The new year is just around the corner - can you believe it! Well, I thought that I would end this year with a brief run down of the most famous martyrs we all know and love and how they died. Yes, I know this is uplifting isn't it...well, it really is when you consider why they died, for Whom they died, and you look at their examples for inspiration. These are the fathers of our Christian faith.

Today, December 28th, we see on the general Roman Catholic calendar of saints to remember the Massacre of the Innocents.

INDIA – On December 23, 2006, Hindu extremists burnt down a church and disrupted services in several Indian states. They continued their harassment and arrested carol-singers on Christmas Eve.

CUBA – A Cuban court acquitted Rev. Carlos Lamelas of human trafficking, but convicted him on previously unannounced charges of falsification of documents.

Yesterday after I found out it was St. Stephen's Day I did some research on how that day came to be. What I found out was really very cool. I found out that there is a calendar of saints that the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Canadian, Episcopal and Orthodox churches have to remember saints of old.

Here it is the end of 2006 and I'm not sure about you, but it feels like this year just started a few weeks ago. Maybe it's because I'm getting close to 40 and the years are flying on by! :) Or maybe it's just that I feel sentimental near the end of the year. Whatever the case, I'm amazed by all that has taken place this year regarding our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.

When the year ends we start wondering what changes have to be made in our lives for the coming year. Most of us want to lose weight, buy a membership to the gym or decide to take up a new hobby which will “enhance” our quality of life. Unfortunately, the excitement lasts until maybe March and then we fall off the wagon and slip back into our old habits.

I LOVE the way the Lord works in my life and I totally love how He is constantly reminding me through various means about the saints of old who were martyred for their faith. This morning I was reading my email and I received an email from Pastor Steve, a friend of mine I work with at the Lutheran church, and he was reminding us that today is St. Stephen's Day - yes, that's right, December 26th is St. Stephen's Day.

With 2007 coming up quick on us in a few days I thought that I would highlight for you a great program that you may want to make part of your 2007. Why not become a volunteer with The Voice of the Martyrs next year?

On this day after Christmas I thought I'd share with you about how much I totally love Bibles Unbound. This morning my husband, who is recovering from this yucky flu he had all day yesterday, and I mailed out 5 more bibles to China!