Month: June 2014

‘Unique’ Religious Freedom Restrictions in Saudi Arabia

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Disturbing news from Saudi Arabia. From the Christian Post.

‘Unique’ Religious Freedom Restrictions in Saudi Arabia:

Not a Single Church Exists, Entire Country Is ‘Sacred Mosque,’

Watchdog Reveals

“Not a single church or other non-Muslim house of worship exists in the country,” says Bandar al-Aiban, the director of the Saudi National Human Rights commission. Churches are not allowed to exist “because the entire country is a ‘sacred mosque’ for Islam’s holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina.”

International Christian Concern has highlighted the extent of the restrictions in Saudi Arabia, which is officially an Islamic state, and the consequences they have on the millions of Christians, who are mostly foreign workers, living there.

“Saudi Arabia remains unique in the extent to which it restricts the public expression of any religion other than Islam,” the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its 2014 Annual Report.

Operation World estimates that close to 2 million non-Muslim foreign workers live in Saudi Arabia, and around 1.5 million of them are Christians. Statistics on how many Saudis are Christians are harder to come by, as the government does not recognize such believers, but they face a situation in which there is not a single church in the entire country where they are allowed to publicly meet.

Saudi Arabia has close to 4,000 religious police officers entrusted to enforce its Islamic laws. Leaving the Islamic faith is considered apostasy and punishable by death, with non-Islamic prisoners often pressured to convert to the religion.

Other Christian groups have also documented the intense persecution Christians face in Saudi Arabia. Open Doors ranks it at No.6 on its list where Christians face the most persecution. In 2013, it was ranked at No.2, behind North Korea.

ICC pointed out that the United States government maintains a close relationship with Saudi Arabia, and in March President Barack Obama met with King Abdullah during an overseas trip. Obama failed to call out Saudi Arabia on its severe religious freedom violations, however.

“This visit was an excellent opportunity for the president to speak up on an issue that affects millions of Saudi citizens and millions more foreign workers living in Saudi Arabia,” ICC Middle East Regional Manager Todd Daniels said then.

“Only last month the president clearly stated that promoting religious freedom is a key objective of American foreign policy, and then reaffirmed that opinion in remarks following his meeting with Pope Francis on Thursday, according to the White House. On top of this, 70 members of Congress specifically asked him to publicly address the issue, as well as other human rights concerns, with King Abdullah today. How, despite all of this, the president could stay completely silent about religious freedom during his meeting is remarkable.”

Read the article here

More Air, More Spirit

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Before going on my almost daily bike ride this afternoon, I decided to check the pressure in my tyres. I was surprised to find that they were down to only 20 psi and 30 psi instead of the preferred 50 psi . I got out  the compressor and in the space of a few minutes I corrected the problem.

When I rode, I immediately noticed the difference. Instead of slogging away,feeling as if there was a stiff wind blowing against me, I almost seemed to fly. My speed was nearly 5 km/hr faster than yesterday, and I returned home feeling refreshed rather than exhausted.

A bit of air in the tyres makes all the difference.

In the bible the words for spirit in both Hebrew and Greek can also mean breath or wind.

If we have the Holy Spirit leading our lives, directing our paths and empowering our deeds, we will find ourselves able to do more with less effort. Instead of it being all my work, I become energised by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Next Sunday the church marks Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out into the church. Lives were transformed and within a couple of generations the whole of the Roman Empire was filled with people proclaiming the message that “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Pumped up, full of the Holy Spirit- nothing can stop the man or woman of God.

Reflection on John 20:19-23

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Scripture

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Observation

Jesus appears to the disciples (minus Thomas) and at night time. The disciples are meeting in a locked room out of fear of the Jewish leaders.

Jesus greets them and shows them His wounds. He commissions them and breathes on them to impart the Holy Spirit. Those whom they forgive will be forgiven.

Application

It was a dark and fearful time for the disciples until they knew that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Jesus comes to them bringing hope, joy and the Holy Spirit. Everything changes.

The Holy Spirit is given for the mission of the church. He propels us into the world- Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth- taking the message of forgiveness and grace to all people.

Prayer

Lord, you send out your people into the world. Where are you sending me? May I walk in the grace and the power of the Holy Spirit today. Amen.

Spurgeon- The Lack of the Times

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mildorfer_pentecost340x600

“We must confess that just now we have not the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that we could wish.  Many are being converted.  I hope that few of us are labouring unsuccessfully; but we are none of us labouring as our hearts could desire.  Oh, that I could feel the Spirit of God in me, till I was filled to the brim . . . . We seek not for extraordinary excitements, those spurious attendants of genuine revivals, but we do seek for the pouring-out of the Spirit of God.  There is a secret operation which we do not understand; it is like the wind, we know not whence it cometh nor whither it goeth; yet, though we understand it not, we can and do perceive its divine effect.  It is this breath of Heaven which we want.  The Spirit is blowing upon our churches now with his genial breath, but it is as a soft evening gale.  Oh, that there would come a mighty rushing wind that should carry everything before it, so that even the dry bones of the Valley of Vision might be filled with life and be made to stand up before the Lord, an exceeding great army.  This is the lack of the times, the grand want of our country.  May this come as a blessing from the Most High.”

C. H. Spurgeon, in Lectures Delivered Before The Young Men’s Christian Association in Exeter Hall From November 1858 to February 1859 (London, 1859), pages 168-169.

Technology to Kill Coal?

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An interesting article from the ABC points out that improving and cheaper technology will make coal powered generation obsolete “within years.” The interesting observation is that “solar plus storage” will be competitive with grid-supplied electricity in many parts of the U.S. within 4 years.

I wonder how that will impact the local coal mines.

Technology, not regulation, will kill coal fired power

By business reporter Stephen Letts

Updated1 hour 20 minutes ago

Liddell power stationPHOTO: Dark clouds are hanging over the future financial viability of coal-fired power. (Mick Tsikas: Reuters)
MAP: United States

The Obama administration’s plan to reduce power plant emissions may be a bold effort to put climate change back on the political agenda, but it doesn’t exactly have the big generators in the US quivering with fear.

Not yet anyway.

In a detailed analysis, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch’s energy team argue the EPA draft rule, which mandates a 30 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, is “a relatively soft requirement.”

On BoA-Merrill Lynch figures, the rule changes to the Clean Air Act effectively amount to a 1 per cent per year reduction in carbon from 2013 levels.

The baseline year for the 30 per cent reduction is 2005, which is pretty well the peak of carbon emissions in the US – only in 2007 were emissions higher.

Since then, the closure of numerous coal fired power stations, the gradual switch to gas fired generation and lower demand have seen emissions in the US fall by about 16 per cent, making any reduction trajectory less onerous.

The BoA-Merrill Lynch team says the EPA’s move had already been anticipated by the market and is not a “material surprise” to valuations. If anything the rule changes are “a light touch”.

However, another report put out by a different investment bank two weeks before the EPA came out with its new carbon rules may give the coal burners a far greater concern for their future.

Full article here

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:1-13

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spiritual-gifts-are-not-natural-talents

Scripture

All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Observation

The Holy Spirit honours Christ, so nobody under the Spirit’s influence will say “Jesus be cursed.”

There are many gifts and services in the church, but it is the Holy Spirit who directs and activates them. Although these gifts are diverse, they are all given by the same Spirit.

The gifts are like different parts of the body. Regardless of where we come from or our social standing, the Spirit is poured out on each person for the sake of the body of Christ.

Application

The Spirit manifests through every person who is a follower of Jesus. We don’t get to pick and choose which of these manifestations we prefer- it is all at the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Some of these gifts are for revelation- words of knowledge and wisdom, discernment of spirits. Some of them are for speaking with- tongues and interpretation, prophecy. Other gifts are for action- faith, miracles and healing.

To be used by the Spirit we need to be listening to the Spirit and ready to do what He directs us to do.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and fill me. Help me to hear you and to partner with you in your mighty, holy works. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 2:1-21

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Pentecost-of-many-tongues

Scripture

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability.

Observation

The disciples are together on the Day of Pentecost. Suddenly there is a sound like a rushing wind and fiery tongues c

 

The Cost of Faith

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P1020018I met Pastor Suum at the Apostolic Summit in Rockhampton last month.

This quietly spoken, gentle man told us in his broken English about his life in Myanmar.

At one stage the local villagers were angry about his ministry. They took him out to a rice paddy and beat him severely. They abandoned him there, believing him to be dead. Friends found him and took him to hospital where it took him three months to recover. One wound to his head came perilously close to his brain.

The local authorities arrested the perpetrators, which is quite unusual in these cases.

Today he sent me some pictures of the recent “graduation” that he organised for children who attend the preschool he runs at his church. Despite some opposition and huge poverty, Suum is making a difference in his area. He works hard to educate children so that they have a chance to earn a better income and rise above the captivity of poverty. He also talks to people about Jesus so that they can be lifted out of spiritual poverty and set free for eternal life.

Suum is a reminder to me of how easy we have it in Australia in so many ways.

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