I don’t blog enough about Christian bloggers and sites. I’m stuck on the one-note political posts, and I’ve got to get out of the rut. Look for a few format changes at LBC.
I blogged about Stacy Harp and one of her businesses, Mind & Media, last week. Stacy promotes Christian products, including books and DVDs. She always needs book reviewers, so if you’re inclined to do more reading and writing, contact her and request a review copy. Your payment will be a growing library of good (and free) Christian books and improved writing skills.
Stacy also hosts Christian Persecution Blog, which provides news about persecuted Christians around the world. American Christians, including myself, complain about media bias against Christ followers and the hostility of the godless, but we don’t know what persecution is.
Last Sunday my pastor talked about a Bible study class he taught in some Middle Eastern country (can’t remember which). He said his 21-year-old interpreter became a Christian when she was about 17, and her Muslim father beat her repeatedly to get her to reject her belief in Christ. She refused.
The pastor added that most of the people in class had similar or worse stories, but they still believed and risked their lives to study the Bible. The class was discussing a passage in 1 Peter about persecution, and he looked around the room, questioning his authority as an un-persecuted America to tell them about persecution. But all Christians are called to share the Gospel and help each other understand God’s word. We have the God-given authority to do so. The pastor knew this, of course, but he felt the way he did nonetheless.
God has foreordained a path for each of us, and most western Christians will never cross paths with real persecution. But we should always be aware of the suffering of the saints and pray, knowing He will be glorified. One day soon the suffering will cease forever. I look forward to that day, crying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
Update: You know what I was thinking? That the world would be a better place if trolls spent time reading good books (starting with the Bible) instead of trying to comment here. What’s the attraction, man?
Anyway…check out James White’s blog, pastor, Christian apologist, debater — excellent stuff for “fundamentalists” to read and hear. You can buy his debates and radio clips on his site, but he also directs readers to The Strait Gate to download free pre-2005 audio. I’ve listened to at least 75 percent, and you will learn a lot no matter how seasoned a Christian you are.
Highly recommended: Audio clips from September 15, 2001, and September 22, 2001. He discusses you-know-what from a biblical perspective. Can’t say enough good things about James White.
Mark La Roi on how to pray.
{ 23 comments }
La Shawn, how true. It’s hard for a majority of Americans to emote on this, especially when some think Gitmo is atrocious. To die simply for loving/following Jesus, even St Peter ducked that before the cock crowed thrice.
I agree we are rather spoiled here in the US with all of the religious freedoms we have not nearly the suffering of those believers in other parts of the world that have to meet in secret or if you don’t follow the state “approved†religion like in China and you are just trying to be a new testament Christian you are considered to be illegal with the full weight of the government on your back.
‘Bout time La Shawn! Looking forward to the change and the increased focus on things Christian. I too, find myself drifting toward politcs when writing.
La Shawn:
Thanks for the info about the Christian Persecution Blog!
Thanks for posting this La Shawn. It refocused my day
It’s good to consider our brothers and sisters around the world. It helps us as Americans to remember what ISN’T required to be a Christian.
Great post La Shawn. It is important to remember that there are countries in which freedom of religion does not exist. There are still people who die for their faith.
Amen, Sister!
A Christian thanks you to God for saving the life of the missing Utah boy.
Halleleujah. Thank you Lord. Praise be to you!!!
Thank you. Thank you! THANK YOU!!!
Thank you Jesus for uniting that precious little boy with his family!
Now, I ask the media to used its power to not just look for missing blonde white children (especially girls)
PLEASE GO FIND SOME OF THE MISSING BLACK AND MINORITY CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Their parents are grieving and love them just as much.
Prove to us that you aren’t racist Mr. Murdoch and FOX News Channel. Even the name Amber Alert shows where your priorities lie. How many Black kids are named Amber?
While the media celebrates the rescue of this little BLONDE WHITE boy (as we all should), thousands of little children with brown skin, brown eyes and brown eyes from poor families are missing. They are scared. They are wondering why FOX news doesn’t lead a media blitz and a search for them.
Somewhere a mother who doesn’t speak English weeps for someone to lead her precious child home. No her daughter isn’t an honor student. No she will not be attending the University of Alabama. No she couldn’t afford a drinking, partying, whoring and dope smoking trip to Aruba.
Somewhere these kids are hurt, scared, bleeding, lost and giving up hope because the AMERICAN MEDIA ONLY LOOKS FOR MISSING BLONDE WHITE CHILDREN!!!!
As happy as I am that this little boy was found alive and unharmed, I am equally OUTRAGED that now the news personalities are talking about “the story†this boy will have to tell.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could find the Rilya Wilsons of the world. If the missing child’s name is Shaniqua or Lupe’ is she not deserving of some media attention.
DISGRACEFUL is the story behind the story of these missing children. If ever anyone had reason to call you people racist, it is now.
Ray Coleman
Tampa, FL
Agree with Raymond!
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus–quickly.
Steve
DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS
Speaking of Christians in other parts of the world – I came across a disturbing article from the Phillippines re: the assassination of a Protestant minister and his aide, which brings to 5 the number of church people murdered in the Phillippines since January (along with many others who are serving the poor). According to one article, the military appears to be involved. Go to http://www.michucc.org and scroll down.
La Shawn,
I have seen nothing on any blogs about the horrible mistreatment and death of a young nun in Romania. Here’s my take on this sad story: http://www.sspvideo.com/blog//2005/06/while-scanning-news-today-i-came.html
Thanks.
Thank you all of you for writing! Feel free to come on over and comment on the persecution blog. I would love to hear your thoughts. I’ll be mentioning some of the stories you shared here today too!
I post a comment taking issue with La Shawn’s assessment of persecution of Christians and point out that it is not unique to Christianity. I do so politely and referring to my personal (and painful) experience on the subject–and the comment is almost immediately deleted and I am blocked from even viewing the website.
Is this how Christians deal with other points of view? Is this a good example to set for how to live in a world full of diverse people? How ironic that it should be in a posting about persecution and suppression.
By the way, a big Amen to Ray Coleman. The national TV and cable networks, FOX especially, have shown blatant racism and classism in their hysterical coverage of crimes against blonde, affluent girls, and nobody is calling them on it. Children of minorities and poor folk disappear and are victims of crime every minute, and they are lucky to get fleeting local coverage.
I’m blocking commenters from that particular school because a persistent troll squats there all day, trying to post on the blog. As a result, everyone using computers at that location has to suffer being blocked from my site. Life is sometimes unfair. – Admin
There is a ministry devoted to the persecuted church called, THE VOICE OF THE MARYRRS. The web site i:
http://www.persection.com
Also, Dr. Elwood McQuaid of the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry wrote a book about 2 years ago persecution of Christians around the world. The book may be puchased by going to the Friends Of Israel Web site. (FYI. the Friends of Israel Ministry was established before the re-birth of Israel).
sorry the correct site may be
http://www.persecution.com/
OCS, http://www.persecutionblog.com is the blog of VOM
Preaching to me about honesty while using a phony e-mail address and name discredits any assertion you make. No explanation required, but here it is: Whenever someone from that school posts, I block the IP. Since I don’t know the whole range of addresses, I follow the path to addresses with similar numbers to discover if the comment is being posted from there. The fact that you don’t approve of how I run this site is not my problem. – Admin
Update: I can’t believe I get all the low IQ trolls. And teenagers. Good grief. – Admin
Also, faithandfreedom.org tells of those who leave Islam. I hope you will list them too La Shawn.
If you are doing blogs by believers in Christ, feel free to visit mine as well.
LaShawn,
Great post, we need to be reminded of real persecution more often than we are. We have it very easy in this country, so much so that we too often forget that many people (most?) cannot easily accept Christ due to worldly pressures that we only read about on the internet. We had a missionary come to speak to our church some months ago and that was an eye opening experience. I will check out the persecution site.
Per Ray Coleman and others…
It’s not only non-white and non-minority victims that receive short shrift, but also economically disadvantaged.
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