Psalms 26
1. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
2. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
Ramin Parsa, an ex-Muslim Christian pastor who was stabbed in Iran, imprisoned in Turkey, and then arrested in the Mall of America for sharing his testimony with interested Muslim women, faces a settlement conference in March and likely a trial in April. The state of Minnesota has continued to prosecute his case, even though the Mall of America was wrong to accuse him of trespassing in the first place.
In late August 2018, Parsa was visiting the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minn. Two Somali-American women spoke with him and asked him if he was still a Muslim. When he said he was not, they asked him to explain. At this point, another lady complained to mall security. Security took Parsa into custody, holding him handcuffed to a metal chair for four hours without water, and then turning him over to the police.
While the Mall of America seems the main culprit in Parsa’s story, the state of Minnesota has taken up the case. “Actually in my hearing documents, it says ‘state of Minnesota vs. Ramin Parsa.’ So the state is my oppressor,” the pastor told PJ Media on Thursday. He also shared a report from his lawyer detailing the results of a pre-trial hearing that took place on December 11.
Learn more at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org/PrayerApp
Friends, Christians in Algeria ask for prayer for five Christians recently acquitted of proselytizing and blasphemy charges. While our Algerian brothers and sisters rejoice in these acquittals, they note that these brothers still face many challenges not uncommon for North African Christian believers from Muslim backgrounds.
For example, in one case that includes four men who left Islam to follow Jesus, the prosecutor has appealed the acquittal verdict and has requested another hearing for January 20.
Another Christian brother from Algeria’s Ain-Delfa province was forced to take his family and flee his farm after his wife’s family discovered his conversion from Islam. They family found him and persuaded his wife to accuse him of insulting Islam and file for divorce. Under Islamic law, the divorce was granted, and his wife was granted custody of their daughters.
Pray that the four Christians’ acquittals will not be overturned on appeal and that they would know the Lord’s peace, wisdom and guidance in the face of ongoing challenges.
Pray with our brother from Ain-Defla—that God would give him special strength to face the separation from his family and to find another job soon.
Pray there would be just laws and greater societal tolerance towards Christians in Algeria.
And pray that those responsible for the intimidation of Christians would know the conviction of the Holy Spirit and ultimately, forgiveness and new life in Jesus.
*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
Psalms 25
2. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
8. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11. For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
Learn more at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org/PrayerApp
Friends, please pray for Christian believers in East India as around 13 families were recently forced to leave their villages. A local partner of Open Doors shares, “The Hindu extremists … are polluting the minds of the villagers and instilling hatred against the Christians. This results in such expulsion of Christians.”
Recently in East India a woman was allegedly burned alive because of her faith. Following the murder, the villagers began to protest and threaten Christians demanding they leave the village. The Christians were frightened and fled. They are now living on the outskirts of the village in their fields. Their pastor reports, “It is very cold, and they do not have proper clothing and food.“
Even under such distressing circumstances, these families still go to a nearby village to attend a prayer meeting. Unfortunately, however, the people from their home village have followed them there and continue to threaten them.
Please pray the believers in East India would find strength in the power of His might.
Pray the believers would have proper shelter, clothing and food.
Pray the believers will have courage and cling to Jesus in these difficult circumstances.
*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
Learn more at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org/PrayerApp
We just received an urgent prayer request from our Open Doors partners in Bangladesh. The home of two Christians, Nasima Begam and Azgar Ali, was tragically destroyed after midnight on January 20th. A group of people—including their neighbor—showed up on their property with sickles and shouted, “Drive the Christians away!” and “We will kill you right now!”
Sadly, Nasima and Azgar’s neighbor has been threatening them since their decision to convert and follow Jesus about 10 years ago. “He threatened to kill us if we do not renounce our faith in Christ and return to Islam,” says Nasima. However, not only did Nasima and Azgar refuse to renounce their faith in Jesus, but they also reached out to others with the good news. As a result, a church was born near their home where believers gather to worship God.
Unfortunately, now Nasima and Azgar are in hiding along with their young children. Where their house once stood, corn is now planted in an effort to keep them from returning. The neighbor and group also ransacked the church—destroying Bibles, worship song books and other Christian materials.
Open Doors partners report that they are afraid this situation may cause some in the community to return to Islam.
Please pray for the protection of Nasim, Azgar and their family, and the other believers in the community.
Pray for these believers to stand firm in their faith and depend on God.
Pray that God gives local Christians wisdom on how to handle this situation.
Pray the authorities and police will take steps to protect Nasima and Azgar’s rights.
*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
Psalms 24
A Psalm of David.
1. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Psalms 23
A Psalm of David.
1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
The Vatican may learn the hard way that the Communist Chinese government does not honor its agreements. Beijing may attempt to extort even more concessions from the Vatican, just as the Chinese regime demands ever more surrender of sovereignty from western companies that do business in China.
It is also highly dubious that the Vatican will purchase peace by this pact: the regime will continue to persecute the Church. If the Communist regime is true to form, thousands more crosses will be taken down from Christian churches, especially in areas that have a high Christian population.
The courageous elders of Chinese Catholicism, who have endured decades of government persecution and regime efforts to divide the Church, may be seen by their flocks as having been bypassed by the Vatican. Many, if not most, Chinese Catholics are likely to view this agreement as a cynical political betrayal by the Vatican rather than a faith-based decision.
“In light of this dismal record, it seems that prudence and caution would seem to be the order of the day in Vatican negotiations with the totalitarians in charge in Beijing, at whose most recent Party Congress religion was once again declared the enemy of Communism.” — George Weigel, Catholic author and political analyst.
Mark 14
3. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
4. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5. For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
8. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
9. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Psalms 21
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2. Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
3. For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
4. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
5. His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7. For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
8. Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
10. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
11. For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
12. Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
13. Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Psalms 20
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1. The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2. Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3. Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
6. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.
Psalms 19
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
2 Peter 3
3. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Well worth your time, very informative.
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This is a long explanation for why there is evil, and how it is understood in a Christian Worldview.
Sources:
God and the Problem of Evil – William Rowe
Blackwell’s Companion to Natural Theology – JP Moreland and William Lane Craig
Why Does God Allow Evil – Clay Jones
The Oxford Handbook of Philosophical Theology – Michael C. Rea
The Nature of Necessity – Alvin Plantinga
Letters to a Christian Nation – Sam Harris
The Problem of Pain – CS Lewis
Mere Christianity – CS Lewis
The Rape of Nanking – Iris Chang
Ordinary People and Extraordinary Evil – Fred E. Katz
How Can We Commit The Unthinkable? – Israel Charny
Shantung Compound – Langdon Gilkey
https://ourworldindata.org/ethnograph…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s4146…
Milgram Experiments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdUu3…
https://www.simplypsychology.org/milg…
https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com…
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases…
Darwinism and Christianity Redux – Michael Ruse
The Denial of Death – Ernest Becker
How Long, O Lord?: Reflections of Suffering and Evil – D. A. Carson
Free of Charge – Mirslov Volf
Exclusion and Embrace – Mirslov Volf
2011 Ligonier Conference – R. C. Sproul
https://www.ligonier.org/blog/2011-li…
https://www.premierchristianradio.com…
Divine Action – Keith Ward
Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview – William Lane Craig and JP Moreland
The Rebel – Albert Camus
The New Problem of Evil – NT Wright
https://vimeo.com/10785299
A Laymans Discourse 
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