On July 4, unknown assailants attacked a college professor, severing his right hand and part of his arm in Kerala, India. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts T.J. Joseph, a professor at Newman's College in Thodupuzha, was returning from a Sunday service at his church when a van pulled up beside him. The assailants forced him from his car and attacked him with knives and swords, amputating his lower arm and inflicting deep wounds to his body. At last report, doctors were attempting to save his limb.

“I want to talk to you about an unusual gift,” said the Chinese father to his beautiful, black-haired daughter. She smiled with anticipation. She loved it when her wise father shared special lessons about God. He loved Christ, and everyone who knew him was touched with his kindness and compassion.

This story comes from Fox News radio and it is just another story that we've seen quite a few times this year. This one involves a Pastor from North Carolina who was told he could not pray using the name of Jesus for the full week he was the honorary chaplain of the House of Representatives.

Breaking now on many of the news wires is this story concerning the Baptist Temple, which is a historic church in New York City, that was on fire last night. According to the Associated Press four firefighters were injured when trying to put out the blaze.

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. - Matthew 10;22

On June 23, two Assemblies of God pastors, Shiju Kuriakose and Jayan, were attacked by unknown assailants, according to VOM contacts.

Imagine with me for a second if your city government had decided to shut down your church and board it up so that you could not use it. What do you think your pastor would do? Would he just give up and say, "Okay folks, we're not having church any more" or do you think that he would call to keep having church except outside of the boarded up building? - I find this a thoughtful question to think about.