destiny and the future of our children.

Many tell me that we need to let the refugee boats come in and love these people and reach them to Christ. Yes, I fully agree with that concept if you can pass the following test.  1) In the last 3 months have you spoken to someone about Jesus? 2) In the last 6 months have you prayed for someone in Jesus name? 3)In the last 1 year have you brought one new person to church?

Let us face reality, we as the church are full of apathy and complacency because we have it all too easy. What is happening in Europe will happen in Australia. In my travel in Europe I was made to understand that the church had the same attitude and said, “oh let these poor people come in.” Europe now is becoming an Islamic continent. If there is no Christian revival, Islam will take Europe.

Do we realise that 8 out of 10 boats mainly carry Muslims from Muslim countries. Yes, they might be or might be not true refugees. But let me tell you, when the rubber hits the road, the birds of the same feather will always flock together.

God can do all things, but we also know He needs a man or a woman to stand in the gap. David, Gideon, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Elijah, Joseph, all the disciples of Jesus and many others in the Bible were mighty people of prayer, but they all had to take a stand and go through their testing (Fire) before God moved in the land.

We as the church need to pray like never before, but that alone will not help. We need to then act on what we hear from God, even though it might be very unpopular and bring persecution. It is then that we will see breakthrough.

So I humbly challenge my fellow countrymen to rise up and take a stand (take up your cross daily) for Jesus. I pray for the shepherds, that we will be bold to speak the truth even if it hurts and makes us unpopular in the eyes of man. But let me tell you when we stand for the truth, the truth will set people free and their scales from their eyes will fall, and they will accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

God saved me twice from possible execution, I have been hit with stones, eggs, tomatoes and spat at. Many have cursed me including some from within the church. At the beginning of this year I got an email which said, “I hope that you and your family will have an accident and die”.  I rebuked the enemy and prayed for the salvation of the person who sent it as our fight is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers of darkness.

I have seen the blind see, deaf hear, the cripple walk, the dead arise and demons flee in my ministry under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I am still alive because of Jesus and I love to see souls, souls, souls born into the Kingdom of God.

But one thing I know, with a pussy footing church we will not see the victory. The kingdom of God has suffered much violence and the violent shall rise up and take the nations by force. It is through Prayer and Action by standing strong for Jesus we will see the nations come back to Jesus.

Just imagine 2 atheists forming an alliance to lead our nation. Julia Gillard is in a de-facto relationship and Bob Brown is a proud homosexual. Click the following link to read an Australian newspaper article with photo of Bob and his male partner. It is most disgusting.

http://catchthefire.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bob-brown-person-friend3.pdf

Recently someone asked me, “What if Ms Gillard gets elected as PM?”

All I can say is, “Lord, have mercy on the shepherds who mislead the flock by not speaking out and giving them Your clear direction because of political correctness.”

May God touch the hearts of everyone as they go to vote, and let the Holy Spirit lead them to vote in a government which acknowledges God.

Many blessings,

Your bro In Christ,

Pr Daniel Nalliah

It is with great joy we announce that this Sunday the 22nd of August at the 6.30pm service the first batch of Ministers of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will be credentialed into the five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). These men and woman of God will travel from SA, NSW, QLD & across VIC to receive their credentials and to join in this very special night of giving praise, worship, and honour to the King of Kings and LORD of lords!

We would love to see you at this very special service to join together with us in praying and commissioning these mighty warriors in God’s army into the Lord’s end-time harvest to transform our nation of Australia and the nations for Jesus. You are most welcome to bring friends and family along with you.

Click the following link to download the ordination service flyer: http://catchthefire.com.au/blog/rise-up-australia/ordination-service-flyer/

We are expecting a full house, so come early and get your seats as Pastor Daniel will be ministering at both services at 9.30am & 6.30pm this Sunday the 22nd of August.  He stated, “I am so excited that finally the day has come that we could credential ministers into the five-fold ministry to equip the Body of Christ for the work of the ministry.  (Ephesians 4:11-13) This is how the Church is supposed to be, where the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Teachers & Pastors all work together hand in hand to train the saints in the Body of Christ to extend the Kingdom of God.”

The leadership board of Catch The Fire Ministries had to unfortunately turn down many applications, as they did not meet the needed criteria, but we pray as time goes by that many more warriors in the army of God will see the importance of a totally surrendered life in order to fulfil the great commission of our great KING Jesus! (Matthew 28:18-20)

On the weekend gone by Pr Daniel ministered on the Gold Coast at an AOG church where the Spirit of God moved most powerfully in transforming many lives. Many received physical, spiritual & emotional healing, while many others received prophetic words and were just absolutely set ablaze for Jesus. On Sunday night there were people in the service from 10 different churches in the Gold Coast.

Amongst the people was the lady who was healed of breast cancer last year in October, after he prayed for her. She shared her miraculous testimony and told the people that the last test done one week ago shows that there is no trace of cancer at all. Now the doctors have told her to come for her next test in one year. What a mighty God we serve. After sharing her testimony, this dear lady with tears of joy in her eyes, hugged Pr Daniel and said, “Thank you for helping me.  God has answered my prayers through you.”

It was also a very special moment on the Gold Coast when Pr Daniel met the first baby who was saved 10 years ago through Options + Care, the Pregnancy Counselling Division of CTFM. The father of the girl brought her to meet Pr Daniel. See photo at www.catchthefire.com.au

Pr Daniel stated, “When I saw her my heart leaped for joy. I cannot explain in words how happy I was to see her. She is growing up to be a very fine young woman. When she hugged me my eyes were filled with tears. I thought to myself, if not for O+C this girl would not be alive. Please pray that many more babies will be saved.”

Be encouraged to also join our Friday night weekly intercessory prayer meeting at 7:30pm on 20th August.

Please note that there will be no Youth service this Saturday, as the youth will be going to the snows.

All the services will be held at Catch the Fire Ministries Apostolic Centre at 23 Melverton Drive, Hallam   (Melways Ref: 96 G2)

Rising Up Australia and the Nations as His Kingdom Comes,

Jason Golden
Catch the Fire Ministries

It is with great joy and excitement we bring you this wonderful report regarding the National Prayer Assault on Mount Ainslie in Canberra and 20 plus mountains across Australia!

We believe that Saturday the 14th of August 2010 was a day of history making in the Spirit for our nation as thousands of Christians around Australia stormed heaven in intercessory prayer for the upcoming Federal Election, repenting of sin on behalf of the Church and the nation, asking God to heal our land.

There were Christians gathered on many mountains, churches, homes and parks all across our Great South Land of the Holy Spirit to unite as one in the Lord Jesus Christ to pray for His righteousness to exalt our nation!

Following are some of the places we have a record of where people prayed: Central Coast Gosford, Penshurst, Sugarloaf Mountain in Newcastle, Brown Mountain in Bega Valley, Kellyville, Ryde (between Sydney City and the Blue Mountains), Brown Mountain in Bega Valley (NSW), Kyabram, Boort, Burwood, Hallam, Mildura, Mount William in the Grampians (VIC) Toowoomba (QLD), Darwin, Middleton, Kangaroo Island (SA), Victoria/Daly District, Darwin (NT), Kalgoorlie, (WA), Hobart (TAS), Mt Ainslie (ACT), overseas in Singapore and other nations. Every state and territory was covered in prayer.

Hundreds of Christians from 20 cities and towns across Australia gathered on top of Mount Ainslie in Canberra to pray from 10am – 12pm on Saturday 14th August. They came from Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle, Young, Merimbula, Bega, Cootamundra, Culcairn, Gosford, Griffith and many other places across Australia. There were Christians from 35 different churches, which included Catholic Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and others.  It was also very encouraging to see that these prayer warriors represented 40 different nationalities, all who are now Australians and call Australia home.

The prayer operation was a great success. Pastor Daniel led the meeting along with many other Pastors who were there. There was powerfully anointed praise and worship led from the back of an open truck which was used as a stage by brother Peter Madden from Sydney. Christians were weeping and repenting of the sins of the Church and the nation. As the crowd increased the police arrived, blocked the street and diverted the traffic, as many kneeled on the street, some lying prostrate and crying to the Lord.  Many others waved banners, played their tambourines and danced in the presence of the Lord.

There were moments of high praise as the people shouted in Hebrew ‘RUA, RUA, RUA’ which means in Hebrew ‘God has given us victory over our enemies’!  Then the shofars blasted from every direction with claps and shouts of joyful proclamation that Jesus is the reigning King of kings and LORD of lords!

Many commented that they had never seen anything like this in Australia in all their life. Yes, indeed it was a day of history making for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Even though the weather was very cold, nothing could stop the brave prayer warriors from storming heaven in prayer. Glory to God, even though there were many rain clouds, the Lord held the rain back so that we could carry out our spiritual warfare prayer assignment.

There were around a dozen homosexual activists, Australian Sex Party members and a few atheists, but they were all very silent, unlikely to the spiritual warfare prayer assignment on Mount Ainslie last year in October. Praise God that the main guy who opposed us last year, a local Satanist leader, is now a born-again Christian who is in regular contact with Pastor Daniel.

Pastor Daniel stated, “I want to personally thank every single person who joined us in prayer from across Australia and a special thank you to all who sacrificed and made the trip to Canberra to be on Mt Ainslie. All of you are true soldiers of the Cross. With this new breed of prayer warriors rising up all across Australia, I am sure we are going to see our nation come back to Jesus. I am so proud of all you wonderful people who responded to the PRAYER CALL for our nation’s transformation!”

Several national newspapers reported on the prayer assault including, The Sunday Canberra Times (15th August) which published an article (and photo) titled Hundreds throng Mt Ainslie for ‘prayer offensive’.  Click the following link to read the Canberra Times article.

http://catchthefire.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/mt-anslie.pdf

We believe that we have dealt a heavy blow to Satan’s kingdom and are hoping for a righteous outcome this Saturday 21st August at our Federal Election.

Please note that this Thursday the 19th to Saturday the 21st August is 3 days of fasting and prayer. I am sure you will join with us to storm heaven once again for the Federal Election.

Rising Up Australia and the Nations as His Kingdom Comes,

Jason Golden
Catch the Fire Ministries

Let me start by saying that our battle is not against flesh & blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness in high places (Eph. 6:11-12).

We as pastors and Christian leaders are accountable to God to lead the flock He has entrusted into our hands in the right path. We must stop being politically correct, and return to being biblically correct.  We desperately need your faithful intercessory prayer support (1 Timothy 2:1-7).

In the last few days I have received several phone calls and emails from Christians (including pastors and other Christian leaders) around the country asking me as to why Australian Christian Lobby appears to be promoting self-confessing atheist Julia Gillard for PM in this election and why the Senior Pastor of City Life Church recently stated in the Age newspaper on 6th August that he was not overly concerned by PM Julia Gillard’s atheism, ”Primarily you are looking at them to have what it takes to run the nation.”

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/gillard-bid-to-win-back-christians-20100805-11krh.html

I personally called the Senior Pastor to speak to him, but he was out of the country, so I spoke to his personal assistant who was very kind and cooperative in assuring me that she will talk to him and get back to me. As promised she did call me and confirmed that the Pastor had spoken to the Age newspaper journalist and that his response was on his blog.

I read through his blog, but could not find a clear answer to the question as to whether or not it concerned him that the PM was an atheist, so I also contacted the Age journalist who told me that his question to the Pastor about his concern over the PM’s atheism was very straight forward. For which the Pastor responded by saying, ”Primarily you are looking at them to have what it takes to run the nation.” 

We also recently read in the news media and on the ACL website that ACL (Australian Christian Lobby) was successful in getting PM Julia Gillard to speak to the Christian voters through the ACL website, where she made several promises in order to win back the Christian vote.

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/gillard-pitches-to-christian-voters-20100807-11pih.html

The question we all need to ask is, “Was PM Gillard genuine or was she simply making promises that she will never deliver. I was surprised when I heard that ACL was giving such a forum to Julia Gillard, knowing very well that she is an atheist. Many asked me “Why is ACL doing this again as they did the same with Rudd?” I honestly cannot understand how a Christian leader could give an atheist such a platform to mislead the Christian voters.

Last week I was surprised to read in the latest ACL news that they still speak of Kevin Rudd as a true Christian. How can Rudd be a true Christian, when he refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God.  Furthermore, within one week of becoming PM he stated that “he will not look to God for advice but to his public servants.” Of course, what you sow is what you reap as his public servants did get him out before even he finished one term as PM.  Then in his closing speech as PM, he mocked God by referring to Him as ‘him or her’.

Mr Rudd constantly stated that he was a ‘garden variety Christian, whatever that means. I wonder as to how many Christians, pastors and leaders included, are the same. If they cannot see what is so plain and simple, it will be a very sad ending as many Christian sheep will be mislead by these Christian shepherds. (Gal 2:11-14, 2 Tim 2: 16-18 & 4:14, Titus 1:12-16)

PM Gillard promised that she will give more funding for chaplains. Yes she might do so, but could it be that she will remove all Christian chaplains and replace them with secular chaplains with atheistic values?? Can she keep a promise?? When she herself does not value marriage, how could you trust her not to give the homosexual community marriage rights??

I am shocked that some Christians leaders could even state that they are willing to have an atheist as the PM.  Ms Gillard publically stated that she is an atheist who does not believe in God. Now she has suddenly promised to give 1.5 million dollars to the catholic church in order to make a saint of Mary MacKilliop because she wants to win back the catholic vote.

How can any Bible-believing God-fearing Christian leader promote her when she is openly an atheist, very much a part of Emily’s List (pro-abortion) Fabien society (socialism) living in an de-facto relationship, refused to take the oath on the Bible and anti-God list goes on.  Now to make things even worse she has formed an alliance with the Greens.

I believe if Julia Gillard is elected as PM, mark my words, she will stop The Lord’s Prayer in parliament, remove Bibles from every place possible, make full term abortion available right across Australia, will give homosexuals full rights, will remove Christian chaplains out of schools, will pass laws to ban Christian evangelism and make it hard to speak the truth.  Interfaith will become the nation’s main religious force, Australia will turn against Israel,  our Judeo-Christian heritage will be completely destroyed, Islam will gain much ground like in Europe (as 8 out of 10 boats carry mostly Muslims) and the list goes on.

So we need to ask a serious question, “Are we going to continue to blindly follow the Christian shepherds who are misleading the flock?” The Word of God is clear, cleansing of a nation and judgement begins in the house of God, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:17).

I think it’s time to ask some hard questions from our leaders.

Why are many Pastors and Christian leaders not speaking out boldly to warn God’s people against the danger of an ungodly atheist Prime Minister leading our blessed nation of Australia, this Great South Land of the Holy Spirit?

You could call City Life Church in Melbourne on (03) 9871 8300 or email  Pastoral@CityLifeChurch.com

ACL in Canberra can be contacted on (02) 6259 0431 or email him at http://australianchristianlobby.org.au/contact-us/

The Bible clearly states in Joel 2:17, “Let the Priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the HEATHEN should rule over them; Wherefore should they say among the people, ‘where is their God?’”

Your brother in Christ,

Pr Daniel Nalliah

I am not just a minister, but I am also a fifth generation Aussie; I have dual citizenship. I am a citizen of heaven, as well as Australia. I have a stewardship of what He has given me here in this great land. Yet so few Christians will stand up and fight, for that God given freedom. Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia clearly states: “The Commonwealth shall not make any law establishing any religion or imposing religious observance or for prohibiting the free exercise of religion…..”Separation of Church and State’ If it were not for the Christians, we would not have these rights and freedom of speech. The press acknowledges this: “Christian principles provide the basis of our system of government, law, ethics and personal values.” (Sydney Daily Telegraph 30′12/1999).

Let me quote our founding fathers on what is called `Original Intent’: “Henry Parkes was another of our founding fathers who believed passionately in our Christian Heritage! He said: “we are pre-eminently a Christian people as our laws, our whole system of jurisprudence, our Constitution are based upon and interwoven with our Christian belief.” Sydney Morning Herald, 26/8/1885 Sir John Downer, also one of the co-authors of the Constitution wrote: Our Commonwealth of Australia will be, from this first stage, a Christian Commonwealth.” Prime Minister Deakin wrote: “God preserve this people and grant its leaders unselfish fidelity and courage to face all the trials for the sake of the brotherhood. Thy blessing has rested upon us here yesterday and we pray that it may be the means of creating and fostering throughout all Australia a Christlike citizenship.” (Alfred Deakin’s Prayers 4/6/1898).

In spite of what many people think Civil Government is a Biblical doctrine. Need proof? Jeremiah 17:9 talks about the separation of powers. Isaiah 33.22 talks about the branches of government. Ezra 7:24 is where we get the idea for exemption of Churches from taxation. While Exodus 18:21 and 22 talks about Civil Government. These are Biblical principles. This is the first time free elections are ever mentioned, and it comes from the Bible! People were told to choose leaders of 10s, S0s and 100s and thousands. That’s the basis for local, shires, state and federal elections!

All of these ideas came from the Bible, not the Koran or Buddhism! The very idea that civil government is the servant of man comes from the Bible. In fact the most used source for the writer of the Magna Carta -basis for the Westminster System and hence Australia’s - was the Bible There are over 1700 Bible verses dealing with Civil Government. Romans 13:4 says that those involved in civil government are “ministers of God”

Look at Hebrews 11..the faith hall of fame, every single person listed between verses 22 and 34 was involved in civil government. God says these are our heroes of faith. Men to look up to. Yet we have allowed special interest groups to squeeze us into their way of thinking, such as: “Christians should not be involved in government!”

A quick study of our history reveals that most of our founding fathers were Christians or at least had a heart towards God. Yet today I am denied some of my rights as a Christian. For instance in Victoria I cannot door knock or openly witness in the streets. Yet a leading Muslim cleric can go on Australian radio and call our Prime Minister `a coward’, youth can riot, attack police and carry offensive banners with foul language through our capital cities, Greenpeace can carry out acts of aggression and piracy against the Australian Navy in Sydney. How come?

Yet two Christians are being taken before the Victorian Tribunal for racial/religious vilification for nothing more than quoting from the Muslim’s Koran! How come’? Australians live under the impression that the constitution governs Australia. This is a misunderstanding. It is not the constitution that governs the land.
Government! Men are the substance and men must do the business! What the Constitution does is show us how we put people into office. If we vote crummy people into office. There’s no guarantee that the constitution will work! Think about this from a Biblical standpoint. There has never been a country in the history of the world that has had better civil laws than Israel. God himself wrote their laws. That’s as good as it gets! But how did civil law work for them under Ahab, Jezebel, Mannasa and other bad King’s? What’s the good of having good laws if we elect bad leaders?

The constitution does not guarantee anything under bad leaders. \k ho’s responsible for electing bad leaders? We are! If we don’t put right leaders into office, the document is worthless! What is the single most quoted Bible verse dealing with civil government? Proverbs 29:2 it is not how good our laws are, it’s how good our leaders are!

This Verse means nothing if you are living in Cuba, Saudi Arabia or Iraq. Why? Because they get no choice of their leaders! Here in Australia we get to choose who is going to rule over us! God told us. If’ you want to rejoice or mourn — the choice is yours! It is a stewardship government by us the people! How many Christians vote from their wallet? That’s why we get wacky judges making crazy, out of touch decisions.

We are either rebuilding our nation’s foundations or helping destroy them. Charles Finney wrote: The church must take right ground in regard to politics. Politics are part of any Christian nation and that’s because of the stewardship aspect. Christians must do their duty to their country as part of their duty to God. Australia will enjoy blessings or curses according to the course that Christians take in politics”.

I believe that the Church is accountable to God for which way our nation goes.

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

The accident occurred shortly after noon at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 31 and Alabama Hwy. 55 in McKenzine.

Reaves, who witnessed the accident, said Tony Moore, of Andalusia, was traveling southbound behind a log truck on U.S. Hwy. 31 while operating a Gitty-Up-N-Go tanker truck, carrying fuel.

Moore signaled to make a right-hand turn, Reaves said.

“At the same time, a J.B. Hunt freightliner was at the intersection of 31 and 55,” Reaves said. “That driver saw the log truck making the right turn but not the tanker. He had part of his trailer blocking both the southbound lanes of 31. At the same time, Moore got over into the left lane to pass the log truck. He turned to keep from hitting the J.B. Hunt truck. He turned it sideways, and his trailer got sideways, and he flipped twice.”

The freightliner was driven by Bobbi Carroll from Kinston.

Reaves said he had been in law enforcement for the past 25 years and said he had “never been so scared in his life.”

“The gas fumes were so strong; gas was pouring out, and Moore was pinned in,” he said. “A fireman stopped and went with me, and we kept pulling.  Moore got up on his feet, and it took all we could do to tote him.”

Reaves said they were finally able to free Moore and move him away from the wreckage. He was then transported to Georgiana Hospital and later transferred to a Montgomery trauma center.

“If it weren’t for Jesus Christ, we would have all blown up,” he said. “It was an act of God.”

Reaves said Carroll is being charged with failure to yield the right-of-way pending further investigation.

Tue, May. 04 2010

The following are excerpts from the interview.

CP: How old are you?

James: I’m 27 now.

CP: You talk a lot in your book about Islam’s view of women and how Muslim men treat women based on the teachings of the Quran. So is it true what critics of Islam say – that the religion teaches that you can beat your wife, women have no value, and martyrs are promised to go to heaven where virgins await them?

James: Yes, well the Quran says in the fourth Surah (chapter) in verse 34 that if your wife is not obedient you are allowed to beat her. That is what the Quran says, you know. In Islamic countries, like Pakistan, Afghanistan, there is sharia law. And sharia law takes the Quran and that is how they judge. They take verses from the Quran and say it is written in the Quran that is why the women has to be obedient and if she is not you are allowed to beat her. That is the way it is.

Sabatina EV is my organization and there are a lot of Muslim women who come to us. We have girls who were married when they were 13 years old. In Hamburg, for example, there is one, a girl who is from Afghanistan who was married when she was 13 years old. But people do not talk about it because if you say something that is critical about Islam people would immediately say you are racist. And what they do not understand is that this is not about racism but about human rights. If you are living in a democracy you have to protect the human rights and it does not matter if your religion says you are allowed to beat your wife.

When I was a small child it was my wish to die for Allah one day – you asked about the suicide bombers. I didn’t know what to expect in heaven but I was sure this is the only way to get to heaven because there is no guarantee for Muslims to know whether Allah will forgive him his sins or not. But if you die for Allah then you are guaranteed that you and your family will go to heaven; that is what you are taught in the Quran schools. And I was ten years old when I read the Quran and my grandfather, who just died, was a mullah and I learned the Quran from him in Arabic. For me it was normal.

When I was ten years old I went to Austria and I definitely didn’t want to die then. But still I have that desire in my heart that one day Allah will give me the strength to do something like that; that I will kill some non-Muslims and go to heaven. Something quite normal.

CP: So even if a child doesn’t go to a radical Quran school but just living in society a child has these suicide bomber thoughts?

James: Yes. You know the society is like that. I am from Pakistan and the police man who protects me – I’m under police protection – he said that Pakistan is now the most dangerous land in the world.
I was in Pakistan in 2008 and I cried a lot when I was there because it was like Armageddon. Like things can’t get worse then they are there, especially for Christians and for the women. I interviewed a woman and she lost her son in the Pakistani army because in Pakistan if you murder somebody there is death penalty. And in the army where the Christian boy was, Muslim killed another Muslim but they say he did it. He is Christian and didn’t do it but was in prison. They beat him, locked him up and he was raped by homosexuals and then hanged.

And his father when he found out his son was in prison and everything he had a heart attack and died. I interviewed the mom of the guy who died. It was really hard because he was also engaged to a girl and now she doesn’t talk anymore. I couldn’t do anything. That day when I met this woman, the way she was crying and I saw the fiancé of the guy who died, I was so ashamed of what I hear in the Western countries about dialogue is good and we are living peacefully with each other. This is just not true. There are millions of people who are tortured and people just do not want to talk about it because they are afraid of Islam.

CP: In your book, it is interesting that you say your family lived in a Western country but they still feel they can enact sharia law on you – the honor killing. Why is that? Why do they think they can live under their Muslim rules when that is illegal in the country they live in?

James: The thing is that when Muslims come to a Christian country they think that everybody around them is Christian. And when they see how Christians live – for example, nobody is going to church, they don’t believe in God and make jokes about Jesus – for me as a Muslim that was disgusting. For us, people from the Muslim background, God is something very, very, very special. He is the most important authority in our lives. And if Christians do joke about it and say that we don’t care about God, then Muslims feel they have to be even more protective of their children so they don’t become like the Europeans.

So that is why they say it is better that our daughters do not become like German or European girls because it is normal that they are having sex before marriage; they do not want that. They do not make the difference between born-again Christians and people who go to church once a year at Christmas time.

And when they enter Europe or America, they do not just leave their thinking or religion at the airport. They bring it with them and they want to live with it. They are just coming here to the Western countries because of the money and better jobs. Otherwise they wouldn’t be so serious about building mosques.

When I was in America, I listened to the speech of Mr. Barack Obama when he was in Egypt. I really hoped that he would say something about the persecuted Christians in Egypt. But he didn’t say a word about it. He spoke about the holy prophet, about the Quran and it was so disgusting to me because I was like, “Okay, you are saying things about the prophet but why don’t you protect – if you are a Christian and have such influence – why don’t you say, ‘Look, we want to have dialogue with Islamic countries and you are allowed to build mosques so we should also be allowed to build our churches in Egypt and Christians shouldn’t be tortured in prison.’” But he didn’t say a word about it. And that is what I hate about politics. They do not care about the real things that are going on and human rights.
CP: In your book you said that President Obama’s Cairo speech was like a slap in the face to persecuted Christians. Do you think that a lot of Christians feel the same way as you?

James: Oh definitely because I am one of them. I am one of the converts. I am myself living under police protection. And I was in America because I fled from Germany for awhile because of security reason. I was living with a Pakistani Christian family. I definitely didn’t have a home. I went from one apartment to another and I was like why is nobody talking about that. I have a lot of contacts with converts, people who have left Islam and converted to Christianity, and they all say, “You know, nobody speaks for us.”

That is why I am so happy that this book of mine is such a huge success in Europe. People have to read it and people have to know what is going on in the Islamic world and why do brothers kill their sisters because of honor. Why they kill each other.

CP: So are you saying you think President Obama should have spoken differently to the Islamic world?

James: Definitely. A man of such influence should definitely speak differently. He should have said that he feels for the people sitting in prison and maybe somehow listening to the speech. Even if he said something like that it would be good. But he didn’t even mention it.

CP: Under President Bush there was a lot of tension between the Muslim world and the United States. I understand that President Obama is trying to ease that tension and work together. But do you think that is going to help bring peace?

James: Oh no, definitely not. I definitely believe that dialogue can only be accomplished if the two parties agree with each other that we are willing to help each other and listen to each other. But the thing is the Western people are doing the dialogue but it is a monologue. They are just building the mosques and allowing the Muslims to do whatever they want in Europe. But what about the Christians? Muslim countries are not doing anything to help the Christian people there. So this is not dialogue and not helping anybody.

CP: How can Western Christians help women who are in similar situations as you were previously?

James: Yes. What Christians can do is these women they flee from home they don’t have anything. They don’t have a family, don’t have any finances, they don’t have anything. What they really need is people who say that you are welcome to our family.

They do not always want to go to a shelter home because they think that only bad women go to shelter home. So what they need is a family.

For example, I am now not living in my own apartment. I am living with some friends of mine in Germany because I move from one apartment to another since the death sentence from my father. Sixteen times I have moved my place since 2001, and now again I am living with friends. I do not have my own apartment and I was thinking and asking God where he wants me to go next.
Today, I was reading Paul. I think that I can somehow understand how he lives. It gave me so much hope because the apostles live like that so I’m not the only one. And Apostle Paul was persecuted a lot and I am not in prison and I have influence in Germany and people read my book.

What we need is Christians to speak out that they are there for them and let them know that if I go away from home there is hope for me and somebody may be my family.

You know it is very hard to be without your father, your mother and to leave everything behind you. I cried many, many nights and felt alone and just a few days ago I was like, “God, I don’t think there is anybody who can understand what I’m going through because nobody in the Western community goes through something like that.” That if they decide for Jesus their family persecutes them.

When I established my organization we got stressed from Muslims, but still I am going forward. I said God needs women who go forward and are brave and do His work. That is why I say, “Okay God, I will do it like Queen Esther, ‘If I die, I die.’ But I want to accomplish what you have said to me and I want to help Muslim women.”

CP: You talked about the contrast you saw between Islam’s treatment of women and Christianity, especially Jesus’ treatment of women. Can you talk about that contrast and some of the others that made you want to be a follower of Jesus?

James: You know for me, I was really a follower of Islam because God was very important for me. But I tried my best to please Allah but I somehow felt that Allah didn’t answer any of my questions even if I was doing my best to please him.

One day I had a classmate and I said to him, “I have so many troubles at home and I don’t know what to do.” He said to me, “You have to pray.” I said to him, “I pray five times a day and you Christians only pray on Sundays.” And he said, “Yeah, maybe you are praying to the wrong God.”

At Christmas he gave me a Bible and I was sitting at my bed at night and my parents were sleeping. I prayed to Allah and said, “Who are you Allah? Are you Jesus? Are you Muhammad?” I was so confused because there are so many religions. I somehow felt that I should open up the Bible. When I was a child I heard that if you open the Bible or read the Bible you get cancer and I was afraid. But still I don’t know what it is but a feeling saying open the Bible.

When I opened it I read a sentence and it was written there that “whoever searches for me with a pure heart will find me.” And for me that was like an answer. I ask who are you and he gave me an answer.

After that I asked why didn’t that happen with the Quran even though I read the Quran every day, and I’m opening up this Bible for the first time and it’s just there. After some time I started to read New Testament and there was one figure in the Bible that touched my heart and that was Jesus.

For example, when the woman should be stoned but he was the one who protected her. I felt so good when I read that Jesus talked to the women, they didn’t need to be killed when they came to him, or didn’t beat them up or something. Prophet Muhammad was 50-year-old when he married a nine-year-old girl, Aisha. This is the example that my parents follow but Jesus didn’t do anything like that.
CP: What is the best way for Christians to share the faith with Muslims? You said for you it was the Bible and a Christian friend?

James: I think every individual is different. You can’t say that there is a recipe. But I think a great impact on Muslim is Christians who know what they believe in and they are courageous, brave and protect their rights. Because if Christians let Muslims do whatever they want and do not speak out for the persecuted church, for example, then they think that they are weak. They think Christianity is weak, we are strong. That is why they want to make every state into an Islamic state. Christians should be courageous and speak out and say, “Look, we love you, you are welcome in our country but we have rules in this country and if you do not follow these rules you have to go back.”

CP: Is there anything else you want to add?

James: Our lives have a great impact on Muslims, how we live. For example, with my Christian classmate, he was the only one in that school who, in my opinion, knew the Bible. Everybody else was like they go to church for Christmas. I was like, “Okay, we are Muslims and we have to bring them religion because they don’t have any.”

We have a message of hope and we have to bring this message to the Muslim world. There are a lot of Muslims living in trouble, for example asylum homes. Jesus always helped people and then people say what is so special about the man. Do not only speak about mercy and grace, but do what you say.

A massive online campaign by the Avaaz community in Brazil has just won a stunning victory against corruption.

The “clean record” law was a bold proposal that banned any politician convicted of crimes like corruption and money laundering from running for office. With nearly 25% of the Congress under investigation for corruption, most said it would never pass. But after Avaaz launched the largest online campaign in Brazilian history, helping to build a petition of over 2 million signatures, 500,000 online actions, and tens of thousands of phone calls, we won!

Avaaz members fought corrupt congressmen daily as they tried every trick in the book to kill, delay, amend, and weaken the bill, and won the day every time. The bill passed Congress, and already over 330 candidates for office face disqualification!

One Brazilian member wrote to us when the law was passed, saying:

I have never been as proud of the Brazilian people as I am today! Congratulations to all that have signed. Today I feel like an actual citizen with political power. — SilviaOur strategy in Brazil was simple: make a solution so popular and visible that it can’t be opposed, and be so vigilant that we can’t be ignored.

This victory shows what our community can do - at a national level, in developing nations, and on the awful problem of corruption. Anywhere in the world, we can build legislative proposals to clean up corruption in government, back them up with massive citizen support, and fight legislators who try to block them.

France’s Le Monde called our “impressive and unprecedented petition” campaign a “spectacular political and moral victory for civil society.” And while this victory may be a first, we can make it the precedent for global citizen action.

Amazingly, our entire Brazil campaign was made possible by just a couple of Avaaz team members, serving over 600,000 Avaaz members in Brazil. The power of the Avaaz model is that technology can enable a tiny team to help millions of people work together on the most pressing issues. It’s one of the most powerful ways a small donation can make a difference in the world.

5.6 million of us are reading this post — if a small fraction of us donate just $3 or $5 per week, or 50 cents per day, the entire Avaaz team will be funded and we can even expand our work on corruption and a range of issues. Click below to become a Sustainer of Avaaz and help take our anti-corruption campaigning global:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/ficha_limpa_reportback/?vl

We’ve seen the heart-wrenching movies about street kids and desperate urban poverty in Brazil, and we know that across the world political corruption preys on our communities and saps human potential. In Brazil, our community has helped turn the tide and usher in a new era of transparent, accountable politics. Let’s seize the opportunity and begin to fight corruption everywhere it’s needed today.

With hope,

Ricken, Luis, Graziela, David, Ben, Maria Paz, Benjamin and the entire Avaaz Team