I meditate here on the words of Jesus: “that whoever believes in him shall . . . have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

I am among criminals. It is an understatement that men can become like animals. Animals are without sin. But the men surrounding me in jail reach depths of devilish darkness unreachable for animals.

It would be easier to live in a stable than among these criminals. Every word of theirs is filthy, every gesture repugnant. “Their throats are open graves. . . .
Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 
(Romans 3:13–14)

But against this background shines the extraordinary love of God. For it is true that whosoever believes—even men like these—can have eternal life. God sent me to prison to bring them this Good News.

A LETTER FROM A RUSSIAN CHRISTIAN PRISONER

Compass Direct and China Aid are both reporting the good news that Wusiman Yiming has been released after two years in prison.  Here's part of the China Aid press release:

November 24, 2009

XINJIANG--Uyghur Christian house church leader Wusiman Yiming was officially released on Wednesday November 18, 2009 (Beijing Time). After serving two years in Laogai (labor) camp, he has been finally reunited with his wife and two young children. Because of his Christian leadership among the Uyghur people, Wusiman Yiming was sentenced to criminal detention "for the crime of divulging State secrets" by the State Security Bureau of Southern Xinjiang, Hetian City, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in September of 2007. He was then secretly sentenced in November, 2007, to two years of 're-education through labor' by the Re-education Labor Committee of Hetian City.

A source who spoke with brother Wusiman informed ChinaAid that brother Wusiman "looks fragile but has a very strong spirit." Wusiman reportedly asked ChinaAid to extend his heartfelt thanks to all those who have been providing care and help to his family members during the past two difficult years.

 

"We are very glad to hear this news of brother Wusiman's release, " said Bob Fu. "We call upon the Xinjiang government to stop religious persecution against these innocent Christians. We ask the Chinese central government authority to order the release of the other innocent Uyghur Christian brother, Alimujiang Yimiti, who has been illegally detained in the same case without a verdict for over two years already. The persecutors of these two individuals should be held accountable."  Click here for the full story.  

With Thanksgiving coming up in a few days, the media has been covering the upcoming state dinner that President Obama is hosting at the Whitehouse, and it has not gone unnoticed by many of us who are watching and wondering what he is going to do about persecution that is taking place in India.  

If you have read this blog for any length of time, then you know we have covered the horrible Christian persecution that has taken place all year long, and has been on the rise, especially in Orissa this year.  Will the President address this at the state dinner?  We'll see.

The Family Research Council wonders about this on their blog today.  Here is an excerpt...

India is also a nation rife with problems that dwarf those in our own: Massive corruption that stultifies economic growth and robs the poor of needed resources; endemic poverty affecting tens of millions; a weak educational system, fraught with caste-system bias; nearly 300 million Dalits, or “untouchables,” viewed in Hindu theology as sub-human and treated with contempt by their own society.  Sexual slavery and human trafficking also present profound and enduring challenges to all conscientious Indian political leaders.

Religious persecution in India is also on the rise.  Such Web sites as Open Doors, Catholic Online andVoice of the Martyrs provide chilling descriptions of what happens to Christians who stand for their faith in areas where devout Hindu and Muslim activists are determined to squash Christian faith violently.

What do you think?  Should President Obama discuss Christian persecution and human rights abuses at the state dinner.  Please comment.

                          With Christmas just around the corner, one of the things we all wonder is what kind of gift can we get someone we love.  Well, why not add this question - how can I give a gift of love to someone I do not know, and this year make it a child who is in Vietnam. 

The Voice of the Martyrs has a great plan to do just that, with the Vietnam Christmas Care program.  For only 25.00 you can send items that are desperately needed to these children in persecuted Vietnam and other areas.

Your pack may include clothes, school supplies, personal hygiene  products, toys and books.

Please click here to learn more, and why not get your children's Sunday school class involved, so that they can make a difference.

Diana was only nineteen when her father was sent to prison for his faith. She and her sister Floarea were left in charge of the family, but soon they lost their factory jobs because of their father’s imprisonment.

    With a sick mother and four younger siblings at home, Diana and Floarea were desperate. So when a young man called them and said he could get Diana a work permit, they were ecstatic. She met him for dinner, where he gave her plenty of wine and then seduced her. Afterward, he gave her some money, and this became a pattern. Nothing more was said about a work permit, and Diana accepted the money because she was so desperate. 

    Diana continued to prostitute herself in order to support the family, although she was filled with guilt. Soon her sister became involved, and together they hid their shame.

    Now, as they looked into the face of their mother, they said, “How can you forgive us? We thought you would be disgusted.”

    She offered them words of love and comfort, “You feel shame over what you have done, and so you should. But this sense of shame and guilt will lead you to a shining righteousness. Remember, the soldiers not so much pierced Christ’s side as ‘opened’ it, that sinners might easily enter his heart and find forgiveness.”

Being sorry for our sin and feeling sorry for ourselves are two different things. Many people who go through suffering feel sorry for themselves. They are all too eager to blame others for their misfortune. How tempting it would have been for the girls in this story to blame their mistakes on their father. “If he was not a Christian, then he would not have been arrested, and we would not be in this mess.” Yet they came to their mother with true shame and repentance for their willful disobedience. And they found forgiveness. Godly sorrow leads to repentance, which leads to forgiveness. Are you feeling sorry for yourself in your sufferings? Watch out! It can quickly lead you to disobedience.

This week Todd and Mark talk about Ethiopia, China and Iran. Also an audio segment revealing some of VOM’s history.

You can listen here.

Moscow is in shock after an unknown masked gunman shot dead an Orthodox priest in his own church. Father Daniil Sysoev was known for his debates with people of different beliefs. Shortly before his death, Father Daniil claimed in his Internet Blog that he had received 14 threats from Muslims.

Here's a related article on this tragedy. Click here.

Fox News has a very interesting article today on muslim nations that are seeking to ban blasphemy.  Click here to read the full article.

GENEVA —  Four years after cartoons of the prophet Muhammad set off violent protests across the Muslim world, Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially a ban on blasphemy that would put them on a collision course with free speech laws in the West.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that Algeria and Pakistan have taken the lead in lobbying to eventually bring the proposal to a vote in the U.N. General Assembly.

If ratified in countries that enshrine freedom of expression as a fundamental right, such a treaty would require them to limit free speech if it risks seriously offending religious believers. The process, though, will take years and no showdown is imminent.

The proposal faces stiff resistance from Western countries, including the United States, which in the past has brushed aside other U.N. treaties, such as one on the protection of migrant workers.

Experts say the bid stands some chance of eventual success if Muslim countries persist. And whatever the outcome, the campaign risks reigniting tensions between Muslims and the West that President Barack Obama has pledged to heal, reviving fears of a "clash of civilizations."

What do you think of these proposals?  Good idea?  Bad Idea?  Sound off.

If you follow VOM on Facebook, then you already know about this special prayer request, but if you don't, I wanted to tell you about it so that you can offer a prayer for our friend in Turkey who will be debating and Islamic scholar.  And if you are not yet apart of our Facebook Fan page, please see the right side bar of this page and join us today.  

Thank you for praying!  We love you!

A believer in Turkey has been asked to appear THIS FRIDAY on national TV to debate with an Islamic scholar on the reliability of the New Testament. Pray for wisdom for him, and the ability to clearly speak Truth (John 14:6).

With the exciting news of the release of Maryam and Marzieh, let me remind you that our brother Gao Zhisheng is still missing and we are still trying to find out how his health is and where he has been taken. 

We do know from recent reports that Gao is living, however we need to continue to put pressure on government officials, as well as pray, so that Gao will become free just like Maryam and Marzieh.

Here's more information from China Aid and The Voice of the Martyrs.

Even after delivering over 106,000 signed petitions to the Chinese embassy, officials there have refused to provide any further details of human rights attorney, Gao Zhisheng's whereabouts or physical condition.

During recent committee hearings in Washington D.C., six Chinese human rights legal defenders spoke on the human rights abuses in China, including the specific case of Gao Zhisheng.

A number of concerned US government officials, including Rep. Frank Wolf and Rep. Chris Smith, committed to continue putting pressure on the Chinese government. Thirty U.S. House Representatives then signed a Congressional Letter to President Obama on November 10th, calling on him to raise awareness of human rights issues while in China - listing the treatment of human rights lawyers first.

Most U.S. Representatives remain unaware of the kidnapping and brutal torture of Gao, a man nominated for the Nobel peace prize in 2008.

And they will remain unaware unless we take action.

We have set up a special page on www.FreeGao.com to assist you in contacting your state representative by email and making him or her aware of Gao Zhisheng's tragic situation.

After entering your email address, you will receive complete instructions from China Aid on how to send your message. The whole process will take you less than 10 minutes.

You will also have the opportunity to make a financial contribution to help China Aid keep this campaign and others like it moving forward and ultimately to free wrongly persecuted individuals like Gao Zhisheng.

Please remember to share this campaign with your friends and family. The more voices we add to the petition and hold our US Representatives accountable through our emails, the greater the volume of the outcry and the stronger chance we have of helping return Gao to his family.

For complete instructions on contacting your state representative on behalf of Gao Zhisheng, please follow the link below.

www.FreeGao.com/actionsteps

Thank you for taking action today!