A few weeks ago I shared a video of some Chinese Christians praying for the coming 2008 Olympics to their land. I remember feeling touched in my spirit as I watched the video because if the Olympics were being held in America we wouldn't have to worry about being persecuted. We have so much to be thankful for here in America!

There is a provacative news release put out today by the Christian Defense Coalition that says that, "Their Blood Will Be On Our Hands" if Congress does a premature withdrawal of American troops in Iraq. If that happened it would lead to the persecution, torture and genocide of religious minorities in that country.

If you're like me, you were thinking a lot yesterday about all of those people who died on 9-11-01. Some of those people entered an eternity without Christ Jesus, and others entered an eternity with Him. And some people miraculously missed the flights that ended in such tragedy. This is evidence that God is in control and that it is appointed unto man, once to die, and then after that, the judgment. Today's Extreme Devotion is one of my all time favorite. Read on...

If you've been reading our blog for the last few weeks then you know that there has been some controversy about how the South Koreans were released from the terrorist Taliban. Today Compass Direct released the following story concerning some new controversy.

This past week, Compass Direct News reported that 33-year-old Nigsti Haile was tortured to death for refusing to recant her Christian faith while being held at the Wi’a Military Training Center in Eritrea. Hearing such news about a sister in Christ is always unsettling, especially when you hear discussions on whether persecution exists in Eritrea.

The early Christians were spiritual revolutionaries. In a society that worshiped idols and called those who refused “atheists,” Christians were a radical force that threatened Rome’s continuity. They went against the majority rule and so became a perceived threat to the Roman authority. They were hated so much that their deaths were not only numerous, but they were carried out with horrendous flair.

Today I was reading a daily Christian devotional, and I thought you may enjoy and also be challenged by what happened this day in Christian history in 1651. Click the link below to hear me reading the devotion.http://www.igroops.com/igroops/acm/postcard/5C9IG2XZJ6.html

Todd Nettleton alerted me to this great article written by famous author and theologian John Piper. The article talks about how 200 years ago today, September 7, China received her first missionary.

Breaking News from our friends at Compass Direct... LOS ANGELES, September 7 (Compass Direct News) – Eritrean authorities tortured a woman to death on Wednesday (September 5) for refusing to recant her Christian faith, the fourth such killing in less than a year, according to a Christian support organization. Open Doors said in a statement that it had confirmed the death of 33-year-old Migsti Haile at the Wi’a Military Training Center; she was one of 10 single Christian women arrested at a church gathering in Keren who have spent 18 months under severe pressure. On February 15, Magos Solomon Semere died under torture at the Adi-Nefase Military Confinement facility outside Assab, and last October 17, two other Christians died from torture wounds in Eritrea. Two days after Immanuel Andegergesh, 23, and Kibrom Firemichel, 30, were arrested for holding a religious service in a private home south of Asmara, they died from torture injuries and severe dehydration in a military camp outside the town of Adi-Quala, eyewitnesses told Compass. Read the full report here.Stacy's Note: I'm not sure about you, but I think the media should be reporting on these stories. I would love to know more about this precious lady, see a picture of her, learn about her family and also give them all a hug who are now left without their loved one.I also want to encourage all of you who read these stories daily, like I do, and just thank you and ask you to remember these nations in prayer. But even just as important, if you can, please take one of these blog entries and copy it and email it to your pastor or email list because more people need to know. If you do this, please email me at the link on the sidebar. Thank you so much!