Persecution of Christians in Zimbabwe

In case you haven’t seen in the news, the situation in Zimbabwe is turning very ugly (even more so).  People are getting critically wounded and killed during prayer rallies.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070312/26277_Zimbabwe_Police_Crack_Down_on_Protest_Prayer_Rally.htm

Zimbabwe police have arrested one of the chief opponents to President Robert Mugabe’s government during a blockade to a protest prayer rally planned for Sunday.

Organizers had planned to address Zimbabwe’s spiraling economic and political crisis at the rally organized by The Save Zimbabwe Campaign, a coalition of church, rights and opposition groups campaigning for political change in the country.

It was quickly thwarted, however, by truckloads of armed police who prevented local residents from getting to the stadium in the Harare township of Highfield where the rally was due to take place.

Riot squads arrested main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, along with dozens of other MDC officials and activists, while one MDC activist was shot dead. Police said he had ignored warning shots after leading a gang of protestors in hurling rocks at the police.

Morgan Tsvangirai after hospital treatment for head injury.

“They were ordered to disperse but began to advance menacingly at the officers,” said Wayne Bvudzijena, national police spokesman, in an Agence France Presse report.

“Warning shots were fired and the group still advanced. The police shot one male adult who appeared to be the leader of the group in the chest. He died on the spot and the group dispersed.”

It’s Spreading

As it turns out we were the inspiration for another GG blog at City Church.

A useful analogy

This morning I was reading Brother Andrew’s ‘For the Love of My Brothers’ and in it is an analogy he gives for how God opens doors for the Gospel in seemingly impossible situations.

“The door may seem closed, but it’s only closed the way a supermarket door is closed. It stays shut when you remain at a distance, but as you deliberately move toward it, a magic eye above it sees you coming, and the door opens. God is waiting for us to walk forward in obedience so he can open the door for us to serve him.’ chp 2.

I believe Brother Andrew(a.k.a. the God Smuggler) when he says this as he has delivered Bibles and strengthened the suffering church behind the Iron Curtain and today in the Middle East.  In countless situations where people have told him, “you can’t do that” it somehow happened anyway and God has delivered him from all of his problems. Appropriately, his ministry is called Open Doors.  http://sb.od.org/

Origin of the hymn “Amazing Grace”

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…” So begins one of the most beloved hymns of all times, a staple in the hymnals of many denominations, New Britain or “45 on the top” in Sacred Harp. The author of the words was John Newton, the self-proclaimed wretch who once was lost but then was found, saved by amazing grace.Newton was born in London July 24, 1725, the son of a commander of a merchant ship which sailed the Mediterranean. When John was eleven, he went to sea with his father and made six voyages with him before the elder Newton retired. In 1744 John was impressed into service on a man-of-war, the H. M. S. Harwich. Finding conditions on board intolerable, he deserted but was soon recaptured and publicly flogged and demoted from midshipman to common seaman.

Finally at his own request he was exchanged into service on a slave ship, which took him to the coast of Sierra Leone. He then became the servant of a slave trader and was brutally abused. Early in 1748 he was rescued by a sea captain who had known John’s father. John Newton ultimately became captain of his own ship, one which plied the slave trade.

Although he had had some early religious instruction from his mother, who had died when he was a child, he had long since given up any religious convictions. However, on a homeward voyage, while he was attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his “great deliverance.” He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.

Mysterious Ways – How do Christians explain a tsunami?

Here is the newspaper article I was talking about last night. It is actually a review of a book about suffering.

Mysterious Ways
How do Christians explain a tsunami?

BY PAUL J. GRIFFITHS
Wednesday, August 3, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT The tsunami that swept over southeast Asia in December left in its wake not only death and destruction but a profound and vexing puzzle. What kind of a God would allow such a thing to happen? In the weeks and months that followed, skeptical commentators posed this question with irritated insistence, as if discovering for the first time–thanks to the sheer scale of the tsunami’s devastation–that we live in a world that may inflict grave harm with seeming randomness.

Get ready for the best tracks ever laid down

That’s right, Handel’s Messiah, sure to convert you if you’re not already

Please let me know no later than Thanksgiving if you’re interested in going with us on Monday Dec. 18th. Info is below:

Handel’s Messiah

Handel’s most beloved oratorio comes to life in the hands of Music Director Jeffrey Thomas as he leads the American Bach Soloists and American Bach Choir in a performance of the 1743 version from the London premiere. Four world-class soloists join the ensemble for these stirring performances–a holiday tradition for fifteen years!

“I doubt the Messiah choruses have been sung with greater attention to detail anywhere.” (San Francisco Classical Voice)

Where:

Grace Cathedral

When:

Monday, December 18, 2006 – Tuesday, December 19, 2006
7:30 pm Pacific Time

Tickets:

$20-$55 ($18-$50 Student/Senior)

To purchase tickets or for more information visit American Bach Soloists online or call (415) 621-7900.

Lectio Divina

Hi guys,

After last Friday my Dad (Paul) said he forgot to tell us the type of prayer we entered into last Friday called Lectio Divina summarized below:

Latin: lectio = word, divina = divine

A way of meditating or chewing on the word

LISTEN – read 1^st time aloud and listen for the word or phrase to which you are drawn or which you particularly notice. It might be a phrase that disturbs you. Pay attention to your feelings and your thoughts.

MEDITATE–read a 2^nd time aloud and look for a connection between a phrase or word and some situation in your heart, life, family, relationships, work, etc.

PRAY–read a 3^rd time aloud and this time do you sense Jesus inviting you to take a step of following him. If so respond to him in prayer.

REST–now just rest quietly in the presence of God and his love for you without a word.

The practice itself has a long history that many trace all the way back to Judaism. This approach to bible reading has been preserved for more than 1500 years in the Benedictine order which was founded in Italy by St. Benedict (480-547 AD). For a more complete description of the four steps of lectio divina, you can visit the home page of St. Andrews Abbey in Valyermo, CA at http://www.valyermo.com/and click on Lectio Divina.

Also, if you want to learn more about my Dad’s ministry see www.theleadershipinstitute.org. My parents really enjoyed meeting all of you and said numerous times of what a great time they had.

Kirk

50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals

First, thanks to Kirk’s dad for a great GG last night. I think we set a new record for attendance and the fire of the Holy Spirit descended upon a few of us

Christianity Today has compiled a list of the 50 most influential books if you need some inspiration for winter reading. It would be great if people could recommend good books that they’ve read here on the website.

Sorry to miss another GG!

I just wanted you all to know that I’m going to a wedding in Minnesota this weekend…I’m very bummed to miss a 3rd GG in a row
(and to miss meeting your dad, Kirk!)
I hope it is filled with God’s good word.
Love,
Erin

Our new rent situation – part 2

Hi everybody, wanted to throw out a praise report.  God has quickly provided a place for us to move to that we are excited about.  It has many of the current amenities (OK for bikes & bbq grill, balcony, bathroom ) plus a few other new ones… dishwasher(!), better location (closer to church, friends, Caltrain, & Shannon’s work), free Google internet (thanks Jason), etc.  The current resident has shrines set up all over the place I think to Hindu gods, so we may need to have GG at our place sometime soon in order to ”clean house” and welcome in the right Spirit.  We’ll be moving in early November with some rent overlap, which is good for moving even though it’ll cost a little more.  Look forward to seeing everyone at GG Friday evening.

Daniel & Shannon

Speaking events upcoming!

Hello all,

Last week I shared about some of the exciting but challenging stuff God is doing in my life. On Sunday, I went to an Equip prayer event and was encouraged and strengthened. And guess what? Not only am I going to Urbana this year, but I’ll be helping to run the Equip booth!

For those of you interested in coming to Straight Talk to hear my testimony, the details are below.  Let me know if you’d like to come!

Michelle

Date:	Friday, November 3, 2006
Time:	7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Location:	700B Santa Cruz Avenue (off the parking lot behind the Ace hardware)
Description:	Where the workplace and faith intersect for men and women in the business, professional and academic communities. Held at 700B Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park, StraightTalk provides a forum for believers and non-believers to explore how Christian faith can shape priorities and offer fulfillment in a busy world. The morning combines nationally known speakers over a light-fare breakfast setting with the opportunity for small group discussion.

Our new rent situation

We shared last night at GG our new rent situation. As of last week, our apartment is under new ownership. The new owners have increased our rent by 18% and stipulated that there be no barbeques, bikes, and other large items on the balconies. We have a barbeque, three bikes, and an outdoor freezer on our balcony, all of which cannot be moved into our tiny apartment; so, unless we negotiate changes to the tenant agreement, we will have to find a new place to live in the next month. If you could pray that we either a) find a new place and the move goes easily or b) are able to negotiate changes to the agreement so that we can stay where we are, that would be great.

Daniel & Shannon