Abedini -- a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent -- has served time in solitary confinement in the past, telling his family it was the hardest time in his life, according to a statement by his wife Naghmeh. He explained that "every hour was like one year and that he was losing his memory and his health was deteriorating quickly," she recounted.
In another effort to force American pastor Saeed Abedini to recant his faith, prison officials in Tehran have placed him in solitary confinement, something the American Center for Law and Justice calls "perhaps his most grave situation since his imprisonment last fall."
Abedini -- a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent -- has served time in solitary confinement in the past, telling his family it was the hardest time in his life, according to a statement by his wife Naghmeh. He explained that "every hour was like one year and that he was losing his memory and his health was deteriorating quickly," she recounted.
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Twenty-five women are walking from Montreal to the Supreme Court in Ottawa in an abortion harassment awareness initiative that launched Sunday. The Back to Life Walk is an authentic women's movement that aims not only to raise awareness about abortion harassment, but to pray for a shift in Canadian culture on this issue. The 25 culturally diverse women walking 200km represent the 25 years of no laws on abortion in this nation -- China and North Korea are the only other countries with no abortion laws. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring for more fruit. (John 15:2) The key verse for this final lesson confirms it is God's desire that spiritual fruit be evident in your life. This chapter provides guidelines for developing spiritual fruit.
On May 3rd, Iron Man 3 will come to theaters following the 2012 megahit, The Avengers. The recent success of Superhero movies has been fueled in part by Christian viewers, including Adam Graham, the author of the Fly Another Day, which was released by Laser & Sword Books in March. "The most successful superhero films have evoked Christian themes," said Graham. "They've focused on the battle between good and evil without many shades of gray. Themes such as self-sacrifice, redemption, and responsibility really explain the appeal of these films. It makes them stand out from other films with less noble heroes. While some films have focused on comic book anti-heroes, such as Watchmen and The Punisher, these films have not had nearly the wide-spread commercial appeal." Egyptian writer and journalist Sakina Fouad expressed deep regret for the statements made by various Salafists and the Mufti of the Muslim Brotherhood on not congratulating Christians [on religious occasions] because this violates Sharia. “Such statements deepen differences and split the Egyptian unity between Muslims and Christians, increasing discord instead of bridging gaps,” Fouad told MCN. A new song aimed at drawing attention to North Korea’s dire human rights crisis and inspired by the story of North Korean escapee Shin Dong-hyuk and the work of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), has been released by UK-based band Ooberfuse to mark North Korea Freedom Week.
The song, Vanish the Night, begins with a message from Shin Dong-hyuk, who was born in a North Korean prison camp: “Don’t forget us”. With the concrete jungles we have built, we have lost sight of the beauty and wonder that lie just outside our front door. Lately, I have experienced nature in a whole new way. A few weeks ago I remember just looking up to the sky and letting the sun rays dance over my face. It was so refreshing to take some moments and just take in the sunshine. <more...> Issue: There are times when I act before I think. How can I change this? The Mormon church has given its blessing to the Boy Scouts of America on its latest proposal to lift the gay ban for youth members but continue to exclude gays as adult leaders.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted a statement on its website Thursday saying it is satisfied with the proposal, which the Boy Scouts announced last week and will submit to its National Council at a meeting in Texas the week of May 20. The Salt Lake City-based church said it is satisfied that the Boy Scouts of America has made a "thoughtful, good-faith effort to address issues that, as they have said, remain 'among the most complex and challenging issues facing the BSA and society today.'" Pakistani Christians are increasingly worried about the rise in Taliban attacks in the lead up to the presidential election, writes Christian World News. Fakhrul Islam, a candidate who called for a more secular state was murdered on April 11. “We are very concerned about this wave of violence,” Father James Channan, director of the Center for Peace in Lahore, told Christian World News. “The attacks are aimed at creating tension and instability and threaten the painstakingly built democratic system in Pakistan, perhaps trying to postpone the vote. In addition there is disdain towards the vision of human dignity, human rights, and peaceful coexistence which are the foundations of civilized life,” Fr. Channan said. |
Walter Blackwood
Associate Pastor with The Bridge Community of Faith in Kelowna BC Canada. Archives
May 2017
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