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NATIONAL
PASTORS'
PRAYER NETWORK
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PRAYER STRATEGIES & INITIATIVES -
010905
...Finding New Ways To Connect In Prayer
__Send Your City's Story or Strategy:
phil@nppn.org
__Register Your City's
Pastors' Prayer Groups:
http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
__NPPN Discount Resources:
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http://www.nppn.org/Articles/Article041.htm
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__Add Your Insights To The NPPN "Feedback Forum"
http://www.nppn.org/book-e-view.htm
__Archived Prayer Strategy Updates:
http://www.nppn.org/Prayers.htm
__Subscribe http://www.nppn.org/subscribe.htm
**SPECIAL NPPN DISCOUNT OFFER**
To receive the Special NPPN
discount when ordering this or other Gospel Light resources:
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Then identify the code: "NPPN" to receive the 20% discount-!
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Prayer Evangelism
How To
Change The Spiritual Climate
Over Your Home, Neighborhood and City
By Ed Silvoso
Interact with Ed - Add your insights to our "Feedback Forum" at:
http://www.nppn.org/book-e-view.htm
**SPECIAL NPPN DISCOUNT OFFER**
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I N T H I S U P D A T E ...and for our prayers:
1. PASTOR PHIL'S PRAYER
LETTER
* * SPECIAL REQUEST FROM NATIONAL PRAYER COMMITTEE
* * URGENT APPEAL FROM NATIONAL REVIVAL NETWORK
2. A PRAYER TO "MY DAD"
3. FOR KIDS WHO PRAY
4. AN UNCOMMON
PRAYER MEETING IDEA ~
PRAYING FOR THE WORLD'S 365 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
5. FRESH PRAYER: "FROM HEARERS TO FOLLOWERS"
6. HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR PASTOR
7. FAITHFULNESS IN PRAYER
8. QUOTE / UNQUOTE
9. PRAYING IN
CHICAGO FOR A CRISIS IN JORDAN
10. GROWING CLOSER TO YOUR WIFE THROUGH PRAYER
11. PRAYER REQUESTS TRIPLE!
12. MONDAY MORNING JUMP START
13. CORPORATE CONFESSION
14. THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPORTUNITY
15. WORLD VISION:
PRAYER POINTS
16. NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY...
17. ROMANS 12: A PRAYER-A-PHRASE FOR OUR CITY
18. INTERNET PRAYER CIRCLES GROWING
19. PRAYER IS LOVE IN ACTION FOR THOSE WITH AIDS
* HOW ABOUT YOU...YOUR PPG...YOUR CITY...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1. PASTOR PHIL'S PRAYER LETTER
Prayer INC.
Connecting
People To God ... Through Corporate Prayer
Hope you are
enjoying the last few days of summer - It has certainly gone
by quickly for Carol and me... Which is one of the reasons it has taken us
so long to update you on all that is happening!
As you know, July 1st we began a new chapter in our lives. My two-year role
with Strategic Focus Cites concluded and, through God’s clear leading and your
gracious support, we stepped out into a prayer-focus ministry.
Here is a brief list of recent blessings:
.Phil attends
Promise Keepers in
Chicago
with his dad, father & brother in-law,
sons-in-law Tim and JJ, both their dads (from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania!)
plus
two “God-sons” from Woodfield Church days.
.Carol attends Women of Faith, also at the United Center, with several Women
of
Woodfield.
.WOW! More 100 show-up for the Woodfield Church reunion at the Haskins’ Windy
Ridge
Acres. Long line at the dunk-the-pastor tank...
.We both enjoy house (and puppy) sitting for Jorie and Tim at their new home
in Chino
Chino Hills, California. Phil makes several ministry contacts and speaks to
a group
of pastors and prayer leaders.
.Jennie and JJ are accepted by SIM to serve together for a year in
Zambia,
beginning
June, 2002. Both will teach Zambian children who speak English.
Recent
opportunities for Phil:
.Begins work
as a part-time consultant in prayer for the Illinois Baptist State
Association (IBSA) to cast vision, recruit and train in over 1,000
congregations.
.Teaches the “Pastors Role In Prayer Evangelism” workshop at the Great
Commission
Prayer Conference in Lexington, South Carolina
.Attends several Chicago area prayer gatherings for pastors and spiritual
awakening.
.Trains a mission team that will prayerwalk various sites in Mexico City.
.Continues to meet with the Chicagoland Prayer Summit Leadership Team.
.Leads the prayer meeting then meets with new prayer coordinators for a
church near
Springfield,
Illinois.
.Sunday opportunities: Preaches on “Becoming A House of Prayer,” leads a
Concert
of Prayer for children, and brings the “charge” to new ministry candidates.
And a few of
Phil’s future opportunities:
.Attending
the Citywide Prayer Leaders Consultation in Dallas, Texas (8/26-28)
.Ministry in Connecticut, San Antonio, North Carolina, southern Illinois...
.Speaking on the “Pastor-Intercessor Partnership” at the House of Prayer in
Elgin
(IL) and leading a prayer workshop at the Illinois Leadership Summit
(Springfield).
You must be in prayer for us - we’ve asked the Lord for abundant blessings (and
yes, that includes financial support) ...so that, we can invest all of our time
toward serving the needs of pastors and churches, and, to be a blessing to those
in need. Those prayers are being answered as almost every day an envelope
arrives with a note of encouragement and almost always, financial support too.
We genuinely praise the Lord -- Our needs are being met, and Phil is free to
devote 100% of his time toward mobilizing prayer among God’s people; prayer that
will bless both God and our neighbors.
Thank YOU for your part - Your gift of encouragement or counsel or giving or
prayer is essential to this new ministry. May our Father in heaven bless you
for your generosity.
Pastor
Phil
PS For
those asking, contributions may be sent to: Prayer Inc, 1130 Randville Drive,
Palatine, IL 60074
___________________________________________>>>
* * SPECIAL REQUEST FROM
NATIONAL PRAYER COMMITTEE
>From: Natlpray@aol.com
--->NPPNote: This call
for prayer comes to me as a member of the National prayer Committee but I have
asked for permission to share it with you. Many who do not know David Butts'
name have benefited from his ministry. Regardless, please take a moment to
read this request and, along with NPPN intercessors and prayer leaders around
the globe, petition our Father on David's behalf...
To Members of the National Prayer Committee--
Please make the next few weeks a time of special prayer for our dear brother and
colleague, David Butts.
David has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. The illness demands radical
surgery to insure complete eradication of the cancer. Surgery will be September
11. He will be out of commission for six weeks.
Fervently intercede for this dear servant of Christ. How much he has blessed the
NPC . . . as an Executive Committee member . . . in his leadership of the
Denominational Prayer Leaders Network . . . by seconding the staff of his
organization to serve the NPC as fully as needed . . . by giving us his
administrative assistant, Jeff Noel, as the NPC National coordinator . . . by
standing with the NPC in all of our ventures and projects.
David has impacted hundreds of congregations and thousands of lives through his
own leadership of Harvest Prayer Ministries. David has also given over HPM to
aggressively serve the national implementation of the Lighthouses of Prayer.
As Jeff Noel reported to you a few days ago, David and Kim are in tremendously
high spirits, full of faith and the joy of the Lord, totally confident in God's
sovereign hand in all of this.
Well, of course!!! That IS the David Butts we all know and love.
Would you join me in the next two weeks to cry out to Heaven for a FULL
restoration in David's body, and a full deployment of him as soon as possible
back into the ministries that have blessed us all? Read II Corinthians 1:9-11.
Also feel free to drop David a note or email of encouragement. NPCers: This is
all part of being a genuine TEAM. Thanks.
CHRIST IS ALL! David Bryant
___________________________________________>>>
* * URGENT APPEAL FROM
NATIONAL REVIVAL NETWORK
>From: www.urgentappeal.net
An Urgent Appeal
To Christian Leaders in America
For Consensus and Collaboration
On the Biblical Nature and Hope
Of Corporate Revival
"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" (Psalm
85:6)
Dear Friend,
With urgency we present this document for consideration to Christian leaders
throughout America. And, urgency is not too strong a word.
Surely no one looking at the New Testament in contrast with much of the American
Church
can be fully pleased with what we observe. Dr. Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. provides
the following illustration of contemporary American Christianity:
Jeremy Bentham, the champion of Utilitarianism, died in 1832. He willed his
estate to the University
College Hospital in London, on one bizarre condition. He required that his dead
body be dissected and then his skeleton reassembled, preserved, and clothed so
that he could "attend" all subsequent board meetings of the hospital. To this
day, dressed in his nineteenth-century attire, Jeremy Bentham is wheeled into
the hospital's board meetings and the chairman pronounces, "Jeremy Bentham,
present but not voting." (When God Comes to Church, pg. 101)
Unfortunately, this is a picture of too many in churches today. Our people are
"present but not voting." We attend church. But we don't "vote." By the way we
live in the world, no one would know that Jesus Christ is our supreme Lord. We
may worship hard. But then we leave, to love the world, isolating ourselves from
the pain of those around us. "Present but not voting!"
As members of the drafting committee for Mission America's National Revival
Network, we believe it is time for Christian leaders to come together in
consensus and collaboration on the biblical nature and hope of corporate
revival. This conviction weaves together An Urgent Appeal.
Our prayer is that hundreds of Christian leaders will explore and then embrace
the message of this Appeal. In fact, already nearly one hundred national leaders
have given direct input into the drafting of the Appeal.
But there's more. In 2002 a multitude of Christian leaders will gather in
Washington,
D.C., for a special signing ceremony on the
National Day of Prayer, May 2,
2002. It will be a moment for all of
us to "officially" issue this Appeal to the Body of Christ with one voice. If
you are a leader of a denomination or Christian ministry, or the pastor of a
local church, we want to invite you to be a part. Prayerfully consider
attending this historic event on May 2, 2002.
We encourage you right now to download and distribute this document to others.
Also, at this site, you will find regular updates on developments toward the
ceremony in Washington, D.C.
An Urgent Appeal moves us beyond the empty rhetoric about revival.
It takes us to a new level of consensus and collaboration around revival. There
is no other document like it at the moment. Our prayer is, through the ongoing
conversations it stirs up among leaders, that all of us, and the people we lead,
may become more fully engaged with Jesus Christ and with the magnificent
implications of His supremacy over all things.
May the Holy Spirit so awaken our churches to Him that we will become both
"present and voting!"
The Drafting Committee
National Revival Network
Mission America
For more information regarding the National Revival Network contact:
Rev.
Dale Schlafer, chairman
National Revival Network, 2691A West
106th Loop, Westminster, CO 80234
Fax: 303-464-1162 / email: lrevtogo@aol.com
Table of Contents
Preface: A Nationwide Call
The Appeal: An Introduction
America and Beyond
Starting the Conversation
The Title
Making It Personal
The Seasons of God
Judgment and Hope
Waterless Pits
Is There Hope?
Definitions of Corporate Revival
Three Scholars Speak
Biblical Emphases
Terms and Metaphors
Cycles of Revival
Revival Is Christ!
Four Tests
A Suggested Pattern
Some Working Definitions
An Apologetic for Corporate Revival
The Decisive Person
The Divine Pattern
The Dark Prospects
The Disturbing Paralysis
The Dramatic Preparations
The Distinctive Praying
The Determined People
Three Key Clarifications
Sovereignty and Means
Point and Process
Repentance: A "Gift of Grace" and a "Divine Command"
A Series of Cautions
Ignorance
Shortsightedness
Fantasies
Superficiality
Irresponsibility
Negativity
Uniformity
Immaturity
Elitism
Nationalism
Conflict
Responses to the Hope of Corporate Revival
Perceive
Prioritize
Purify
Pray
Proclaim
Prepare
Partner
Appendix: Some Questions & Answers
Download entire document at: http://www.urgentappeal.net
___________________________________________>>>
2. A PRAYER TO "MY DAD"
>From: JChevalme@aol.com
This prayer is a prayer that I prayed this morning, and I felt that the Lord
wanted me to put it to paper and send it out. After writing it, I titled it:
My Dad
For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you
have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Romans 8:15
Lord my God, you are perfect in all your ways,
and no one can fathom your infinite wisdom,
nor understand your great power.
And who among your sons and daughters whom you have purchased with your own
blood, can plumb the depth of your mercy,
or mark the boundaries of your limitless grace.
Who can measure the dimensions of your love,
and say that you have not sufficiently to meet all the longings of my needy
soul.
Lord my God, your purpose is perfect and pure,
and one day, it be all fulfilled.
For the day will come, O’ blessed day, when evil will be put away with forever,
and when the enemy of our souls, the father of all lies, the author of death
will be sent
to hell.
Nothing in this world of sin is a threat to you;
Nothing in this quagmire of horrors took you by surprise;
Not the pains, the sufferings, the wars, the tortures, the murders, the rapes,
the beatings,
the famines, the plagues and the diseases, or a host of other afflictions;
Not even the crucifixion of your Son was hid from your foreknowledge.
Yet you considered all of the temporal evils of this world,
as weighing less in the balance, than the mutual eternal rewards of your
purpose for
your creation, and for the sake of those whom you foreknew, one day, would
seek
your face.
So Lord my God, as I am still in this world as it is still called today, not
yesterday, not
tomorrow, but this very day.
Give me to hope in your eternal purpose for my life for your sake, and for the
sake of
others.
And as I face situations for which I do not see a reason or a purpose, do not
let me question
your infinite wisdom; rather
Strengthen my faith to know that your purpose cannot be defeated,
and that you do work all things for good to those who love you, and are
called by
your Name.
Increase the grace that will give me the strength to endure what your hand has
allowed to
come my way,
but also give me the wisdom to discern between good and evil, so that I can
overcome its deceptions in my life by the truth of your Word.
Teach me to discern truth in the confusion of this life.
Finally Lord my God, make me an instrument through which your love, life and
grace is
revealed in this world of hate, death and weakness.
Use this earthen vessel, in whatever ways it is fit to be used, to once again
walk the face of
earth, as your holy Son Jesus once walked to declare your glory.
Move my lips with wisdom to confound those who rail against you,
and lead me to meet those who one day will call upon your Name but do not
even know it yet,
so that I can plant some seeds of truth in their minds,
or remove some weeds that prevent them to grow.
And if their heart is so hardened that it takes the bruising of my flesh and
even the giving of
my life to break it,
Then do what you see fit with this temple in which you live through the Holy
Spirit, for the
sake of that one soul.
How great is your Name O’ Lord my God,
How unfathomable are your ways;
And how perfectly free is the soul that finds rest in your love.
On this one day, which is yet to come, the reward of my faith will be to see
your great glory
with my own eyes;
To look face to face into your eyes of love,
and to stand in wonder before this great God of creation whom I call Š my Dad.
Author unknown, except by the Lord.
___________________________________________>>>
3. FOR KIDS WHO PRAY
>From: Jriccioli@aol.com [mailto:Jriccioli@aol.com]
Greetings! Please visit the web site below. We all need to do our part to get
the Bible back in school where it belongs.
"http://www.bringyourbible.com
Yours in Christ, Joseph Riccioli / http://nlm.jesusanswers.com
___________________________________________>>>
4. AN UNCOMMON PRAYER MEETING
IDEA ~
PRAYING FOR THE WORLD'S 365 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
Praying For The World's 365 Most Influential People
5 Minutes A Day to Change Your World
David Kopp, Heather Harpham Kopp, Larry Wilson, editors
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97402
Have You Changed Your World Today?
The book you're holding is the result of a simple and irrefutable
spiritual premise: Prayer changes things. And together, God's people can
dramatically change the world by praying for those who impacted most.
Think of the possibilities:
Imagine the power of thousands of people praying and agreeing together on the
same day for the same world figure.
Imagine the love of Christ pouring out in prayers for people who on any day
are capable of accomplishing good or harm for millions.
Imagine a nonbeliever hearing, instead of judgment and rejection, a beautiful
refrain from Christ's people: "You are loved! We bless you in Jesus' name
today!"
An important goal for The Pray 365 Project has been to bring together
believers from many denominations, promoting unity and love as we enter God's
presence in prayer together. This book is only a small part of a growing prayer
and renewal movement that is making itself felt around the world. Like virtually
all of these groups, our goal is simple--we want to change the world through the
power of prayer. With this in mind, we approach a daily prayer commitment like
this humbly, gratefully, and expectantly.
But first, we thought you might have some questions:
How does this book work?
Praying for the World's 365 Most Influential People is presented in a
daily format so that you can read about and pray for one influential person each
day (knowing that thousands of other Christians are joining you). Each entry
includes information about the person's point of impact, an insightful quote,
and a behind the scenes look at his or her personal life.
The prayer starters which follow suggest--but aren't intended to limit--your
prayer responses. Sometimes you may not agree with our tips, or the person's
circumstances may have changed. We hope you will let the Holy Spirit guide you
in your prayers.
What do you mean by influential?
An influencer, as we mean it in this book, is a living person whose life and
work has a far-reaching impact--whether for good or ill--in the world today.
One criterion we favored was active influence versus potential influence.
That would mean, for example, that the man who uses his millions to champion
literacy around the world is more influential than the one who leaves his tens
of millions in a Swiss ban. For similar reasons, fame doesn't always equal
influence. You'll notice that some celebrities and public figures of the moment
are missing. You'll also notice that some world-changers are not listed because
we deemed their influence to be more a historically accomplished fact than on
the leading edge of change now.
Ultimately, we recognize that influence is always a judgment call. And who
but God really knows who the key influencers of our generation are? Somewhere a
Sunday school teacher is shaping the president of the future, a little-known
researcher is toiling on an entirely new way of treating cancer, a starving
writer if putting the finishing touches on the next Pilgrim's Progress.
Besides, influence can be expressed in a variety of ways: for example,
by personal sacrifice, use of power, spending or investing money, dynamic
personal example, use of authority or position, service or generosity,
influencing rends or setting new standards, or by a far-reaching faith or vision
that mobilizes millions.
How did you decide whom to include?
Our team of researchers went to primary sources, talked with
"gatekeepers" and knowledgeable resources in each category, combed published
lists, and worked closely with a group of advisers, at least one for each
category, who were experts in their area. Because this edition of the book is
being distributed primarily in North America, you may notice a somewhat greater
emphasis on U.S. and Canadian world-changers.
For the most part, the world influencers you'll encounter here--Christians
and non Christians alike--have welcomed our invitation for prayer on their
behalf, including: Barbara Walters; David Geffen, DreamWorks partner, Jack
Welch, CEO of General Electric (the world's most valuable company); Dan Rather;
Irv Rrubin, president of the Jewish Defense League; Kathie Lee Gifford; Harville
Hendrix, author of Getting the Love You Want; famed scientist Ian Wilmut
(he cloned a sheep); Jill Barad, CEO of Mattel; Rabbi Harold Kushner; Adam
Werbach, president of the Sierra Club; famed geneticist, Dr. Craig Venter;
Lutheran Presiding Bishop George Anderson; and Betty Beene, president of the
United Way.
An overwhelming number of people we contacted also gave us detailed, helpful
feedback, as well as providing photographs. Many endorsed this venture with
great enthusiasm.
Why should I pray for influential people more than anyone else?
Of course we're never meant to limit our prayers to the movers and
shakers of the world. But the Bible makes a special point of asking God's people
to pray for them. The apostle Paul recognized that by praying for those who have
power to affect many, we pray strategically. He told young Pastor Timothy: "I
urge you then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority--that we
may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy
2:1-2).
In New Testament times power rested with the Caesars, the Roman governors and
government officials, and the religious leaders of the Jews. In our time, the
mantle of influence has spread far and wide--to sports figures, media
personalities, research scientists, global investors, and writers, among many
others. These change-makers help to determine cultural trends, legislation, the
economy, politics, personal values, and social movements.
How can I pray effectively for the spiritual life of someone I don't know?
You'll notice we've tried not to make prejudgments or exclusionary
assumptions about others' spiritual lives. For all of us, only God knows the
heart (1 Samuel 16:7). We encourage you to trust that He will use even your
incomplete knowledge of persons and situations to accomplish His perfect will.
Here are some prayers we can offer sincerely for everyone in this book:
that each person will know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,
that each person will desire and experience God's loving best for their
life,
that each one will be protected from life's dangers, upheld in life's
trials, and grateful and generous in life's blessings, and
that by the Spirit's power, each person will use their life and gifts to
honor God and benefit others
Why should I care about--much less pray for--people who seem to do nothing
but harm?
Jesus called us to love and pray for all people--"I tell you: love your
enemies, and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). However, it can
take a lot of courage to pray for someone you dislike, disrespect, or fear. No
wonder the disciples reacted with so much amazement when Jesus told them to
intercede for their persecutors. "If you love those who love you," He asked,
"what reward will you get?...Do not even pagans do that?" (Matthew 5:46-47).
Perhaps praying for our enemies is so hard because this kind of praying is
nearly synonymous with forgiving. And forgiveness costs. Indifference at least
feels safe, and even an attitude of goodwill leaves us feeling faintly superior.
But to love and to pray for? There's just no room to hide in those words!
When we pray for those who seem to be doing everything in their power to take
our world further from God, or to make it more dangerous for us and those we
love, something amazing happens. We begin to love and forgive the world as God
does. Paul says that Christ came to love and forgive the world as God does. Paul
says that Christ came to win us through love while we were still sinners and
enemies of God (Romans 5:8, 10).
Praying for those who seem opposed to the gospel allows us to see the world
as God does, and to release His power to redeem even His sworn enemies.
How do you pray for a person whose life is offensive or destructive without
being judgmental?
You'll notice that the profiles focus on the person's point of impact, not
our opinion of them. The information is presented journalistically. Our goal in
this case is not to endorse or condemn, but to allow facts and informed opinion
to assist our praying.
In their little book, 31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers have
some good advice for praying without judging: "Especially when we're asking God
to overcome negative qualities (of others), we must be on guard against the sin
of a critical, proud spirit cloaked in prayer," write the Myerses. "When we're
concerned about a person's negative qualities, it helps to think through to the
corresponding positive qualities we hope for, and pray for those. We personally
find it easier to have faith for the positives than against the negatives."
What are some ways I can put this prayer book to work?
This book lends itself to personnel devotional use or to family reading
around the house. You might consider leaving it on the kitchen table or in the
car as a conversation and prayer starter for each day's date. Churches and other
ministries will find it an encouraging and helpful tool for group use.
Finally, don't forge to make use of www.pray365.com, our website. There
you'll find updates on the person of the day (what's happened since we went to
press), a place to post prayers and to read the prayers of others, postings on
"influencers in the news," and an invitation to suggest new influential people
for inclusion in the next edition of this book. You'll also be able to order
copies of the book direct for family, friends, or groups.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations. Ephesians 3:20-21
(Each day's entry includes the following sections)
Point of Impact
Quotable
Behind the Scenes
Player Starters
Contact
___________________________________________>>>
5. FRESH PRAYER: "FROM
HEARERS TO FOLLOWERS"
>From: FreshPrayer Notification <webmaster@waymakers.org>
This month's issue of FreshPrayer is called "From hearers to followers," based
on the parable of the sower in Mark 4. You'll find fresh ways to ask God to
help the life of His Word take root in the lives of people who are not yet
following Christ.
FreshPrayer comes with a leader's guide to help you facilitate a small group
prayer session, or a meeting of your "Lighthouse" prayer gathering.
FreshPrayer is free. All you need is the program Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
also free to download without hassle anytime.
Go to http://www.waymakers.org and click on the "Fresh Prayer" section to
download this month's issue.
Yours for Christ's greater glory, Steve Hawthorne
___________________________________________>>>
6. HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR
PASTOR
>From: Biblicalwm@aol.com
>From: Our Daily Bread
Getting Rid of the Pastor
"Let
the elders who rule well, be counted worthy of double honor." -- 1 Timothy
5:17
A Christian leader told of a group of laymen who came to see him one day for
some advice. They wanted to know of a diplomatic way to get rid of their
pastor. The man, sensing that they were not being fair, gave them some
suggestions:
1. Look your pastor straight in the eye while he is preaching and say amen once
in a while. He'll preach himself to death.
2. Pat him on the back and tell him his good points. Before you know it, he'll
work himself to death.
3. Rededicate your own life to Christ and ask your minister for a job to do.
He'll die of heart failure.
4. Get the church to unite in prayer for him. Soon he'll become so effective
that a larger church will take him off your hands.
If your pastor faithfully preaches God's Word and tries to live an exemplary
life, do all you can to support and encourage him. Of course, no pastor is
perfect, and sometimes a careful rebuke may be needed (1 Timothy 5:20). But a
pastor carries a big responsibility (Heb. 13:17), and a faithful man of God is
worthy of loving respect and generous financial support (1 Timothy 3:1;
5:17-18).
By the way, when did you last say to your pastor, "I'm grateful for you and all
you've done for me"? --RWD
We give the help that pastors need
For burdens they must bear
When we entrust them to the Lord
And hold them up in prayer--DJD
Biblical Wellness Ministries serves the church of Jesus Christ by offering God's
love, encouragement, Truth and hope to those in vocational ministry and lay
leadership: http://www.biblicalwellness.org
___________________________________________>>>
7. FAITHFULNESS IN PRAYER
>From: "Achim Blackstein" <blackstein@netprayers.de
>By: Dick Eastman
Your prayers will change the world! You have heard that remark time and again,
and it ought to be said often because it is true. However, we must never
forget-if that statement is true, the converse of it is also true. Your failure
to pray will leave something unchanged in the world. This is why your
faithfulness in daily prayer is of the utmost importance. Jesus said, "Men
ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). One translation renders
this verse, "Keep on praying and don't get tired of it" (Beck).
How can we develop a consistency in prayer that continues daily without
faltering? Consider these simple suggestions and begin at once to apply them.
1. Set a reasonable prayer goal-and work up to it. Through Every Home for
Christ's Change the World School of Prayer, tens of thousands of believers have
set one hour daily as their prayer goal. If you have made this a goal and are
having trouble, don't give up. Pray as much as you can, and work up to that goal
of one hour daily. Don't let Satan defeat your prayer life altogether just
because of a few weak days.
2. Use a prayer plan to begin with-but don't let it bind you. Ordered,
systematic prayer (when energized by the Holy Spirit) is one of the most
powerful types of prayer possible. It is especially helpful for those setting
goals in prayer. To pray one or two hours (or even more) requires a plan of
action.
3. Be rigidly disciplined at the onset of setting new goals. The first few weeks
of any new prayer goal requires special discipline. This is when Satan will try
hardest to defeat you. Educators say it takes 21 consecutive, similar
experiences to form a habit. So be very rigid those first few weeks (or months)
as you reach new heights in prayer. And if you've tried for years to be faithful
in prayer and have had great difficulty, try being rigidly disciplined for the
next 21 days. Pray at exactly the same time, for the same amount of time. In the
long run, we must avoid spiritual bondage, but we must also strive to develop a
true habit before Satan can defeat us.
4. Keep a time diary for the next seven days to determine proper use of time.
The average person who says, "I have no extra time for prayer," probably wastes
or misuses considerably more than an hour a day. Many Christians watch TV more
than three hours daily! To help you discover how your time is being used (or
misused), keep a time diary for the next seven days. At the end of each day,
list everything you can remember doing that required more than 10 or 15 minutes.
Put a plus sign beside all those items truly essential, and a minus sign by
those items that could have been eliminated. Add up the minutes designated with
a minus, and think carefully about the time that was wasted. Ask God to show you
how to put at least 60 of those minutes together for a time of focusing prayer
on a lost and dying world.
___________________________________________>>>
8. QUOTE / UNQUOTE
>From: "Richard J McLaughlin" <mclamemo@juno.com>
>From: A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of Man (formerly The Divine Conquest)
"Whatever else it embraces, true Christian experience must always include a
genuine encounter with God. Without this, religion is but a shadow, a
reflection of reality, a cheap copy of an original once enjoyed by someone else
of whom we have heard. It cannot but be a major tragedy in the life of any man
(or woman) to live in a church from childhood to old age and know nothing more
real than some synthetic god compounded of theology and logic, but having no
eyes to see, no ears to hear, and no heart to love."
___________________________________________>>>
9. PRAYING IN CHICAGO FOR A CRISIS IN JORDAN
>From: Discipleship Journal Issue 124 <http://www.discipleshipjournal.com>
>By: Jim Carpenter
How To Pray In The Storm
When my wife was a little girl, her parents were missionaries to Jordan.
Violence permeated that part of the world then, just as it does today.
One frightening day the political climate turned stormier than usual, and a
mob of angry me swirled together. They stood shoulder to shoulder, many men
deep, locked arms, and began to march with murderous resolution toward the
mission compound where Dionne's family lived.
The compound was walled on all four sides, but that day the gate was open,
and Dionne and her younger brother were playing in the courtyard.
As the mob came nearer, the children were hustled back onto the porch. The
family watched in horror as the men marched in rank through the open gate,
across the courtyard, and directly toward the front door.
Just as the first group of men reached the front porch, Dionne remembers a
dazed look coming over their faces. Suddenly the lead me veered left, marched
to the side wall, and clambered to the street. All the men behind followed
suit, scrambling over the wall like a stream of fire ants.
Week's later they received a letter from my wife's grandmother in Chicago.
The Lord had awakened her in the middle of the night and told her to pray for
her family in Jordan. Gripped by a sense of imminent danger, she dropped to her
knees in earnest intercession. Finally the burden lifted. She was writing to
discover what crisis the family might have faced.
The date and time of her prayer matched precisely the date and time of the
threatening mob and their sudden detour away from the family.
--->NPPNote: After asking
someone in your prayer session to read this story, discuss:
1. Why is this story encouraging? How does it build our faith?
2. What would it take for there to be more blessed-ending stories like this?
3. Have you ever had a prayer prompting like this? If so, did you investigate
the situation and the results?
___________________________________________>>>
10. GROWING CLOSER TO YOUR WIFE THROUGH PRAYER
>From: pknews@promisekeepers.org
>Reply-To: 4GDataEntry@pknet.org
>By David Clarke
Several years ago, I saw a couple whose marriage was over. At least, they
thought it was over. Years of neglect and unresolved conflict had sucked all the
intimacy out of their relationship. Both of them were Christians who attended
church regularly with their two children. But their faith was weak, and they
believed that even God couldn't save their marriage.
Like many couples I've seen, they came in only so they could say they'd tried
counseling and it didn't work. Then they could rationalize that divorce was
their only option. In essence, my office was the last stop before the attorneys
and the divorce court.
In that first session, they told me their sad story. The husband was a selfish
workaholic who had ignored his wife and kids. He stopped expressing love for her
years ago. The only time he paid any attention to her at all was when he wanted
sex.
The wife was a terrible housekeeper and spent too much money. She was a
world-class nag and had carped at him for years about his shortcomings. Her
desperate desire to be loved was covered over by a hard shell of critical
indifference. Her life revolved around her kids, the PTA, and church activities.
She had been deeply wounded by her husband and couldn't see any way that she
could possibly love him again.
They finished their prepared statements and waited patiently for me to speak...
[For the rest of the story, go to
http://www.promisekeepers.org/devo/devo15.htm or click on link #4 below.]
___________________________________________>>>
11. PRAYER REQUESTS TRIPLE!
>From: "Prayer Driven Ministries" <info@prayerneeds.org>
Since April 1999 Prayer Driven Ministries in California has operated a prayer
request web site www.PrayerNeeds.Org <http://www.PrayerNeeds.Org> taking prayer
requests and mobilizing intercessors in prayer throughout the world.
Having done no advertising the web site www.PrayerNeeds.Org is normally found
by visitors through Internet Search Engines which has yielded on a normal day
30-40 prayer requests. In July the ministry was mentioned in Woman's World a
national secular magazine sold in most major grocery stores in the US and Canada
the text of which read: "You don't have to have a large family or be a part
of a big church to get lots of people praying for you... If you need prayers,
try: Prayer Driven Ministries, a California-based group that will add your
request to their prayer list, no matter what your faith. Just click on http://www.PrayerNeeds.Org"
Since publication we have seen a serious increase in our numbers - most days now
we receive between 70 and 130 prayer requests. We still do not know how Woman's
World found out about us or why they mentioned us. We have written to the
Senior Editor of this publication, but as of today have had no response.
Pastor Mike Martin, Prayer Driven Ministries, P O Box 455, Buena Park, CA 90621
714-521-8362 / www.PrayerNeeds.Org <http://www.PrayerNeeds.Org>
mike@prayerneeds.org
___________________________________________>>>
12. MONDAY MORNING JUMP START
>From: Dawright41@aol.com
"Do what you can and then pray
that God will give you the power
to do what you cannot."
Augustine
___________________________________________>>>
13. CORPORATE CONFESSION
>From: What God Does When Women Pray
>By Evelyn Christenson, Word Publishers
A Sample List of Scriptural Sins to Read Before Confessing Sins in Prayer
Every "yes" answer is a sin in your life that needs to be confessed.
Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin"
(James 4:17). (References on this list are from the KJV.)
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Do you worry about anything? Have you failed to thank God for all
things, the seemingly bad as well as the good? Do you neglect to give thanks at
mealtime?
2. Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."
Do you fail to attempt things for God because you are not talented
enough? Do feelings of inferiority keep you from trying to serve God? When you
do accomplish something for Christ, do you fail to give Him all the glory?
3. Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Have you failed to be a witness with your life for Christ? Have you
felt it was enough to just live your Christianity and not witness with your
mouth to the lost?
4. Romans 12:3 "For I say...to every man that is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think."
Are you proud of your accomplishments, your talents, and your family?
Do you fail to see others as better than yourself, more important than yourself
in the body of Christ? Do you insist on your own rights? Do you think as a
Christian you are doing quite well? Do you rebel at God's wanting to change you?
5. Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and
evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice."
Do you complain, find fault, and argue? Do you have a critical spirit? Do you
carry a grudge against Christians of another group because they don't see
eye-to-eye with you on all things? Do you speak unkindly about people when they
are not present? Are you angry with yourself? Others? God?
6. 1 Corinthians 6:19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own."
Are you careless with your body? Are you guilty of not caring for it
as the temple of the Holy Spirit in eating and exercise habits? Do you defile
your body with unholy sex acts?
7. Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil."
Do you fail to see you are a "landing strip" for Satan when you
open your mind to him through T.M., yoga, séances, psychic predictions, occult
literature and movies? Do you get advice for daily living from horoscopes rather
than from God? Do you let Satan use you to thwart the cause of Christ in your
church through criticism, gossip, non-support?
9. Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business."
Do you fail to pay your debts on time? Avoid paying them
altogether? Do you charge more on credit cards than you can pay when due? Do you
neglect to keep honest income tax records? Do you engage in any shady business
deals whether as an employer or employee?
10. 1 Corinthians 8:9 "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours
become a stumbling block to them that are weak."
Do you feel you can do anything you want to do because the Bible says
you are free in Christ? Even though you were strong enough not to fall, do you
fail to take responsibility for a weaker Christian who has fallen because of
following your example?
11. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together."
Are you irregular or spasmodic in church attendance? Do you attend
preaching services in body only, whispering, reading, or planning while God's
Word is being preached? Are you skipping prayer meetings? Have you neglected
family devotions?
12. Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the
old man with his deeds."
Do you ever lie? Exaggerate? Do you fail to see "little white lies" as
sins? Do you tell things the way you want them rather than the way they really
are?
13. 1 Peter 2:11 "Dearly beloved...abstain from fleshly lusts, which war
against the soul."
Are you guilty of a lustful eye toward the opposite sex? Do you fill
your mind with sex-oriented TV programs, movies, books, magazines? Their covers?
Centerfolds? Do you indulge in any lustful activity God's Word
condemns--fornications, adultery, perversion?
14. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another."
Are you guilty of being a part of factions and divisions in your
church? Would you rather add fuel to a misunderstanding than help correct it?
Have you loved only the ones in your own church, feeling those of other
denominations are not the body of Christ? Are you secretly pleased over the
misfortunes of another? Annoyed by their success?
15. Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any
man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
Have you failed to forgive anybody anything that person might have
said or done against you? Have you turned certain people off? Are you holding
grudges?
16. Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him
labor."
Do you steal from your employer by doing less work, staying on the job
less time than you are paid for? Do you underpay?
17. Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Do you waste time? The time of others? Do you spend time watching TV
trash, reading cheap books, procrastinating?
18. Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters...ye cannot serve God and
mammon."
Is your goal in life to make as much money as possible? Accumulate
things? Have you withheld God's share of your income from Him? Is money your
God?
19. Matthew 23:28 "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but
within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
Do you know in your heart you are fake, just pretending to be a real
Christian? Are you hiding behind church membership to cover a life still full of
sin? Are you faking Christianity for social status, acceptance in your church,
community? Do you smile piously during the Sunday sermon but live in our sin all
week? Are you the person in your home you are trying to impress people you are?
20. Philippians 4:8 Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be
any virtue, and if thee be any praise, think on these things."
Do you enjoy listening to gossip? Passing it on? Do you believe rumors or
partial truths, especially about an enemy or your competitor? Do you fail to
spend time every day reading the Bible? Do you fail to think on the things of
God--only good and true and pure things--always?
Reflection Question
Examine your lifestyle:
As you have read the scriptures in this chapter, were you surprised that
there are conditions for God hearing and answering your intercessory prayers?
Did you know that the Bible says your lifestyle determines whether or not your
prayers will be heard and answered by God? Do you feel you have hands
consistently clean enough to expect God to welcome your prayers? What attribute
of God may you have been violating while you were seeking to have your
intercessory prayers accepted by Him?
Scripture
In your Bible, read Isaiah 6:1-4, letting God show you what His dwelling
place is really like. Which is the only word, which describes in triplicate the
Lord God of heaven? Now, read Revelation 4:1-8 to find what environment
surrounds the Father. What words reverberate around Him? From Revelation 5:8,
how do you know your prayers go to and are being preserved in that holy
environment?
For you to do:
List of Sins: According to James 4:17, which of your evil deeds, thoughts,
attitudes, and actions actually are sin? Prayerfully read through the list of
sins, honestly letting God convict you of any not already confessed. Check
each one that applies to you. Now how ready do you feel you are for access
to God's holy environment with your prayers? Record from Hebrews 10:19 how you
can have confidence to enter that holy place.
Why? ______________________________________
For you to pray:
"Holy, holy, holy Father in heaven, I am unworthy to come with my sins into
Your holy presence. I confess each of the biblical sins I have just read and all
others You are bringing to my mind. Forgive me for: (Identify and confess
each separately.)
Thank you for Jesus' blood that cleanses me. I believe Your Word that I am
forgiven-and worthy to come to Your holy presence. Thank You, most holy, holy,
holy Father for the potential power of my prayers! In Jesus' matchless name,
amen."
*If you are not sure you have repented and believed in Jesus yet, sincerely pray
through #19 on The List of Sins being the fake of Matthew 23:28, confessing and
accepting Jesus as your Savior and Lord.
___________________________________________>>>
14. THE IMPORTANCE OF
IMPORTUNITY
>From: usapray@aol.com
>At: http://www.ifa.usapray.org
>By: Wesley L. Duewel
Besides fervor and desire, intensity in prayer includes importunity. In some
ways, importunity combines fervency, desire, and perseverance--but not always.
Importunate prayer may be fervent, but it is something more than fervency. It
may be clothed with the deepest desire, but it is something above and beyond
desire. It usually includes perseverance, but it adds an important dimension.
What is importunity? The Greek word used in Luke 11:8 is anaideia. It
means utter shamelessness. It includes the concept of great boldness, of
urgency, of pressing your request, claim or demand to the very limits. It
includes determination to persist in that urgent boldness until it receives an
answer.
Andrew Murray, a great believer in importunate prayer, describes the growth
of importunity in these words: "It begins with the refusal to at once accept a
denial. It grows to the determination to persevere, to spare no time or trouble,
till an answer comes. It rises to the intensity in which the whole being is
given to God in supplication, and the boldness comes to lay hold of God's
strength."
Importunity in prayer is prayer for God's will to be done. It must be wholly
unselfish. It is usually shamelessness in pressing the urgency of the need of
someone else. Wrestling in prayer may include some elements of self-benefit.
When Jacob wrestled for God's protection of his family, he included himself and
was himself also benefited.
But holy importunity is righteous and right as it pleads for others. Witness
the Syrophoenician woman pleading for her demon-possessed daughter, the
householder pleading for food for a friend at midnight, Moses pleading for
forgiveness for Israel. Daniel pleading for the restoration of Israel and
Jerusalem. Witness also Luther prevailing for the healing of his fellow
reformer Melanchthon, and John Knox pleading for the soul of Scotland.
Importunate prayer does not yield to discouragement, weariness, fear or
impatience. It is in dead earnest. Importunate prayer does not trifle with God
in passive indifference to whether prayer is answered or not. Richard Sibbes
wrote: "It is atheism to pray and not to wait in hope. A sincere Christian will
pray, wait, strengthen his heart with the promises, and never leave praying and
looking up till God gives him a gracious answer."
The unembarrassed, shameless perseverance in prayer until God gives His full
answer is described by George Mueller: "It is not enough to begin to pray, not
to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must
patiently, believingly, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer." Bengel,
the Lutheran theologian in the 1700s who greatly influenced John Wesley,
suggested we do not have God's permission to quit praying until He gives us some
answer. Of course, these writers refer to prayer for significant needs which God
has burdened us.
Importunity is as essential in the spiritual realm as it is at times in
secular life. It is probably more effective with God than with man. When Abraham
began his bold and respectful yet importunate intercession for Sodom, God did
not resent it, even though Sodom was most sinful. (Gen 18:16-33) Every time
Abraham pressed another point, God conceded. The merciful heart of Abraham
blended with the merciful heart of God. Was the limit of God's mercy revealed
when Abraham stopped interceding? Could Abraham have pressed further?
God longs to extend His mercy. How often He is limited by our inadequate
importunity. Abraham became the friend of God in an even more intimate sense
through his importunity. Press importunate intercession for others to the
greatest spiritual bounds if you would be the friend of God.
Excerpted from Mighty Prevailing Prayer, by Wesley L. Duewel.
___________________________________________>>>
http://www.liveprayer.com
___________________________________________>>>
15. WORLD VISION: PRAYER
POINTS
>From: John_Robb@wvi.org
Dear Friends, May I share the following concerns with you in the hopes that you
can join us in prayer?
1. Possible Prayer Initiative for Hollywood- One of the most influential, if not
the most influential, cities on earth is Hollywood, California which has given
its name to a whole complex of entertainment and media institutions that
incessantly communicate a mostly deceptive message and destructive lifestyle to
the ends of the earth. There is literally no place in the world I have traveled
(well more than 100 countries now) where the spirit of Hollywood has not
impacted the culture and attitudes of the people. Please pray with those
concerned to mount a special, international prayer initiative for Hollywood as
we meet to discuss this possibility. We need His unity and clarity to know how
to go about this.
2. Critical meetings in Congo Peace Process- From August 20th, in Gaberone,
Botswana, the first inter-Congolese dialogue takes off. All warring parties,
civil society and political parties have been invited and will attend. Pray for
mutual understanding and willingness to solve political differences; for wisdom
for the facilitators and all delegates; for its
success in bringing about the peace people long for; for Eben-Ezer Ministries
and AMIPAIX who are organizing peace conferences in Congo over the next two
months.
3. Great Commission Roundtable's leadership meets October 26-28 to chart the
future direction for GCR as it seeks to be a helpful global forum for ministry
networks concerned for world evangelization. Please pray for the unity and
clarity of the Spirit as we refine the vision, make future plans and identify
new leadership.
4. Afghanistan Aid Workers- They are still being held hostage without access by
the diplomats wanting to see them. The Taliban threatens to put them on trial
under Sharia law, a very severe Islamic code that could bring the death penalty.
Continue to pray for strong encouragement during this trial for them, wisdom and
sensitivity for the diplomats, change of heart by the Taliban and the aid
workers' soon release.
Thanks for your vital support in this way. Warm regards, John Robb
___________________________________________>>>
16. NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT
WAY...
>From: Ras Robinson <fullness@airmail.net>
A word to you from the Lord...
"I want you to know also that
you can trust my commitment to you."
___________________________________________>>>
17. ROMANS 12: A
PRAYER-A-PHRASE FOR OUR CITY
>From: Joe Walsh <walshusa@pacbell.net>
1 I appeal to you therefore, Sacramentans, by the mercies of God, to present
your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your
spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to other cities but be transformed by
your thinking & working according to your own abilities, that you may
demonstrate what is the will of God of how you should function as a city, and be
an interdependent blessing to other another.
3 For by the ability given to you as a city, I bid every one among you not
to think yourself as being more important than other cities and people, but to
think honestly and soberly about who you are and what you can do each according
to the ability which God has assigned to you and your city.
4 For as in one city we have many people, and all the people do not have the
same function, 5 so we, though many, are one city in unity, and a people
interdependent on one another. 6 Having abilities that differ according to the
grace given to each individual and city, let us use them:
if prophecy, in proportion to the confidence God gives;
7 if service, with a positive attitude in serving;
he who teaches, with wisdom and understand;
8 he who exhorts, in a manner that is helpful;
he who contributes, in a wise and generous spirit;
he who gives aid, with compassionate zeal;
he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness and understanding.
9 Let love be genuine between you and in all your city; hate what is evil, love
what is good; produce goods and services according to the gifting of your city.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection in all your city; work at showing
respect and honor to one another. 11 Never flag in zeal, be aglow in your
attitude, living sincerely.
12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the needy, practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly; never be conceited.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight
of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.
19 Please, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the authorities of the city
; they will take care of it. 20 No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is
thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his
head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Joe Walsh, Prayer Mobilization Networker, Sacramento, CA
___________________________________________>>>
18. INTERNET PRAYER CIRCLES
GROWING
>From: Religion Today News Summary <newssummary@lists.crosswalk.com>
Within hours of the crash that killed racing legend Dale Earnhardt, many fans
dispatched prayers over the Internet. A similar phenomenon had occurred after
the tragic shootings at Columbine and the death of Princess Diana.
"Online prayer is one of the most significant developments in religion in the
past decade," says Brenda Brasher, author of "Give Me that Online Religion" and
a professor at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio.
For example, www.eprayer.org notes that more than 20,000 Christians worldwide
receive its daily devotional, take part in prayer requests or submit writings
for the site's use in its devotionals. And according to the 2000 Pew Internet
and American Life Project, about 19 million people have used the Internet to
seek spiritual and religious information. The
calculation is believed to represent about 21 percent of Internet users.
Some say the use of the Internet for prayer can be traced back to a series of
Pentecostal revivals that took place across this country and Canada during the
1990s. Margaret Poloma, a sociologist with the University of Akron, has written
a book on prayer with pollster George Gallup Jr. "Right from the beginning (of
these revivals), word went out on the Internet with prayer rooms and chat
rooms," Poloma says. "It mushroomed so quickly."
(http://link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.ASP?A3.15.2095.3.277678)
Copyright © 2001 Crosswalk.com, Inc. and its Content Providers. All rights
reserved.
___________________________________________>>>
19. PRAYER IS LOVE IN ACTION FOR THOSE WITH AIDS
>From: Jeffrey A Collins <jeffreycollins1@juno.com>
Prayer for people living with AIDS is urgent to stopping the spread of AIDS,
according to Jeffrey Collins, founder and ministry director of Love & Action, an
international ministry assisting men, women, and children who are living with
HIV/AIDS.
"The healing of our land depends upon God's people," says Collins. "It's clear
in scripture, " he says. "If my people who are called by my name will humble
themselves and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, (God) will hear
from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land." According to Collins the
healing of the land is not dependent on the attitude of sinners; "It's dependent
on the attitude of God's people."
Collins is urging Christians everywhere to pray for individuals and families
impoverished by AIDS in their communities. He believes this is possibly the
greatest opportunity the church will ever have for Christian witness and
ministry, but, he adds, "It takes an investment of time and energy and
resources."
Collins says AIDS ministry is time-intensive. It takes sacrifice and enduring
friendship with the people we serve. "It's not a matter of uttering a few
encouraging words and then passing on. We must develop trusting, enduring
friendships that witness to love and mercy of Jesus Christ."
Love & Action was organized in 1987 as a Christian ministry to Washington, DC,
area families affected by AIDS. Thus far the ministry has recruited more than
4,000 volunteers who are serving in every state and several foreign countries.
They serve through inpatient and outpatient care programs, preventive AIDS
education, and church motivational programs. Since 1987 Love & Action staff and
volunteers have been involved in the lives of more than 55,000 men, women, and
children living with AIDS.
Matt Hall, Love & Action, 3 Church Circle, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 USA
mhall@loveandaction.org
Phone: 1-800-940-9500 / http://www.loveandaction.org
___________________________________________>>>
* HOW ABOUT YOUR PPG...YOUR CITY...?
How we can give praise and thanks with you
...for what the Lord has done in your city?
How we can join you in prayer for your region?
=============================================================
Phil Miglioratti, National Pastors' Prayer Network. 1130 Randville Drive,
Palatine, IL 60074
847-991-0153 ~ 847-358-9337(fax) ~ http://www.nppn.org ~ email:
phil@nppn.org
Register your PPG: http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
Sheila Straka ~ Prayer team: sheila@nppn.org
Chuck Straka ~ Web Master: straka1@nppn.org
Adam Shields ~ Tech Support: Updates@nppn.org
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