Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Persecutions In Pakistan
Church Screening of 'Jesus Film' Attacked in Pakistan
Muslim villagers injure seven Christians, two seriously; police refuse to register case.
SARGODHA, Pakistan, December 14 (CDN) — Some 50 Muslim villagers armed with clubs and axes attacked a showing of the "Jesus Film" near this city in Punjab Province on Wednesday night (Dec. 9), injuring three part-time evangelists and four Christians in attendance.
Two of the evangelists were said to be seriously injured. The Muslim hardliners also damaged a movie projector, burned reels of the film and absconded with the public address system and donations from Christian viewers in Chak village, about 10 kilometers northeast of Sargodha, at 7 p.m.
Officers at the Saddr police station refused to register a case against the Muslim assailants, sources said.
Compass observed three part-time evangelists — Ishtiaq Bhatti, Imtiaz Ghauri and Kaleem Ghulam — screening the film within the premises of the Catholic Church of Chak, which sits within the police precincts of Saddr police station-Sargodha. Bhatti said the church compound was crammed with Christian villagers clapping as the film showed Jesus Christ performing miracles, raising the dead, casting out evil spirits and healing ailments.
Injured Christians were taken to the Basic Health Unit (BHU) of Chak village. Bhatti was treated for minor injuries, while Ghauri and Ghulam sustained serious injuries for which they received treatment at another hospital.
The evangelists who were screening the film said from their clinic beds that a Muslim cleric instigated the Muslim villagers, who were armed with clubs, spades and axes.
"They charged on us deadly and swiftly and left us injured and broke all our appliances and took away funds collected by congregants to help us," Bhatti said. "Muslim men also injured those Christian villagers who tried to intervene and stop them."
The intervention of Chaudhary Nassar-Ullah Cheema, headman of the village, resulted in the rescue of the Christian evangelists and the surrender of the Muslim mob, sources told Compass. The Muslim hardliners were forced to evacuate the church grounds, but only after a stand-off of nearly two hours.
Eyewitnesses who requested anonymity told Compass that numerous Muslim villagers and their clerics had gathered outside the church compound as the film played, with some of them climbing trees to get a clearer view of the screen. The eyewitnesses said that as soon as the Muslim attackers watched the resurrection and ascension of Christ, they became enraged because their version of Islam forbids portraying an image of a living thing and especially that of a prophet.
The sources added that although Muslims hold Christ as a prophet, they believe he was never crucified, having been replaced by a man identical to him.
No doctor was initially available for the four injured Christian viewers and three preachers who were taken to the BHU of Chak, but a male nurse treated their wounds and allowed them to go home. Ghauri and Ghulam sustained critical injuries and were transferred to District Headquarters Hospital in Sargodha.
Asad Masih, a local Christian leader, told Compass that they tried to register a case against Muslim villagers for thrashing (Article 337 of the Pakistan Penal Code) stealing (Article 380), recovery of the stolen items (411) and desecrating the church building, but police scornfully rejected their application. Officers peremptorily told them to settle the dispute in a local jury of village elders, he said.
Inspector Azeem Warriach of Saddr police station told Compass that registration of a case against a large number of Muslim villagers would further create a break-down of law and order.
"Therefore, I've directed them to solve the problem at the local level so that they might reconcile and live in perfect peace and harmony," he said.
END
Secret Believers | Meet the Persecuted | Advocacy | Open Doors | Understanding Islam Copyright © 2007-2009, Secret Believers, All Rights Reserved. Read our Privacy Policy.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by
Muslim villagers injure seven Christians, two seriously; police refuse to register case.
SARGODHA, Pakistan, December 14 (CDN) — Some 50 Muslim villagers armed with clubs and axes attacked a showing of the "Jesus Film" near this city in Punjab Province on Wednesday night (Dec. 9), injuring three part-time evangelists and four Christians in attendance.
Two of the evangelists were said to be seriously injured. The Muslim hardliners also damaged a movie projector, burned reels of the film and absconded with the public address system and donations from Christian viewers in Chak village, about 10 kilometers northeast of Sargodha, at 7 p.m.
Officers at the Saddr police station refused to register a case against the Muslim assailants, sources said.
Compass observed three part-time evangelists — Ishtiaq Bhatti, Imtiaz Ghauri and Kaleem Ghulam — screening the film within the premises of the Catholic Church of Chak, which sits within the police precincts of Saddr police station-Sargodha. Bhatti said the church compound was crammed with Christian villagers clapping as the film showed Jesus Christ performing miracles, raising the dead, casting out evil spirits and healing ailments.
Injured Christians were taken to the Basic Health Unit (BHU) of Chak village. Bhatti was treated for minor injuries, while Ghauri and Ghulam sustained serious injuries for which they received treatment at another hospital.
The evangelists who were screening the film said from their clinic beds that a Muslim cleric instigated the Muslim villagers, who were armed with clubs, spades and axes.
"They charged on us deadly and swiftly and left us injured and broke all our appliances and took away funds collected by congregants to help us," Bhatti said. "Muslim men also injured those Christian villagers who tried to intervene and stop them."
The intervention of Chaudhary Nassar-Ullah Cheema, headman of the village, resulted in the rescue of the Christian evangelists and the surrender of the Muslim mob, sources told Compass. The Muslim hardliners were forced to evacuate the church grounds, but only after a stand-off of nearly two hours.
Eyewitnesses who requested anonymity told Compass that numerous Muslim villagers and their clerics had gathered outside the church compound as the film played, with some of them climbing trees to get a clearer view of the screen. The eyewitnesses said that as soon as the Muslim attackers watched the resurrection and ascension of Christ, they became enraged because their version of Islam forbids portraying an image of a living thing and especially that of a prophet.
The sources added that although Muslims hold Christ as a prophet, they believe he was never crucified, having been replaced by a man identical to him.
No doctor was initially available for the four injured Christian viewers and three preachers who were taken to the BHU of Chak, but a male nurse treated their wounds and allowed them to go home. Ghauri and Ghulam sustained critical injuries and were transferred to District Headquarters Hospital in Sargodha.
Asad Masih, a local Christian leader, told Compass that they tried to register a case against Muslim villagers for thrashing (Article 337 of the Pakistan Penal Code) stealing (Article 380), recovery of the stolen items (411) and desecrating the church building, but police scornfully rejected their application. Officers peremptorily told them to settle the dispute in a local jury of village elders, he said.
Inspector Azeem Warriach of Saddr police station told Compass that registration of a case against a large number of Muslim villagers would further create a break-down of law and order.
"Therefore, I've directed them to solve the problem at the local level so that they might reconcile and live in perfect peace and harmony," he said.
END
Secret Believers | Meet the Persecuted | Advocacy | Open Doors | Understanding Islam Copyright © 2007-2009, Secret Believers, All Rights Reserved. Read our Privacy Policy.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by
Friday, December 4, 2009
Following Christ
Have you ever thought to yourself, why don't I feel the presence of the Lord the way I use to? At sometimes we may be in His presence for hours,and what a joy it is to feel the Lord's hand, and His Holy caress! But do we
or should I say are we experiencing the Lord with us daily? That Grand old Apostle John says's it this way, "That which was from the beginning,which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-Life, the Logos. John 1:1, In the beginning was the word and the word was with GOD and the Word was GOD. The same was in the beginning with GOD. At first John and the rest of the Apostles encountered Christ in the flesh, that which we have seen, the eye gate, that which we have heard, the ear gate,and have touched with our hands, the sense of touch, the feeling gate. Then when the Lord Jesus had been crucified, and resurrected on the third day,they all received him except of course, Judas.
John also says's that they proclaim the eternal life which was and always will be with the Father, but will literally be with us, not only eternally in us but physically with us!!! Glory!!! Jesus Christ is the eternal, indestructible life. Praise the Lord! This life is what the Apostles lived, moved, and breathed in daily, and out of this life that they experienced, they proclaimed Him. The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Life Eternal. Now look at this the Apostle's experienced the trinitarian fellowship with the Father,Son,and the Holy Spirit. 1st John 3:24b, "And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."Remember this was penned by the one who used to lay in the Lord's bosom.
Also notice that they had continual Joy, which is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the source of steadfast strength and the spiritual ability to suffer,endure pressure for a long time. (That's why the King James calls it long suffering),the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." ESV. Notice the intimate language the Apostle uses, that which his experience with the Lord. He goes into eternity past, before the world was created,concerning the Word of it long suffering. So what's the difference with the Apostles,beside their calling, placement and function in the body. Let me mention,that no saint, can ever be what the original eleven and 12 with the addition of Matthias, were called to be, they are the foundational Apostles in the body ,which becomes the New Jerusalem. They will always be set as such. But, in the past, present and future, there are and will be apostles sent by the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas were and I could list at least 10 more found in the New Testament. Not only did the Apostles have this continued experience of fellowship, the early church had it too. Read the book of Acts and note the life style of the early church saints. Have you noticed that after you encountered Christ many of us, accept for a few don't always have that joy and that original intimate relationship or fellowship that we did when we first met Jesus. Come on let's be real. The secret is found in the words of our Lord Jesus, when he says's in Matthew
7:13,14 " Enter in by the narrow gate(the King James calls it the Straight gate.) for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.!!! Remember Jesus also said " Not everyone who says to me, Lord,Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,but the one ho does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 ESV..To be continued..Following Christ.
or should I say are we experiencing the Lord with us daily? That Grand old Apostle John says's it this way, "That which was from the beginning,which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-Life, the Logos. John 1:1, In the beginning was the word and the word was with GOD and the Word was GOD. The same was in the beginning with GOD. At first John and the rest of the Apostles encountered Christ in the flesh, that which we have seen, the eye gate, that which we have heard, the ear gate,and have touched with our hands, the sense of touch, the feeling gate. Then when the Lord Jesus had been crucified, and resurrected on the third day,they all received him except of course, Judas.
John also says's that they proclaim the eternal life which was and always will be with the Father, but will literally be with us, not only eternally in us but physically with us!!! Glory!!! Jesus Christ is the eternal, indestructible life. Praise the Lord! This life is what the Apostles lived, moved, and breathed in daily, and out of this life that they experienced, they proclaimed Him. The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Life Eternal. Now look at this the Apostle's experienced the trinitarian fellowship with the Father,Son,and the Holy Spirit. 1st John 3:24b, "And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."Remember this was penned by the one who used to lay in the Lord's bosom.
Also notice that they had continual Joy, which is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the source of steadfast strength and the spiritual ability to suffer,endure pressure for a long time. (That's why the King James calls it long suffering),the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." ESV. Notice the intimate language the Apostle uses, that which his experience with the Lord. He goes into eternity past, before the world was created,concerning the Word of it long suffering. So what's the difference with the Apostles,beside their calling, placement and function in the body. Let me mention,that no saint, can ever be what the original eleven and 12 with the addition of Matthias, were called to be, they are the foundational Apostles in the body ,which becomes the New Jerusalem. They will always be set as such. But, in the past, present and future, there are and will be apostles sent by the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas were and I could list at least 10 more found in the New Testament. Not only did the Apostles have this continued experience of fellowship, the early church had it too. Read the book of Acts and note the life style of the early church saints. Have you noticed that after you encountered Christ many of us, accept for a few don't always have that joy and that original intimate relationship or fellowship that we did when we first met Jesus. Come on let's be real. The secret is found in the words of our Lord Jesus, when he says's in Matthew
7:13,14 " Enter in by the narrow gate(the King James calls it the Straight gate.) for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.!!! Remember Jesus also said " Not everyone who says to me, Lord,Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,but the one ho does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 ESV..To be continued..Following Christ.
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