‘The refugee issue concerns everyone and there is a need of cooperation and common efforts to tackle it.’ said the Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Poposki, when speaking at the annual ambassadors’ conference in Skopje. The conference was also attended by the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Albanian Foreign Minister. During the trilateral meeting Mr Poposki said, ‘The refugee issue cannot be solved individually, there is a need for cooperation with everyone in Europe in order to tackle the pressure. Macedonia is looking for cooperation with countries in central and western Europe where these migrants are heading and where they wish to end their journey. Macedonia and Bulgaria are countries with a common border and common fate and we have to cooperate. This year we welcome foreign ministers from Bulgaria and Albania at the annual ambassadors’ conference. This is proof of developing good neighbourly relations.’
The faith of Usain Bolt in five tweets
27 Aug 2015
He is the world's fastest man. Bolt is also a Bible-believing, God-honouring, Jesus-worshipping Christian. But other than crossing himself and offering silent prayers at the start of each race, he is relatively reserved about his faith. However, the occasional tweet reveals a faith that is centred around praise and gratitude. Here are five moments that give us an insight into Bolt's Christian faith: ‘I want to thank GOD for everything he has done for me ‘cause without him none of this would be possible.’ ‘Way up I feel blessed.’ ‘Never forget the true meaning of the day #GoodFriday.’ ‘Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.’ And ‘Give thanks for another day’, followed by an image of the Lord’s Prayer.
1,360 new Christians at Soul Survivor
27 Aug 2015
Christian youth organisation Soul Survivor has announced that 1,360 young people became Christians at its festivals this Summer. The events in July and September have seen tens of thousands gather at the sites in Staffordshire, Scotland and Somerset. Speaking on Premier's News Hour, spokesman Jonny Goodchild said, ‘It has been absolutely amazing. I don't think we're doing anything special - we're just thankful for all God is doing.’ Calling on youth workers to continue to invest in the young people who've found faith, he said, ‘It's that day-to-day relational youth work, getting alongside these young people, really journeying with them. Programmes are important but I think it's far more about relationship.’ Soul Survivor and other Christian festivals are, in many ways, a highlight of the youth ministry year; they're our 21st-century equivalent of a pilgrimage to the Temple. In our age of cynicism it's easy to get jaded, but this rhythm and pattern of youth ministry life is something to celebrate.
In his 2010 book, Erwin Lutzer uses the example of Germany and Hitler’s Third Reich to reveal trends that can transform a modern, educated, well developed society into a oppressive, barbarous, genocidal one that caused the deaths of tens of millions before and during World War II. As you read it, you will most likely see some of the same kind of trends appearing in our own nations, especially in the West. For prayer people, understanding such patterns and where they lead can be helpful in counteracting such moves through prayer and action before they bear such horrific fruit.
In brief, the trends and principles he identifies from Nazi Germany that are also chapter headings in his book are:
- When God is separated from the government, judgment follows.
- It’s always the economy.
- That which is legal might also be evil.
- Propaganda can change a nation.
- Parents- not the state- are responsible for a child’s training.
- Ordinary heroes can make a difference.
- We must exalt the Cross in the gathering darkness.
We would do well to observe our own nations in light of these findings, being ready to pray proactively and act accordingly. When a Nation Forgets God is a valuable resource and is available through Amazon.com.
The Global Isaachar Group for South Asia met for the first time in Sri Lanka in August. Forty mostly senior leaders from the region (plus a few Westerners) came together for sharing insights and prayer. Presentations were made about the battle between darkness and light in each nation, and we noticed some of the similarities between the various gods that were still worshipped by millions in the region.
During the consultation we had many times of prayer. At one of them there was a spontaneous time of reconciliation between leaders from what we call P land and Indian brothers & sisters. This was deemed very important and moving. The very next day the news came that the PM's of each country agreed to meet the following week for talks - a major breakthrough!
Some of the comments from the participants included "the best consultation", "I've met the real generals in God's army", "deeply moving and precious time together", "an awesome event", "I was blessed by the depth and wisdom of the participants", "an incredible event - lots of insights and learning to put into practice" "all the brothers and sisters who shared from vast repertoire of experience and knowledge." Our hosts - all of them senior leaders within Sri Lanka - were wonderful and gracious. Christ oozed out of them.
The GIG (as we call it) is a task force of the International Prayer Council. We would like to see similar consultations in other regions of the world. It is important for us all to have understanding of the times - about the prevailing influences - both current and historic - which keep millions of people in bondage. We need to understand how, through strategic prayer, we can be influential in changing the spiritual atmosphere and bringing Christ's freedom to them.
So, to God be the glory! Pray for the S. Asia core group that will take this initiative forward into the future. I believe it is a new day for the region. "For the first time", the participants said, "we have discovered a South Asian identity"!
In Christ,
Brian.
Stratfor.com
August 15, 2015 | 17:57 GMT
A spate of bombings across Baghdad left 24 people dead Aug. 15, Reuters reported. The blasts went off in Taji to the north, Jisr Diyala, Madaen, Iskan and other areas. The deadliest of these was carried out in the Shiite district of Habibiya and killed 15, wounding 35 others. Earlier, an Islamic State truck bombing in Sadr City killed 70 people Aug. 13. The Iraqi military and allied militant groups are currently fighting the Islamic State in Sunni-dominated areas of Iraq. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is attempting to prevent the country from further fragmentation.
Please pray for the unity of the Christian leaders in Iraq, many of whom we have heard are quite divided. Unless they come together and get reconciled, the evil one can further exploit the situation and divide and destroy the nation. This is a crucial matter that needs our prayers so that Iraq can be healed and restored with its enemies driven out. The spiritual leaders of a nation set the tone for the political ones.
Jonathan Cahn
MESSAGE FROM JONATHAN CAHN: AUGUST 2015 – YouTube
Published on Aug 11, 2015
Jonathan Cahn gives an important word for believers regarding where we are and things to come - to answer the deluge of questions which have been pouring in from around the world.
"The Lord laughs at the wicked for he knows their day is coming." Ps 37:13
MONSOON FLOODING
Pakistan is going through some hard times, first with extreme heat with thousands dying. Now the monsoons have hit and there is heavy flooding across much of the country. Several years ago we had extremely heavy flooding. In the last two years Tarbala and Mangla (two of the largest dams in the world) have been very low with not enough water for irrigation. Both dams are now full to within a foot of the top. And the monsoons are not over yet. To let the water go means even more flooding in the lower plains. There are more than a million people who have lost homes, cities, livestock. Fields are being swept away. Our tribal people who live on the edge of the desert and perhaps get 1/2 inch of rain a year say their mud homes are standing in water and collapsing. For those of you from the west, think of this - people have no insurance, no help. When they lose everything, they become destitute.
PRAYER
Ø Pray for those who have lost everything and are destitute.
Ø Pray against the misuse of aid. Al Qaeda is taking foreign aid and distributing it as aid from themselves.
Ø The right control of the distribution of flood water. The pirs are blasting river dams on the wrong side to save their demonic strongholds and diverting water to where large populations of people live.
THE FALL OF EVIL LEADERS- God works miraculously.
Jehoshaphat prayed when the enemy was upon them, and then went out and found that God had gone before them and destroyed the enemy. Several of the most dangerous leaders in the world have been removed.
The Taliban announced that Mullah Omar has died - in a Pakistani Hospital about 2 years ago. They tried to keep it secret so that there would not be disunity in the group. The top contender to replace him is Maulana Akhtar Mansoor. In Pakistan the leader of the largest Taliban group along the Afghan border died this week. He has been replaced by his son.
In Pakistan, let's turn our attention to A.Q. that works throughout the world. Malik Ishaq Gullani was killed when some of his people tried to rescue him from a police escort. He and two of his sons were killed along with 15 others of his group. He was one of the most dangerous A.Q. leaders, a genius in strategy. He was in on the planning of September 11; he planned the Mumbai attack in India; the list is endless in Pakistan and around the world. He was in on starting the training school in Pakistan that sends thousands of terrorists around the world. He also trained over 200,000 suicide bombers.
God says, "The Lord laughs at the wicked for he knows their days are numbered "
Like Jehoshaphat who brought the people together and first prayed, we also must do the same. "Pray and I will hear and answer." PRAISE God that these leaders in the T. and A.Q. have been removed by God. PRAY as there is tremendous infighting in these groups as to who will take their place. PRAY that like the enemies of Jehoshaphat they will fight amongst themselves and destroy each other.
Thank you for praying. These are miraculous answers to prayer.
Continue to PRAY for four areas of the country we have been praying for- that prayer might be built up and that they might go into these strongholds and pray and see God bring them down with the terrorist leaders.
August 13, 2015 | 12:07 GMT
Chadian President Idriss Deby said Aug. 12 that Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram, which now calls itself Wilayat al-Sudan al-Gharbi, has elected a new leader, heightening speculation that the previous chief, Abubakar Shekau, may have been killed, This Day Live reported Aug. 13. The new leader reportedly is Mahamat Daoud. Shekau has not been seen any of the group's videos for months. Chadian efforts to to combat Boko Haram have succeeded in decapitating the group, Deby said, and the campaign will be completed by the end of 2015. Small groups of Boko Haram members remain scattered throughout northeastern Nigeria, near the Cameroonian border, he said. Jihadist groups continue to function even after their leaders are killed.
BBC.com
Thank God that progress is being made in overcoming the Boko Haram terrorists. Pray that their new leader will be brought to justice along with all the BH members who have carried out so much destruction in West Africa. Pray for the return of all their captives and for the healing and restoration of the areas they have harmed.