A Moment for Perspective

Brethren,


Remember that amidst the concerns of Libya and budget issues/potential federal government shut-down (both of which are heavily relevant to American citizens and rightly capture our attention), we would do well to remember in our prayers before the Father several other issues on the world stage. Major, potentially world-changing events are happening or have happened. 


Governments have been toppled. Totalitarian regimes are being challenged. Protesters are being massacred. 


Far beyond weightiness of rising gas prices (which in the US are still a third of the cost that Europeans pay at the pump) and the monumental significance of Charlie Sheen's latest exploits, or Lindsay Lohan's most recent rehab session, millions of people, including many of our Christian brothers and sisters, are in very real chaos, turmoil, or life-threatening danger.


Please remember in prayer:


-Japan: pray for recovery and relief from the tsunami devastation, that the unstable nuclear reactors may come under control, and that the Gospel would take deep root and produce much fruit in an otherwise gospel-drought nation


For Nations that have undergone or are undergoing severe political unrest, violence, and government upheaval, pray that there might be good, just governments in these lands that have been wracked by injustice and tyranny for ages, and pray that the God who causes all empire to rise and fall would direct these events in lands of biblical origin, that many might come to saving faith in Him: 


-Bahrain
-Yemen 
-Egypt 
- Syria 
- Libya 
- The Ivory Coast


-Brazil (we have several Brazilian students here at the seminary whose families were directly/indirectly affected by this tragedy): pray for the grieving families of children killed in the tragic school shooting, and for the nation of people who are unused to instances of this kind of violence that we in the USA are, sadly, finding ourselves more and more un-phased. Pray also that God would get gospel glory and the Word would go forth and accomplish what he purposes for it, amidst the tragedy and heartache.


Consider the word of II Thessalonians 3:1 to be from your Christian brothers and sisters in these regions:


Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you.