Let us begin this week with another great devotion from the best selling book Extreme Devotion, which makes a great Christmas gift. You may buy a few here. :)

Where there is no cross, there is no crown. This lesson cannot be learned from books, and men do not usually taste this sweetness. This rich life does not exist in a comfortable environment. If the spices are not refined to become oil, the fragrance of the perfume cannot flow forth; and if the grapes are not crushed in the vat, they will not become wine.

We encourage you to continue writing him letters and to continue praying. We also encourage you to write to the Vietnamese government requesting Father Van Ly's release. Please send this e-mail to others who have a heart for persecuted believers, and encourage them to write. Get involved. Pray and write today! Click here to visit http://www.prisoneralert.com

This is a must read press release from our good friends at China Aid.

Last night I was at a dinner meeting where I heard a great testimony from a man who went to Africa to hand out bibles and share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and one story I heard pierced my heart, as it was about 800 African children who walked 20 miles with their 3 teachers, after getting up at 3 AM to start their journey. The reason these kids walked 20 miles was because they were going to a place where they were told they would receive a free New Testament.

Today we have another devotion from the wonderful book Extreme Devotion.

A very interesting article appears on The Parliament website today concerning statements made by the "controversial" Slovakian deputy Anna Zaborska at a recent conference dealing with religious freedom.

This morning I was talking to a friend who was telling me they were going to the Philippines soon and that got me thinking about how the Lord has used Filipino friends in my life to take me to church when I was younger. I also have a wonderful Filipino Christian neighbor who I absolutely love, and the culture of the Philippines is something I also love. So as I was thinking about all of the blessings that I have been given, as a result of my friends from that nation, I had to share with you all that sadly, there is a part of the Philippines called Mindanao that is suffering from Muslim persecution.

Lately we've been sharing with you a few of the things that are happening in regards to Christianity being under attack here in America. Today I found this interesting article about how the Gideons are coming under attack for wanting to give bibles in schools.

Our friends at Mission Network News are reporting this story today. Please prayerfully read the story and say a prayer for those in Pakistan, and also for Asher and his precious family.