Monday, 30 May 2016

Seven-fold rise in the persecution of Chinese Christians - premier

Seven-fold rise in the persecution of Chinese Christians - premier:





Massacre at Tiananmen Square anniversary - copyright ZUMA/REX









Seven-fold rise in the
persecution of Chinese Christians 

Sun 29 May 2016 

By Hannah Tooley 

There has been a seven-fold rise in the persecution of Christians in
China since 2008, according to a new report by an anti-persecution
charity. 

Release International has said that China is seeking "complete
control over the nation's churches" and that it wants to replace
"Christ as the head of the church with submission to the Communist
Party".

Matthew Compston from Release International told Premier that
persecution is getting worse in the country.

He said: "It is getting very bad, there's one province... where our
partners verified that by the end of last year, by the end of 2015, more than
20 churches had been forcibly demolished, 1,300 crosses had been removed from
church buildings."

In Zheijang, the most Christian part of China, more than 60 Christians
were administratively or criminally detained, and at least 28 pastors and Christians
were arrested or charged with a crime.

China has increased its crackdown on Christians and churches in recent
years with a strict policy of the removal of crosses from the outside of church
buildings.

The authorities say crosses must be removed for health and safety
reasons.



Abba - Take A Chance On Me

Thursday, 26 May 2016

SOVEREIGN GOD, Thy cause, not my own, engages my heart, Valley of Vision, Banner of Truth



SOVEREIGN GOD,

Thy cause, not my own, engages my heart,
      and I appeal to thee with greatest freedom
  to set up thy kingdom in every place
    where Satan reigns;
Glorify thyself and I shall rejoice,
  for to bring honour to thy name is my sole desire.
I adore thee that thou art God,
  and long that others should know it, feel it,
    and rejoice in it.
O that all men might love and praise thee,
  that thou mightest have all glory
    from the intelligent world!
Let sinners be brought to thee for thy dear name!
To the eye of reason everything respecting
    the conversion of others is as dark as midnight,
But thou canst accomplish great things;
  the cause is thine,
  and it is to thy glory that men should be saved.
Lord, use me as thou wilt,
  do with me what thou wilt;
    but, O, promote thy cause,
  let thy kingdom come,
  let thy blessed interest be advanced
    in this world!
O do thou bring in great numbers to Jesus!
  let me see that glorious day,
  and give me to grasp for multitudes of souls;
  let me be willing to die to that end;
  and while I live let me labour for thee
    to the utmost of my strength,
    spending time profitably in this work,
    both in health and in weakness.
It is thy cause and kingdom I long for,
    not my own.

Valley of Vision, Banner of Truth


Today's post

Jesus Christ, The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever

I had the privilege to be raised in a Christian Home and had the input of my parents and grandparents into my life, they were ...