Mar
22

In Prison for Faith

We are the same age – only I’m not in jail.

Asia Bibi is a 37-year-old Christian living in Pakistan. Like me, she loves the Lord and can’t help sharing His goodness. At the farm where Asia works, the other local women are Muslim. All of them.

On June 19, 2009 the discussion around the farm became heated. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam and Mohammad. Asia waited for her turn and told them about Christ. She shared how Jesus died on a cross for our sins, then asked what Mohammad had done for them.

“Jesus is alive,” she shared, “and Mohammad is dead.” The women were angered and began to beat Asia, until some men came and locked her in a room. Soon, they announced from the mosque’s loudspeakers that Asia would have her eyes blackened, so they could parade her through town on a donkey.

Before they could do any more harm, other Christians intervened and begged the police to save Asia. They took her into custody, but under the pressure from Muslim leaders, could not release her to her family.

Asia, like Paul and Silas, sits in her jail cell and prays. She hasn’t seen her children since December 2010. I cannot even imagine the heartbreak of being away from my babies so long.

Friends, this isn’t a story from ancient Bible times. This young woman is imprisoned today – in 2011. When we drive to church in air conditioned cars and sit on cushiony seats and spend an hour clapping and singing, it’s hard to imagine others don’t have that privilege. They can’t exclaim, “Praise the Lord,” in Wal-mart when they find the jelly they’ve been hunting.

Please be in prayer for Asia and her family. She is one of many.

Her story and others like it can be found on the website www.prisoneralert.com. Each of the prisoners on this website have been imprisoned for their faith. Sign up for their email to remind you to pray for these prisoners. You can also send encouraging letters to Asia and other prisoners. The site helps translate the letter in the native tongue of the incarcerated.

Want to be a sheep?

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:39-40 NIV

Carol

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May
1

Funnies for Friday

My Mom sent me these funnies in an email. I’m not sure who wrote them. I thought you might enjoy. Happy Friday!

LOT’S WIFE
The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, ‘My Mommy looked back once while she was driving,’ he announced triumphantly, ‘and she turned into a telephone pole!’

GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, ‘If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?’
A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence,’ I think I’d throw up.’

DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, ‘Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?’ ‘No,’ replied Johnny…. ‘How could he, with just two worms.’

HIGHER POWER
A Sunday school teacher said to her children, ‘We have been Learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a Higher Power.. Can anybody tell me what it is?’
One child blurted out, ‘Aces!’

MOSES AND THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School.

’Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out ofEgypt . When he got to the Red Sea , he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely…

Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.’

‘Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?’ his Mother asked.

‘Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it!’

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible – Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.

Little Rick was excited about the task – but he just couldn’t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly,
‘The Lord is my Shepherd, and that’s all I need to know.’

UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher’s 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.

‘Well, Honey,’ he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. ‘I’m asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.’

‘So, how come He doesn’t?’ she asked.

BEING THANKFUL
A rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, ‘So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That’s very commendable. What does she say?’

The little boy replied, ‘Thank God he’s in bed!’

UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER
During the minister’s prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Tommy’s mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence and, after church, asked, ‘Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?’

Tommy answered soberly, ‘I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did!’

TIME TO PRAY
A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. ‘Yes, sir.’ the boy replied.

‘And, do you always say them in the morning, too?’ the pastor asked.

‘No sir,’ the boy replied. ‘I ain’t scared in the daytime.’

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past).

For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, ‘All girls.’

This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, ‘Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?’

Her response, ‘Because everybody always finish their prayers by saying ‘All Men’!’

SAY A PRAYER
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother’s house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.

‘Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.’ said his mother.

‘I don’t need to,’ the boy replied.

‘Of course, you do.’ his mother insisted. ’We always say a prayer before eating at our house.’

‘That’s at our house.’ Johnny explained. ’But this is Grandma’s house and she knows how to cook!’