Siria Confirma Ca Doua Sute De Crestini Au Fost Rapiti De ISIS

UPDATE nr. 2 – (26 feb. ) 220 de crestini au fost rapiti, in total ISIS a luat 250 de ostateci in Februarie. – http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/02/26/syria-christians-abducted-isil/24043301/

Update nr. 3 (27 feb. 10 EST) – Mission News Network raporteaza ca sunt 350 de crestini asirieni rapiti de ISIS! – https://www.mnnonline.org/news/isis-attacks-scores-of-christians-held-hostage/

Biserica frecventata de cateva dintre familiile rapite de ISIS. Photo credit Open Doors

Faceţi în toată vremea, prin Duhul, tot felul de rugăciuni şi cereri. Vegheaţi la aceasta, cu toată stăruinţa, şi rugăciune pentru toţi sfinţii – Efeseni 6:18

Traducere Agnus Dei, articol Open Doors – Syria: Confirmed – hundreds of Christians abducted by IS si Mission News Network

Citeste primul articol/raport aici – Statul Islamic A Rapit Peste 150 De Crestini din Nord-Estul Siriei

Cel putin 90 de familii asiriene crestine – in total in jur de 200 de persoane – au fost rapite din trei sate de gruparea terorista care se auto-proclama Statul Islamic. Surse din provincia asediata, Hassaka, au raportat ca familii din satele Tel Gouran, Tel Jazira si Tel Hormizd au fost luate si duse in satul Um Al-Masamier, un sat de sunni arabi. Numarul exact de ostatici crestini ramane necunoscut.

Pe langa aceasta, un numar de alte 50, sau mai multe familii, sunt inca sub asediu in satul Tel Shamiram, care este inconjurat de militanti islamici ce apartin gruparii ISIS. Desi luptatorii kurzi conduc un atac de ofensiva impotriva lui ISIS, lupta pentru satul Tel Shamiram continua.

Potrivit spuselor Arhiepiscopului Mar Aprem Nathniel, care slujeste in orasul Hassaka, numai 200 de familii au mai ramas in regiunea Khabour. El estimeaza ca peste 1 000 de familii au fugit din Khabour in orasele Hassaka la Sud si Qamishli, situat in apropierea frontierei cu Turcia.

O Agenda Clara Anti-Crestina

100,000 de sirieni au murit, peste 200 de propietati crestine distruse in Egipt, 2 milioane refugiati dintre care 1 million sunt copii Photo mnnonline.orgMission

Numerele de telefoane a unor sateni asirieni  la care s-a sunat din afara tarii la telefoanele mobile in data de 23 Februarie, au fost raspunse de membri ISIS, a anuntat un grup sustinator al minoritatilor crestine din Orientul Mijlociu numit A Demand For Action (O Solicitare La Actiune). ,,Ei ne-au spus ca sa nu mai sunam din moment ce oricum nu putem face nimic despre situatia lor,” a spus George Kasten, un suedez care incerca sa-si sune familia.

,,Membri gruparii islamice teroriste ISIS au fost foarte clari cu pretentiile lor ,” a spus el. ,,Ei cer ca militia siriana Kurda sa elibereze toti ostaticii ISIS pe care-i retin in momentul de fata. Militantii islamici au amenintat ca daca nu vor da drumul acestor prisonieri, toti oamenii din sat vor muri.”

ISIS a mai facut un astfel de schimb anul trecut cand au retinut diplomati turci si soferi de camioane, dupa ce i-au tinut ostatici timp de cateva luni. Dar propaganda infioratoare cu acel video transmis din Libia ceva mai devreme luna aceasta, care a aratat decapitarea a 21 de crestini egipteni, a accentuat inca odata agenda clara anti-crestina a grupului jihadist. Lunea trecuta, in timpul atacului, o agentie regionala de kurzi, Radaw, a raportat ca a interceptat semnale de radio in care ISIS s-a referit la capturarea a „56 de cruciati.”

Camapanie impotriva bisericilor crestine in orasul Hasakah Photo credit www.cnn.com

„Indeparta-ti crucile”

Exista rapoarte neconfirmate ca bisericile din Tel Hormizd si Tel Shamiram au fost incendiate. La inceputul lunii februarie, militantii islamici ISIS au ordorat crestinilor din regiunea Hassaka sa dea jos crucile de pe bisericile lor si sa fie pregatiti sa plateasca o taxa, cunoscuta sub numele de jizya.

Refugiati asirieni, cel putin 1.000 familii cu 600 copii – Photo www.ecuadortimes.net

Orasul Hassaka este la numai la 55 de kilometri de frontiera de Est cu Irakul. Provincia este un punct strategic in particular pentru coalitia care lupta impotriva lui ISIS, fiind situata intre Turcia si Irak, regiuni care sunt sub controlul jihadistilor.

Crestinii asirieni au venit in aceasta regiune dupa anul 1933, fugind de masacrul Simele din Regatul Irakului, care era indreptat impotriva etnicitatii asiriene. Ei s-au asezat in satele de-a lungul raului Khabour. Inainte ca razboiul sa inceapa (cu patru ani in urma), in regiune erau peste 400 de mii de crestini asirieni, adica 5 la suta din populatia nationala.

Harta – Ocupatia ISIS din Siria si Irak min 1:20

VIDEO by LSUDVM

VIDEO by CNN

Trei islamişti membri ai grupului SI care intenţionau să deturneze un avion, arestaţi în SUA

Citeste detaliile la link –

Misionara Americana, Phyllis Sortor, a fost rapita de 5 mascati in Nigeria

Phyllis Sortor, misionara si profesoara a fost rapita in Nigeria in 24 Februarie 2015. Photo credit Mission News Network

Sa ne unim in rugaciune pentru Phyllis Sortor. Aceasta misionara a fost rapita de 5 mascati in Emiworo, statul Kogi, Nigeria. Cinci barbati mascati inarmati au atacat  scoala Hope Academy si au luat-o ostatec pe Phyllis Sortorpe. Motivul, initial nu a fost cunoscut, dar astazi, International Christian Concern raporteaza ca mascatii au cerut $300.000 pentru eliberarea ei, suma care familia misionarei nu o detine. Departamentul de Stat SUA si FBI-ul sunt activi in cazul acestei misionare impreuna cu autoritatile locale din Nigeria spre a rezolva aceasta situatie.

ENGLISH:

Please join us in prayer for this missionary’s safe return!!
Details from International Christian Concern (ICC) – On Monday, U.S. missionary  Phyllis Sortor was kidnapped by 5 masked men in Nigeria. The group has demanded a $300,000 ransom for her return; however, her family has stated that they cannot afford it. The U.S. State Department & FBI are currently partnering with local authorities to find and rescue Sortor as soon as possible.

(Photo cred: Clear Blue Water Project via Mission News Network)

Lazar Gog – Cinci Paradoxuri: Ce inseamna Suntem mari cand suntem mici

Photo credit www.parenting.com

Citeste –

1. 1. Primul paradox: Traim prin a muri
2. 2. Al doilea paradox: Ne odihnim in jug

3. Al treilea paradox: Suntem mari cand suntem mici

 Suntem mari numai cand suntem mici. Matei 18:4 – De aceea, oricine se va smeri ca acest copilaş va fi cel mai mare în Împărăţia cerurilor. Felul in care un copilas se smereste este faptul ca il certi, il pedepsesti si ii spui: Acuma, vino si spune ‘I’m sorry mom, dad, bunu’ (imi pare rau, mami sau tati sau bunu) imi dai un pupic si esti ok.” Si copilasul te asculta. Ce inseamna sa fii mare cand esti mic? In paginile Sfintelor Scripturi, in intelepciunea lui Dumnezeu avem mai multe lucruri.

1. Stapanire de sine – Primul lucru: inseamna sa ai stapanire de sine. Proverbe 16:32 –  Cel încet la mânie preţuieşte mai mult decât un viteaz, şi cine este stăpân pe sine preţuieşte mai mult decât cine cucereşte cetăţi. – dar ii lipseste mandria. Proverbe 25:28 – Omul care nu este stăpân pe sine este ca o cetate surpată şi fără ziduri. – Tot ce vine, primeste, toate vanturile te intorc, te dau peste cap.

2. Lepadare de sine – A fi mare cand esti mic inseamna lepadare de sine cand esti folosit de Domnul. Ap. Pavel spune in Romani 15:18 – Căci n-aş îndrăzni să pomenesc niciun lucru pe care să nu-l fi făcut Hristos prin mine, ca să aducă Neamurile la ascultarea de El: fie prin cuvântul meu, fie prin faptele mele, – departe de mine gandul, spune ap. Pavel, printre Romani si pretutindeni pe unde a umblat el, un lucru, o minune,  o predica buna, o putere in rugaciune, o imbarbatare, un lucru pe care sa nu-L fi facut Hristos prin mine, nu eu am facut. Asta inseamna sa fi mic in ochii tai, dar sa fii mare in ochii Domnului.

Ap. Petru si ap. Ioan, dupa ce s-au rugat si prin ei, Dumnezeu a savarsit acea minune de la Poarta Frumoasa de la Templu, paraliticul acela a fost vindecat si toata lumea a venit: „Petre, Petre, Peter, da sa-ti pup mana.” Se aplecau inaintea lui, fiti siguri ca asta-i reactia la minune. Ce le spune Petru? „De ce va uitati la noi ca si cand noi am facut lucrul acesta? Nu, ci lucrul acesta a fost facut de Isus Hristos pe care voi l-ati rastignit, dar pe care Dumnezeu L-a inviat din morti  si care a spus: Eu am toata puterea in cer si pe pamant. Noi nu suntem decat niste vase in mana Lui.” Unelte in mana Lui si ce bine sa fii unealta sfanta, un vas de cinste.

3. Smerenie – Cand esti mic in ochii tai, atunci te ridica Dumnezeu. Te promoveaza Dumnezeu si iti da un nume bun, o semnificatie mare. Profetul Samuel, inspirat de Duhul Domnului, vorbeste din partea lui Dumnezeu cu imparatul Saul. Daca va uitati in 1 Samuel 15:17, spunea acolo Cuvantul Domnului: Samuel a zis: „Când erai mic în ochii tăi, n-ai ajuns tu căpetenia seminţiilor lui Israel şi nu te-a uns Domnul ca să fii împărat peste Israel? – Era mic si pentru ca a fost mic, Dumnezeu l-a facut mare.

Stiti, pe acest exemplu, il auzim mereu si este drept. Daca noi, fiind aici, aproape de Los Angeles, du-te la New York, cele mai inalte cladiri.Oriunde vei merge si vei citi  istoricul celei mai inalte cladiri din lume care exista la ora actuala, adevarul este acesta: cu cat o cladire este mai inalta sus, cu atat este mai adanca jos. Are o parte mare in pamant, pentru ca altfel nu sta in picioare. Ap. Petru spunea: Smeriţi-vă, dar, sub mâna tare a lui Dumnezeu, pentru ca, la vremea Lui, El să vă înalţe. – 1 Petru 5:6. Faceti-va mici in ochii Domnului. 

Toni Berbece – Duhul Sfant precum in Hristos asa si in noi

VIDEO by Prodocens Media

Marturie – Costel Busuioc

VIDEO by Prodocens Media

Do Not Rejoice When Your Enemies Fall

Before Christmas we looked at the tragic end of Israel’s first king, Saul. Today, I want us to spend a few moments contemplating the response of David to this news as seen in 2 Samuel 1.

Saul had been a disaster for Israel and a deadly enemy toward David. We could easily forgive David if he had rejoiced at Saul’s death.

But instead, David honors the office of King, the anointing of the Lord and the image of God in every man. He chooses to grieve, and in his lament thinks of the best things he can recount about a man of whom a lot of negative things could legitimately have been sung.

And as for the messenger who proudly (and falsely) claimed to have killed the king, well his “reward” was swift and final.

To me, it says a lot about David’s character that at this critical moment he chose to celebrate the few positive aspects of this man. In fact, he honors the life of Saul his enemy right alongside the life of Jonathan his closest friend.

What of you?

When a leader who has been bringing disrepute to the church is removed from the scene, do you rejoice or mourn? Do you jump onto the blogging bandwagon circling like vultures over the corpse of someone’s ministry? Or do you grieve over what might have been and try and find positive things to say about the one who was once chosen and anointed by God?

Despite the fact God himself has chosen to remove that cloak of blessing, we do well to pause for a moment and recognize how God did work through them, no matter how flawed they were. A ministry collapse, or worse yet a death, should not cause us to self-righteously point the finger in our imagined superiority. Rather the frailty of that person should remind us of our own frailty. And the grace of God, which can even use a donkey, should be celebrated.

Sometimes when a minister falls, those who were saved listening to their sermons are perplexed about the apparent anomaly of God using such an imperfect vessel. Others worry about the validity of their baptism if it was administered by someone who seems to have subsequently demonstrated they were a fake. But the truly humble recognize that when it comes to God choosing a human being to use, only imperfect, broken and flawed people are available.

David himself would later fail in a dramatic way. The frailty of others should remind us that it really is true that “there but for the grace of God go I!” When we read of the latest scandal, instead of rubbing our hands in glee, we should fall to our knees and implore God to keep his restraining and enabling hand of grace upon us.

Adrian Warnock at http://www.churchleaders.com/worship/worship-articles/248413-not-rejoice-enemies-fall.html

You Cannot Serve Both God and Theology

It’s possible to love what we’re learning about God more than we love God himself.

Photo Churchleaders.com

Jesus himself says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24; see also Hebrews 13:5). The God of Christianity and the god of money are irreconcilably opposed. They cannot room together in the human heart. If you find yourself serving money—consuming yourself with earning, gathering and spending—by definition you are not serving God.

But is money more spiritually dangerous than theology? The answer may be trickier than we think, especially within the numbing comfort of a proudly affluent and educated American Church. Money is a tangible, countable, often visible god. Theology, on the other hand—if it is cut off from truly knowing and enjoying God himself—can be a soothing, subtle, superficially spiritual god. Both are deadly, but one lulls us into a proud, intellectual, and purely cosmetic confidence and rest before God. Theology will kill you if it does not kindle a deep and abiding love for the God of the Bible and if it does not inspire a desire for his glory, and not ultimately our own.

Good Theology Is the Only Path to God

Now, I love theology, and you should, too. Paul’s one aim in life and ministry was to know Christ and him crucified (i.e., to know Christian theology), and he wanted to know God in Christ as truly and thoroughly as possible, with all of its implications for everything he thinks and says and does (1 Corinthians 2:2). You cannot read this man’s letters and not come to the conclusion that theology was his heartbeat. He lived to know as much about this unsearchable God as possible, and he was ready to die for those truths.

Psalm 119 is a passionate love letter written to the revelation of God in his word. What we know about God from the Bible is unbelievably, inexhaustibly profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness and life (2 Timothy 3:16; John 6:68).

Without theology, you will not know God—literally and spiritually. So, this article is not meant to be a prohibition against theology—God forbid—but a caution and a warning about theology. Knowledge about God can replace an authentic knowing of him to our destruction, especially for the theologically refined and convinced. We all should want our theology to be not only true, but Spirit-filled and fruitful.

The Best Readers Can Be the Worst Listeners

The Pharisees fought Jesus at every turn. They doubted and even hated much of what he said and did, and tried again and again to trap him in a lie or inconsistency. They had read God’s word over and over again. They knew this book really well—or so it seemed—and yet they did not know the Word living, breathing and speaking in front of them—the Word through whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made that was made (John 1:3), the Word who became flesh and walked the earth (John 1:14), the Word who is the perfect picture of God and who upholds the universe with the words of his mouth (Hebrews 1:3).

Mark recounts one of these confrontations between Jesus and the so-called spiritual experts of his day. “The Pharisees and the scribes asked [Jesus], ‘Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’” (Mark 7:5). We know this was not Pharisaical humility and genuine curiosity (Matthew 12:14; 22:15). This was defiance—an attempt to undermine and shame the Son of God.

They were so confident in their theology that they confronted the Christ himself. They tried to pin him down under the feather-weight and wading-pool-depth of their theology—the One who was the fulfillment and pinnacle of all the pages they had read. They challenged God’s own understanding of God. Their education and pride—their knowledge and confidence in their own system—had blinded them to the very image and voice of God. They knew so much about God, and yet knew him so little.

By Marshall Segal – Read the entire post here – http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/247944-cannot-serve-god-theology.html/2

ISIS : Dozens of Assyrian Christians reported abducted by ISIS in Northern Syria (Feb 24, 2015)

Photo credit iswsyria.blogspot.com

BEIRUT (AP) — The Islamic State militants struck before dawn, staging house-to-house raids in a cluster of villages nestled along the Khabur River in northeastern Syria. They abducted at least 70 Christians — many of them women and children — while thousands of others fled to safer areas.

The captives’ fate was unclear Tuesday, a day after they were seized, and relatives said mobile phone service was cut off and land lines also were not going through, adding to the fear and uncertainty about their loved ones. Heavy fighting was reported in the area.

The Islamic State group has a history of killing captives, including foreign journalists, Syrian soldiers and Kurdish militiamen. Most recently, militants in Libya affiliated with the extremist group released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians.

The group’s bloody campaign in Syria and Iraq, where it seeks to form a self-styled caliphate, has repeatedly targeted religious minorities since it took control of a third of both countries. The United States and coalition of regional partners are conducting a campaign of airstrikes against the group.

The militants struck near the town of Tal Tamr in Hassakeh province, an area predominated by Assyrian Christians. Most of the captives came from Tal Shamiram and some from Tal Hurmiz.

Nuri Kino, the head of a group called A Demand For Action, said between 70 and 100 Assyrians were taken captive. About 3,000 people fled and have sought refuge in the cities of Hassakeh and Qamishli, he said, adding that his activist group based its information on conversations with villagers who fled the attack and their relatives. His group focuses on religious minorities in the Middle East.

„Have they been slaughtered? Are they still alive? We’re searching for any news,” said an Assyrian Christian woman from Tal Shamiram who now lives in Beirut. The woman said she has been trying to find out what has become of her parents, her brother and his wife and their children, but couldn’t reach anyone in the village.

Read more here – http://www.theindependent.com

SYRIA – Dozens of Assyrian Christians

kidnapped by Islamic State

VIDEO by FRANCE 24 English