Recommended website- http://www.compassbraille.org/

I have come across a good website recently - a charity that is working with many different languages and enabling them to get Christian literature out to many languages in Asia and beyond.

Compass braille are doing amazing work in getting the scriptures and other Christian literature out to Thai, Mongolian and many Indian languages as well as now European, Oceanic and African languages.

Chexk them out on www.compassbraille.org

RE Comments - welcome! (In most cases)

Dear blog readers - just a quick note: I have changed settings and still allowed comments, but these are hidden at present. Sadly someone sent 3 nasty (and rather incomprehensible!) comments that forced me to do so. I really appreciate the responses people have made recently, and welcome discussion and feedback.

Even if you disagree strongly with my posts and blog, I'd like to hear from you. There is no point however in writing offensive ranting comments about unrelated topics, because this does not convince bloggers that you have something worth saying.

When the blogosphere has calmed down a bit I may change back to where I was. Some bloggers insist now people leave an IP address (some programmes automatically do so). I think that is intrusive personally, and being anon can be a helpful vehicle, despite abuses.

India's North-East - Hope for India

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rctravel/sets/513184/

Missions challenge of North India

India, not least the North of India, has long been regarded as a challenge for the gospel. Since the times of early missionaries such as William Carey, the North has been a particular challenge.
Today the South of India has proportionally larger numbers of Christians in it's states than the North. States in the north with a significantly largely population of muslims, with strong Hindu nationalist movements and the Punjab with it's Sikh population, present challenges to the gospel. Northern states such as Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat have experienced unrest from both internal and external sources.

But one part of India that has seen a move of God, despite some of the challenges, is the North-East and particularily Nagaland.

In this article I want to share some of what God has been doing. This acts as a shining example in Asia of what God can do, and how he can inspire a people with a vision to reach beyond their own people into the region. A region surrounded with such places as Burma, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, China and many unreached peoples within India itself.

Nagaland

Nagaland- not exactly the most well-known of places on the global directory,... did you know where it is?

But for those concerned about missions and intercession in Asia, Nagaland is significant. Undoubtedly the state in India where there are more Chistians by percentage than any other. Nagaland has experienced tremendous revival in the 1960's and 1970's even in the midst of great difficulty and persecution.

The context of the Nagaland revivals, in the midst of feeling betrayed by greater powers such as India or Britain, exemplifies the mercy of God to a forgotten people.

I recommend Paul Hattaway's recently published work on the Nagas :

'From Head-Hunters to Church Planters' (Piquant editions ISBN 1-903689-37-6).

The testimonies of native Naga believers read at times like chapters of the book of Acts, as God intervened in mercy (and on occasion in judgement too).

Useful links:

http://www.piquanteditions.com/http://www.asiaharvest.org

(re outreach to Asian Ethnic groups)

Let me share an extract from the story just to whet your appetite:

(source

http://www.asiaharvest.org/pages/WhenHeavenCameDown2.htm)

Nagaland, India
When Heaven Came Down
(Part 2)

Deliverance from Attack
In April 1959, a well-known Indian Army Officer, Major Thomas, decided to completely annihilate all the people living in Sendenyu village, a Rengma Naga village near Tseminyu. This village had gained the wrath of the Indians because it had been one of the first villages to hoist the flag of the Independent Republic of Nagaland, and the villagers were known to be active in helping the Naga armies who were hiding out in the mountains.

Two days’ prior to the arrival of Major Thomas and his men, the occupants of Sendenyu were alerted to his diabolical plans to wipe out the people and destroy the village to ashes. The trembling villagers gathered in the church and prayed to the Merciful God for deliverance from the cruel hand of the devil. The Holy Spirit spoke through various members of the congregation and instructed the people on how to receive Major Thomas.

The Lord told them not to be afraid because He was with them. They were to receive the Major at the village gate, on the eastern side, by singing a hymn entitled ‘Let Him In’.

Let us continue the story in the words of eyewitnesses of that day.... “They were to stand in a row, with the Pastor in the front, followed by the little children, then the young girls and women folks and so on. Upon his arrival, everyone should greet him by shaking hands with him, all the while singing the proposed hymn as they escort him to the church.

It was further instructed that once they reached the doorstep of the church the Major’s shoes should be removed and his feet washed. Then he must be made to sit at the pulpit next to the Pastor, and time allotted for him to give a speech....

Before reaching the village, the Major and his troops burned the shacks in the fields that lay on his way. This terrified the villagers, but the Lord God reminded them not to be afraid because He was with them. Upon his arrival at the reception gate at the village entrance, the Pastor, children and everyone in the row greeted him by shaking his hands, singing songs, and escorted him to the church.

At the church entrance, the believers took off the Major’s shoes, washed his feet and made him sit with the Pastor at the pulpit. The congregation prayed for him and gave him time to deliver a speech to them.

Major Thomas then stood up in the pulpit and started to tremble. His voice stammering, he said that he had been sent by the Government of India to destroy the village of Sendenyu. ‘I, therefore, have come to burn down Sendenyu village to ashes and wipe out the people in it.’

The Major continued, saying that his intentions had completely changed at the village gate when he saw the little children singing joyful songs. The next day, Major Thomas left the village with his troops and went to Tsosinyu village, another Rengma village situated on the other side of the Nra River.

Reaching the village, he looked back at Sendenyu and announced that he would supply rice to them [because he had destroyed their fields] as soon as he reached his station at Chiechama village, until the time of the next harvest. And true to his promise, he supplied rice to the village of Sendenyu till harvest that year.”

Lost and Found Child
"Everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:10)

One way that the Lord Jesus Christ showed his loving concern for the plight of the Naga people during their years of turmoil, war, and famine was demonstrated by several examples of lost people being found.

Nichulo Rengma of Nyishunyu village became deeply traumatized when he saw the dead and mutilated body of his father, who had been butchered by Indian soldiers. Nichulo, without saying a word, took a gun and went into the forest, and did not return. The villagers organized search parties, but after three days there was no sight of the boy.

Seven days after his disappearance, a message was sent to various churches, asking the believers to pray for the missing boy. As they prayed, the Holy Spirit gave a vision to the Christians.

In the vision they saw the lost boy sitting under a big brown tree in the forest, east of the timber mill in the Nyishunyu area. When a message was sent to the relatives of the boy, they immediately went to the tree and found the boy sitting there, exactly as the Lord had revealed.

The village of Nyishunyu is far from the church where God gave the vision, so the Christians had absolutely no knowledge of the surroundings where the boy was found.

Release from Execution
“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell.... Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” (Acts 12:7)

In May 1962, Ngaseng Kent and Solomon Kent were arrested by the Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army and were handed over to the 11th Gorkha Regiment for interrogation. They were bound together with iron chains and delivered to the military barracks at a place called Zubza. The two prisoners continually prayed for God’s protection and help.

The church members were also crying out to God and interceding on their behalf. Despite their prayers, their situation seemed to get worse and they were ordered to be shot dead. The two Christian men were forcibly taken outside the tent to be shot. While they waited for the executioner to arrive, the two Naga men prayed and committed their souls to the Lord’s care.

While they were praying, the Holy Spirit revealed to Solomon Kent that he should not be afraid because the Lord was with him in his trial. The executioner arrived and took aim at the two men, bound like animals. They closed their eyes and waited for the bullet to send them into eternity with their loving Savior.

After a few seconds they looked up and saw that the rifle had failed to fire. One of the Indian officers became outraged at the failure of the weapon. He checked the rifle and the bullets and out of intense anger he went to beat the two defenseless men with the rifle butt. As he drew the weapon above his head, however, it stuck in a rope that was holding the tent, and the officer struck himself in the forehead. The officer threw away the gun and began to weep, for he knew the presence of a greater power was against him and his evil intentions.

The prisoners were sent back to their cell, as those in charge thought about what action to take against them. After a while Ngaseng Kent dozed off and had a dream. In his dream the Lord revealed to him that the believers were praying earnestly for him and that he should get up and escape immediately. When he awoke he noted the time was 2 p.m.

After a short prayer, Ngaseng Kent touched the iron chain, which suddenly broke off, setting him free from his shackles! The Indian guards gave chase but could not catch him.

This testimony was not the first time that a Naga Christian had experienced such a miraculous escape. Earlier, in 1957, Kesinga Seb was arrested and taken to the jungle. After praying to the Lord of Lords and asking Him to show Himself strong, the chains binding Kesinga loosened by themselves, allowing him to escape. As he ran off, bullets were fired and grenades were thrown at him by the Indian soldiers, but the Living God granted Seb’s prayer and he escaped unharmed.

Prophecy regarding hailstones

“The Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky.” (Joshua 10:11)

During many revivals around the world, God speaks through the weakness of human vessels with words of prophecy, challenge, or exhortation. Although there are always people who abuse prophecy and claim God is speaking when it is just their own flesh and imaginations, certain messages were surely uttered in the power of the Holy Spirit during the Nagaland revival.

On one occasion at Sendenyu, Rosenle Seb brought a prophecy that if people continued to murmur against the workings of the Holy Spirit, hailstones would be poured down from heaven to undo their unbelief.

No sooner had she finished speaking this message when a storm of hailstones came from the heavens, crashing down on the church roof in broad daylight, without a single drop of accompanying rain. Through many such signs and wonders the fear of God fell on the entire village and many were added to the church.

Raised from the Dead
“He sent forth His Word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave.” (Psalm 107:20)

Of all the miracles that God performs during revivals, the one that causes the most skepticism in the logical minds of many Western believers is when a dead person is raised back to life again. It is particularly strange that some Christians mock such an occurrence, as there are more than ten clear instances of the dead being raised in the Scriptures.

In Nagaland, at least four people were raised from the dead during the revivals. These miracles were witnessed by hundreds of people who have given firsthand testimonies to what they saw. One day, Pastor Kegwahi Kent, the leader of the Sendenyu Baptist Church, fired his weapon; an old muzzle-loading gun such as is used by many people for hunting in Nagaland.

On this occasion, Pastor Kent’s gun exploded near the firing pin, causing serious injury to his face and hands. Over the ensuing days his condition grew worse until he fell unconscious and died. A doctor was summoned who confirmed that Pastor Kent’s heart had stopped functioning and he was indeed dead.

According to Naga tradition, the church bell was rung to notify the community of the tragic death. Funeral arrangements were made. The believers who were attending to the corpse, however, continued to pray for his life, refusing to believe their beloved pastor had so suddenly departed from this life. They pleaded for the Lord to bring Kegwahi Kent back to life. Inwardly, the intercessors sensed the death was the result of a Satanic attack, rather than the will of God wanting to take His servant home.

According to Pastor Kent, after he died he was approached by a person or angel dressed in white who told him not to worry because God had ordained that he would be healed. As the man in white left, Pastor Kent returned to life in his conscious state. Over the coming weeks Kent gradually recovered from the effect of his injuries, and was able to return to the ministry of preaching God’s Word for many more years.

Other Naga men from the Sendenyu area whose lives were supernaturally extended by God include the Rev. Tsonthonga Kemp, and David Kemp.

Conviction and dumbness
“As many as I love, I rebuke. So be earnest, and repent.” (Revelation 3:19)

During the revival countless people committed their lives to Christ, but some sinners held out and resisted the conviction of the Holy Spirit. One such man was Gwanilo Seb, a notorious drunkard who had been excommunicated from the church membership because of his unrepentant heart.

Gwanilo was furious at the church and was looking for a way to humiliate and persecute the believers whom he felt had rejected him. One evening, although he did not believe the revival was God-sent, Gwanilo Seb and two of his gang members came near the door of the church to satisfy their curiosity.

An elderly Christian man, Jihlo Bukh, saw Gwanilo standing near the door, took hold of his hands, and pulled him towards the pulpit at the front of the sanctuary. Gwanilo started to tremble from the fear of God. All of a sudden an invisible hand struck him so hard on the back of his head that he fell to the ground and could not speak.

Gwanilo was unable to regain his speech for one full day, as the conviction of the Holy Spirit broke down his stubborn heart. Finally, Gwanilo motioned for a piece of chalk. He wrote on the church blackboard, requesting the believers to forgive him and to pray for his re-admission into church membership.

The church prayed for him, but he still could not speak. But the instant they took out the church membership book and wrote Gwanilo’s name in the register, he regained his speech. Gwanilo remained a committed and active member of the Sendenyu Baptist Church.

Miraculous literacy

As for Jihlo Bukh, who had taken Gwanilo by the arm and led him into the church, God did an unusual miracle for him. Jihlo had never received a formal education in his life, and now that he was an old man, he regretted that he had never been able to read the Bible or the church hymnbook.

During the revival, he received a divine enablement from the Holy Spirit so that he was suddenly able to read fluently. This gift completely changed Jihlo Bukh’s life. He was so grateful to God to be able to read His Word day and night.

God continued to work powerfully in the hearts of the Naga people, purifying and empowering them for service. The fear of God gripped the whole community. All that mattered to believers was obedience to God’s will. People desired the meat of God’s Word more than they desired their lunch and dinner. Some of the miracles that took place were unusual.

Healings
“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 30:17).

The gift of divine healing was also in evident in Sendenyu village. In fact, Naga believers from many locations have heard about God’s grace and power to heal through the believers there, resulting in many sick and injured people traveling to Sendenyu for prayer to the present day. Literally hundreds of people have been dramatically and often instantly healed, many from life-threatening illnesses.

There are too many wonderful healing testimonies to start listing here, so let us just examine the background of one story, as a representative of countless others.

Raised from the Dead -1994
On the 4th of January 1994, the prayer group of the Sendenyu Baptist Church was notified of the grave situation of a boy named Atobu, son of Kholie of Botsa town. Atobu was terribly ill, with profuse bleeding from his nostrils and mouth. Doctors had been unable to diagnose the problem, and had prepared the boy’s family to prepare for the worst. Atobu’s condition worsened until he could neither talk, move, eat nor drink.

But when the prayer team laid hands on the boy he was instantly healed. He started to move his hands and feet, and asked his awestruck parents and onlookers for food and drink. Atobu soon regained his full health.

Crossing a River
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43:2).

In Nagaland the monsoon season lasts from around April to November every year. During the wet season roads and trails turn into mud, landslides are common, and rivers prove impassable.

On one occasion during the revival, the Lord spoke to the prayer group at the Sendenyu Church that they must take the message of repentance and faith to surrounding communities and tribes. Through prophecy, the Holy Spirit told the believers the time and date that they should go across the Nra River to share the Gospel with various villages of the Sema Naga tribe living west of the river.

On the set day, the Christians obeyed God’s command and proceeded towards the Nra River. The Nra is the largest and widest river in all the territory occupied by the Rengma Naga tribe. When they reached its bank, they found it in full flood and impossible to cross. There were no bridges at that time, and no boats to take people across.

Some of the evangelistic team wanted to turn back, but others reminded the team how the Lord had spoken to them and commanded them to go on that day. The group decided they must obey God’s command at all costs. They prayed and asked the Lord to protect them from the raging waters and to enable them to witness for His glory.

The faithful believers took a step into the river, then another, then yet another. They were surprised to find that the water wasn’t as deep as they had thought, so they boldly walked across the river to the other side. As they walked across, they could feel the bottom of the river on the soles of their bare feet.

To this day, the Christians are not entirely sure how God enabled them to cross the Nra River. They seem to think the Lord somehow made the river shallow for their crossing.

At the place they crossed it was later found the water is at least 20 to 30-feet deep during the rainy season! These accounts of miracles all took place in and around the one village of Sendenyu, but they are typical of hundreds of similar testimonies that took place throughout the length and breadth of Nagaland during the revival years.

Peace in village
According to one account from Sendenyu, “Peace, tranquility and health, economic progress and prosperity prevailed in the village. Disputes, quarrelling and social disorders were hardly heard of or seen, or experienced during the first seven years of revival in Sendenyu.”

Slavery Today? Human Trafficking happened this morning again

In line with many others, not least the UK government, the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807 (followed by the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act) is an appropriate time to highlight the issues of human trafficking.

I cannot emphasise enough that such battles are not won in a fortnight; it was decades of Wiberforce's political career and the joint efforts of many, including a very large segment of the population who got truly 'on board' as it were. 'On board' in a very true sense here as well, as it needed hard facts, figures, diagrams and accurate accounts of the slave ships - as wonderfully portrayed in the recently released Bristol Bay Productions 'Amazing Grace'(2006).

Rather than duplicate resources, the links list at the end of this article hopefully serves as helpful for those wanting to be more involved.I urge readers to get behind campaigns such as Stop the Traffik and organisations such as Tearfund.

Below is a snapshot from the not-so-lovely tourist attractions of the Thai borders. Tearfund works to assist small projects that enable former victims of trafficking to start afresh. Tearfund partner Cambodia Hope Organisation (CHO) in Poi Pet runs a workshop.

It's projects like this which are part of the solution to keep those most vunerable from the hands of traffickers.The promise of work and dreams in a place like Cambodia are translated into misery and sex slavery in a richer nation like Thailand. Income from trafficking enables organised gangs to bribe officials and police. There is a similar air to the slave pits of Zanzibar in a place like Poi Pet.

Children are bought and sold for sexual slavery in Bangkok and other locations. Truckloads of orphaned and traumatised children likewise are gathered up at Thailand's northern border. These days payment may be by credit card.

4 million were slaves in the days of Wilberforce, today it's over 12 million. Check out the following links and let's play our part to change the future for those being trafficked.

Thanks for taking time to read the article.

Trafficking and Slavery Links:

http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/thailand

http://www.arcppt.org/eng/thailand.html

http://www.stopthetraffik.org/

http://www.tearfund.org/Extra/Freedom+Day/Slavery+in+our+back+yard.htm

http://www.ukhtc.org/index.htm

http://www.chaste.org.uk/about/vision.html

http://www.tearfund.org/Extra/Freedom+Day/Stop+the+Traffik+Video.htm

http://www.tearfund.org/Extra/Freedom+Day/Film.htm

http://www.gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Thailand.htm

http://www.american.edu/TED/thaiwomen.htm

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/slavery/?WT.srch=1&google=amazing-grace&gclid=CPH25aq3o4sCFQUvlAodaDOtfg

http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/

http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1997/issue53/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wilberforce

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapham_Sect

Flags in High Places

Many are familiar with the Tibetan Buddhist practice of putting prayer flags at significant sites. This is not just a quaint local custom, but is part and parcel of Buddhist and indeed pre-Buddhist religious activity:

see http://www.prayerflags.com/download/article.pdf

Not only so, but there is a clear promotion of this belief system into western culture - not only through political activist involvement but through seemingly innocent websites for children!

https://shop.theliteracysite.com/store/item.do?itemId=8836&siteId=2001

http://www.atc.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=230&Itemid=89

The Bible talks also of banners - in fact three references in Isaiah talk of them being set up on high places (Isaiah 13:2, 18:3 and 30:17). We must realise however the thinking behind prayer flags in this aspect of Tibetan culture - and not least the source of power invoked is very different as prayerflags.com explains in detail.

As Christian believers, who love the Tibetan people and desire to see them experience God's eternal salvation, how might we respond? What does the bible say about God as 'The Lord our Banner' (Jehovah Nissi)? In Exodus 17 we read that Moses '..built an altar and called it the Lord our Banner' after the defeat of the Amalekites.

The key in this battle was it seems a significant but simple act. The lifting up of the hands of Moses at Rephidim (meaning Rest) over the battle. The battle is decribed in the imperfect tense when it talks about the fighting - ie. it was a repeated action. They seemed to be winning, Moses hands tired, they seemed to be losing, Moses got his hands up again, the battle turned, and so on.

Bearing in mind we are not talking about 10 minutes or half an hour, but clearly hours of fighting, it's hardly surprising an elderly man would get worn out keeping his arms in the air!
So Aaron and Hur came alongside and Moses was supported: he was given a seat and they held up his arms on either side.

So what has this to do with banners and flags? There seems a clear indication that a battle standard in future warfare (take a film like The Patriot (Emmerich,2000) for example) has the role of rallying, encouraging re-grouping, often weary fighters, back to the cause.

Banners are a symbol of rallying, caling together:

He lifts up a banner for the distant nations (Isaiah 5: 26)
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him and his place of rest will be glorious (Isaiah 11:10)

They also have a place in victory and God's overshadowing protection:

We will shout for joy when you are victorious, we will lift up our banners in the name of our God (Psalm 20:5a)
His banner over me is love (Song of Songs 2:4)

Lastly, they help to identify who we are:
The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard (Numbers 1:52)

A Prayer:
Lord raise up a banner to the peoples of Tibet, let it be seen in the high places, let it be unfurled against every demonic spirit that binds. The Tibetan ethnic groups are seeking for a salvation that can only be found in you.

Set your banner of them - your covering protection a lover to your beloved, spread your garment over them to include them in your people as Boaz did for Ruth at harvest-time.

Lift up the hands of those who have been travailing, battling and contending for these peoples despite the setbacks. Draw alongside them those who will take over when they weary, support them and encourage them.

We lift up a banner now over the Tibetan peoples and fly the flag of the kingdom over Tibet.

(Homework suggestion: If you have a banner and a map of Tibet, worship the Lord and plant your feet prophetically on that part of the map. Use some of the scriptures above - or others that God gives you - proclaiming 'the Lord is my banner' and 'the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples').

All quotations from NIV (1984).

Why Pray for Tibet - here is one good reason

Reproduced from Catherine Brown's website http://www.gatekeepers.org.uk/

Catherine is a widely recognised prophet in the body of Christ and contributes to postings on the Elijah List http://www.elijahlist.com/

A WORD FOR TIBET AND THE MONGOLIAN NATION

I received this vision in the year 2000. This morning (21 October 2002) I was sent an article about Tibet with a subsequent call to united prayer for the pulling down of Bhuddist strongholds in all the earth and was prompted by the Holy Spirit to review this word and post it for global prayer at this time. The article I was sent is posted at the foot of this prophetic word. I believe it is critical that the church prays fervently and in faith over these next forty eight hours for the salvation of Tibet and Mongolia.

Whilst in prayer for Tibet and Mongolia some time ago, I was caught up into the heavenly realms and the Lord revealed the following images:- A false god with many arms had been raised up in the high places. The idol looked like a 13th century Thai art representation of Buddha, with strongly arched brows, aquiline nose and delicately carved lips. Suddenly seraphim appeared flying in the air, each with six wings. They were coloured as copper and bronze and they glowed with the glory of God. They came and broke off the arms of the false god. A thunderbolt from heaven struck the head of the false god and it was severed from its body and fell to the ground.

Many people had gathered in front of the idol to worship and pray each had a prayer mat with them. When the head was severed from the body of the idol, those who were praying were caught up and ensnared in a huge mat and their screams resonated in the air. Their spiritual eyes had been opened to the reality of the judgement of God upon idolatry and worship of false gods. ‘Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe language and people. He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.’ Rev 14:6,7. I was moved to cry out to the Lord, ‘Surely, some will be saved?’

The Lord answered, ‘Yes, child, now look upon the mystery of My salvation’ and I watched as the Lord descended as the Ancient of Days from the heavens. He was arrayed in Light and in His hands he held a scroll. He pointed the scroll at the mountain as it was opened and His sovereign plan of salvation began to be outworked. On the mountain was a magnificent white horse (representing the conquest and victory of Christ Rev 19:11) and it was engaged in battle with a white unicorn (representing the spirit of enchantment over Tibet). The unicorn was slain by the sword that came out of the Lord’s mouth (Rev 19:15).

At this point multitudes began running into the Lord’s embrace. They disappeared into the belly of God and became one with Christ Jesus. The Lord smiled at me and said, ‘This great harvest of souls from among the Tibetans and the Mongolians, from those blinded by Hinduism and Bhuddism, these are part of my inheritance and I shall not be complete without them. I commission my Bride to pray for these souls, that they might run into the shelter of their Saviour.’

The scene on the mountain depicts a displacement of power in the heavenly realms, as the Lord’s sovereign plan of salvation for every tribe and every nation (Rev 7:9) is released through prayer and fasting. The vision portrays a paradigm shift in the heavens through strategic corporate prayer. It portrays the absolute supremacy of Christ over all (Col 1:15-20).

I am reminded of the fall of Dagon as I write this vision down and believe it is relevant to this word. Dagon was a false god, worshipped by the Phillistines.

‘After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.’ 1 Sam 5:1-4
‘The Lord’s hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumours.’ 1 Sam 5:6

The church must rise up in prayer, worship and fasting to break the bondage of Bhuddism in the earth.

BUDDHIST KALACHAKRA for WORLD PEACE, GRAZ AUSTRIA – 11-23 OCTOBER, 2002

It is now 20th October, and the meeting of 8 – 10,000 Buddhists and head Lamas in Graz, Austria, is reaching a critical stage of releasing the demonic spirits into Europe through a Kalachakra Ritual.

The aim of the visits and Kalachakra rituals and the teachings upon it, are said to have been chosen by the Dalai Lama for the purpose of bringing awareness to the plight of the Tibetan people, and of the nation of Tibet, which was occupied by China in 1950, and is since then occupied territory.

For these p.r. purposes the Dalai Lama has chosen to expose more of the Tibetan Buddhist ritual arts because, it is explained, he believes that misunderstandings about Tibetan Buddhism and its rituals are more harmful than a partial lifting of the secrecy. The ritual arts are: sand mandala’s, butter sculptures, ritual chanting, music and dance.

The Kalachakra ritual is an initiation of and an offering by those who take part. This Dalai Lama performed it for the first time, since he was in exile, in 1953. Since then he has performed it numerous times, in India, in many cities in the US, in Australia.

A number of times special monks have constructed and dismantled sand mandala’s as a preparation for the culminating ritual by the Dalai Lama himself. According to Simson, also in Europe more than 20 sand mandala’s have been constructed and dismantled, sometimes by monks, sometimes by the Dalai Lama.

The ritual that is planned for Graz is meant to be the biggest ever. The tantric aim is to release “an everlasting stream of continuity” (demonic spirits is our understanding) upon the partakers, onlookers, and, of course, the peoples in Europe.

The information in and the challenge of this report is passed on, primarily with an eye on the performance of the Kalachakra ritual, in Graz, from 11-23 October 2002, However, the spiritual effect of the ritual is meant to be such, that also after the event is over, the challenge to Gods children to awake, to pray and to do spiritual warfare, will remain relevant and has increased.

Catherine Brown (http://www.gatekeepers.org.uk/) 21 October 2002

Cornerstone Asia -Taking the Tibetan Heights?

The Chinese Government have developed one of the most challenging projects of railway engineering in recent years. On July 1st 2006, it opened the rail link to Lhasa, the highest railway in the world. You can now travel for 49 hours all the way from Lhasa to Chengdu, Sichuan Province, as Romana Chapman points out.(2).

Providing an high-altitude journey for the intrepid train-traveller, the rail route to Lhasa, in the Tibetan Autonomous Region is designed to draw tourists to the area.

What affect will this have on this remote and politically sensitive part of China? The history of Tibet and it's people in the last 50 years or so has been characterised by uneasiness between Tibetan groups and the increasingly present Han Chinese. The decision of the Dalai Lama to leave the region and be based in India reflected this. (See 'Kundun' (1997), Martin Scoresbee's portrayal of the exile of the Dalai Lama. (4).But change and opening up the region could be a catalyst for many other things. Will it simply strengthen the Bejing influence over Lhasa and the remote tribal groups? Will it bring materialism, AIDS, environmental damage and the other unhelpful spin-offs of tourism in Asia?

One nomadic group who live on the Tibetan Plateau are the Drok-pa. About half a million live on the Chang Tang, Tibet's northern plain. Many have put their faith in a favourite Buddhist lama whom they will consult for the important steps of life, auspicious days for weddings, journeys and children's names. Once powerful landlords and monasteries controlled the social order of Tibet, but now the Chinese influence has significantly changed this, many feeling this has been both harsh and destructive.(3).

This presents a huge challenge to Han Chinese Christians and foreign Christians with a heart to reach Tibet. Wisdom and servant-heartedness are needed to demonstrate the mercy, tenderness and grace of Jesus. This is more powerful than the force of cultural invasion, the authority of traditional feudal or religious systems. The Dalai Lama seeks to court the favour of westerners both within and without the Church, but Christians' engagement with Tibet must not exclude the uniqueness of the gospel to set Tibetans free from demonic power or deception.

This does not mean a denial of identity, but much discernment is still needed. What does the Church in Tibet look like? Believers are small in number, but God is at work. Many groups remain almost entirely without the gospel. But small numbers exist amongst for example amongst the Gtsang Tibetans and the Jone Tibetans. (1).

The story of Nyima Chothar, a Tibetan monk who found salvation in Christ, illustrates the journey for someone deeply involved with Tibetan monastic society to come to faith in Jesus. It involved contact with christians over a considerable period of time, and overcoming many cultural barriers.(1).

Identifying with the pain and loss many Tibetans have experienced is essential in reaching them as well as a very real encounter with the reality of God's power, compassion and mercy. In a culture where forgiveness and redemption are strange concepts, and actions merely lead to inevitable karma in the next life, Christianity offers real hope.

There are amazing examples of mission that has been well-received in Tibet in the past. The heart of Sadhu Sundar Singh, the famous early-20th Century Indian evangelist, was towards reaching Tibet.(5). He eventually did get there, and saw some villages very open to the gospel. William Carey had planned to reach Tibet, but ended up never getting there but rather focussed on West Bengal. others too however, have gone to Tibet and sought to spread the gospel, including Chinese believers, despite the great challenges. Evangelists, even within the last twenty years have been martyred there by buddhist lamas. The Chinese House Churches have actually found the intense opposition has drawn interest from the local population - what is it that the Buddhist Lamas are so afraid of that makes Christianity a challenge to them?(1).

The first church in Lhasa, Tibet was built by Jesuits in 1726. A number of people attended and became believers it seems. In April 1742 it was destroyed, the believers punished, but the bell was left. This bell remained in the basement of the Jokhang Temple until 1996.(1).

(Reference: 'A Tibetan Monk's Story' p.317, and other sections on Tibetan peoples: 'Peoples of the Buddhist World' P.Hattaway, Piquant Editions, 2004).

Opposition may have raged against the Church being established, but God has not forgotten the Tibetan peoples.

Father, we cry out to you for those who come to Mount Kalais in western Tibet, with the hope of being released from the sins of their lifetime in the two lakes nearby.

You only can give us a clean heart and put a new spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:26,27 and Psalm 51). Lord do this for the thousands of followers of Buddhism, Bon, Hinduism and Jainism. what can wash away that sin - 'nothing but the blood of Jesus!' (1)

Reference Material:

I have asterisked (*) those from a Christian perspective - be aware that many sites and interested parties in Tibet are coming from a very different perspective and so I would suggest exercising caution before dialogue or attending events/ tours etc.

(The position of the Dalai Lama and others with Tibetan Buddhist interests may appear in sympathy with Christianity and interested in dialogue and engagement. However, this is not always the experience of Christians or enquirers in the Tibetan Buddhist world, where there can be considerable direct opposition to the gospel).

1.To mention again, I am deeply indebted to Paul Hattaway's work in 'People's of the Buddhist World' (ISBN 1-903689-90-2) and his excellent sources within that volume.*

2.Another excellent visual source is http://www.flickr.com/ if you are seeking pictures from a particular part of the world, and the following pictures from Romana Chapman, are excellent. (Do be aware that though there are other and varied sources of Tibetan photos, they are often more holiday snaps in some cases and mayalso be poor on guessing ethnography of the peoples they came across! Havig said that, there are still excellent photos around).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rctravel/sets/72157594397230970/show/ - general photos of Tibet

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rctravel/sets/72157594397235756/ - Photos of the new railway (ignore Nov 2007 - presumably 2006!)

http://www.sim.org/PG.asp?pgID=81&fun=1
- summary information on SIM's web pages re Tibetan peoples*

3.'Nomads' Glenn Myers and David Phillips, Briefings - Paternoster Lifestyle, Paternoster Publishing 2001 (ISBN 1-85078-435-3)*

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119485/plotsummaryPlotPlot Summary for Kundun (1997)
4.The Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as 'Kundun', which means 'The Presence'. He was forced to escape from his native home, Tibet, when communist China invaded and enforced an oppressive regime upon the peaceful nation of Tibet. The Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 and has been living in exile in Dharamsala ever since.
Summary written by Deki
In 1937, in a remote area of Tibet close to the Chinese border, a two year old child is identified as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the compassionate Buddha. Two years later, the child is brought to Lhasa where he is schooled as a monk and as head of state amidst the color and pageantry of Tibetan culture. The film follows him into adulthood: when he is 14, the Chinese invade Tibet and he is forced into a shaky coalition government; he travels to China to meet with a cynical Mao; and, finally, in 1959, ill and under siege, he flees to India. Throughout, he has visions of his people's slaughter under Chinese rule.

5. Sadhu Sundar Singh' Phylis Thompson, OM Publishing 1992 (ISBN 1-85078-099-4) p.120.

A Mission to Cyberspace?

Recently media interest at the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007 has
highlighted the virtual communities developing in Cyberspace.

Myspace.com, the world of bloggers and so on, have taken a new
direction with the advent of virtual worlds - of which there are a number, not
least the three milion subscribers to the 'Second Life' metaverse.

Is this a new people group - a transnational one in a sense, possible
to reach more easily within a virtual world     ure of their avatars
than in a face-to-face situation.

Unreached peoples in some cultures may be more reachable through
technical means in hi-tech societies.

Japan has one of the foremost hi-tech societies as have some other
Asian societies. We already know the capabilities of internet, satellite
reception and radio, to reach vast audiences within areas hard to access
more directly - not least in places such as Iraq, Iran and China.

We must take up this challenge as FEBA, TWR and other Christian Radio
networks have done, as Sat-7 have done for some time in the Middle East,
as God-TV and others are now doing.

Easily-transported, hand-held technology that allows access to the
internet, perhaps via satellite phone networks may be one way, and might
even reach nomadic peoples where many other communication means have not
yet done so.

We need apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists to invade
these virtual and technical worlds. The fields are ripe for harvest!

Oh Father, there are thousands, millions now, who are lost in the world of
cyberspace and virtual worlds such as 'Second Life'. Father equip us, empower us,
anoint us, send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work for you in
these metaverses! Come Holy Spirit and fill us with wisdom, discernment, grace, hope
and your great compassion, mercy and loving-kindness.

Proclamation over North Korea

Proclamation of ‘2007 Year of Prayer for North Korea ’


We give God all the honour and praise that the Great Revival which broke out on 14th January 1907 in Pyongyang was the greatest demonstration of God’s powerful plan of salvation for the Korean Peninsula .

As we mark this centenary day of the outbreak of the 1907 Pyongyang Great Revival, we desire to see love, freedom and peace restored in Korea . We thus proclaim 2007 as a Year of Prayer for North Korea and call the global Church and Christians worldwide to join the South Korean Church in actively praying for North Korea this year.

A hundred years ago God started the flames of repentance and revival in Pyongyang Jang Dae Hyun Church , but His work did not stop there. As the miracles of the revival spread from Pyongyang across the Korean Peninsula , Pyongyang became known throughout the worldwide Church as ‘The Jerusalem of the East’.

We are aware, however, that in this day North Korea is in a time of deep suffering; that her people face great hardship and that many have died as a result. We mourn with those who mourn and are deeply concerned for the welfare of the North Korean people.

In light of the current situation, we call on all churches and Christians around the world to pray urgently for North Korea during 2007. We urge for fervent prayer for an end to the deprivations and sufferings, and for the day to come when the love of God and the blessing of salvation breaks out once again throughout the nation and touches the lives of the people of North Korea .

Furthermore, the South Korean Church lays before God the pain caused by the division of Korea and proclaims the week of 25th June, the anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, as the ‘Global Week of Prayer for North Korea’.

We hereby call on denominations and ministries around the world to promote the ‘2007 Year of Prayer for North Korea ’. We urge for intercession to be rallied for 2007 to be the year in which walls of darkness fall in North Korea , crosses are restored in every corner of the land and a historical tide of repentance and revival breaks out and brings peace to Korea and beyond.

The centenary day of the outbreak of the 1907 Pyongyang Great Revival
14 January 2007


President Rev. Park Jong Soon
Executive Secretary Rev. Choi Hee Boum


The Christian Council of Korea (CCK) is the representative Christian alliance in South Korea made up of 61 denominations and 21 Christian agencies (http://www.cck.or.kr/).

We ask you to kindly publicise this proclamation as widely as possible amongst denominations, agencies, churches, media outlets and individuals all over the world.

Check out some helpful info on this blog:
http://magicstatistics.com/category/asia/eastern-asia/north-korea/

CSW - North Korea (recent press release)

Christian Solidarity Worldwide

For immediate release

15th January 2007


SOUTH KOREAN CHURCH ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PRAYER FOR NORTH KOREA IN 2007

HISTORIC PROCLAMATION MADE AT SEOUL OLYMPIC STADIUM COMPLEX ON REVIVAL CENTENARY DATE


On the centenary day of the Pyongyang Great Revival, the South Korean Church proclaimed an international Year of Prayer for North Korea in 2007. The announcement was made at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastic Stadium before an audience of 15,000.

The proclamation states ‘As we mark this centenary day of the outbreak of the 1907 Pyongyang Great Revival, we desire to see love, freedom and peace restored in Korea. We thus proclaim 2007 as a Year of Prayer for North Korea and call the global Church and Christians worldwide to join the South Korean Church in actively praying for North Korea this year.’

The proclamation was made by Rev. Choi Hee Boum, the Executive Secretary of the Christian Council of Korea, the representative Christian alliance of South Korea, and co-signed by the body’s President, Rev. Park Jong Soon. The announcement came in the culmination of a week of meetings at the Olympic Stadium leading up to the revival centenary date.

A new website address was launched during the week as a vehicle for prayer for North Korea. The inter-agency site at http://www.pfnk.org/ carries information and resources to inform and equip Christians everywhere to pray for North Korea and its people.

The proclamation concludes with the words: ‘We hereby call on denominations and ministries around the world to promote the ‘2007 Year of Prayer for North Korea’. We urge for intercession to be rallied for 2007 to be the year in which the walls of darkness fall in North Korea, crosses are restored in every corner of the land and a historical tide of repentance and revival breaks out and brings peace to Korea and beyond.’

The appeal for prayer reflects the grave concern that exists over the situation in North Korea in both spiritual and physical terms.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s International Advocate, Elizabeth Batha, spoke earlier at the Olympic Stadium Complex, highlighting the grave need for concerted worldwide prayer for North Korea: ‘The contrast between the spiritual climate in North Korea today and one hundred years ago could not be starker. That Pyongyang has moved from being a city known throughout the Christian world as ‘the Jerusalem of the East’ to now being the capital of probably the most brutal suppressor of Christianity is chilling. The population is subject to enforced idolatry of the political leadership, there is a ruthless ban on the gospel and Christians are brutally persecuted, imprisoned and executed. All these reasons make it imperative that the worldwide Church recognises North Korea as a top prayer priority and stands in the gap to intercede for these most beleaguered of people.’

Stuart Windsor, CSW’s National Director, who also spoke at the Stadium Complex events said: ‘May God awaken the Church and cause a tidal wave of prayer to arise, bringing down the walls of darkness and pouring His love and light into the nation, just as He did one hundred years ago. We hope that all Christian groups and individuals will respond to this call to pray.’

For more information on North Korea, please visit http://www.pfnk.org/ or http://www.csw.org.uk/. Further information on the Christian Council of Korea is available at http://www.cck.or.kr/.

Photos and additional information are available from Christian Solidarity Worldwide in South Korea on 018 696 1180 or in the UK on 020 8329 0043 or by e-mailing mailto:alexa@csw.org.uk.

CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.

Cornerstone Asia - pray for India

Writing as I am, from England, we are not unfamiliar here with many aspects of Indian culture.Our historical links with India go back a considerable length of time, from the East India Company and the British Raj. One of our family's grandparents, wrote of his experiences and views from serving in the British Army in the region and as the independence of India was debated in parliament.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_India
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj

Many people from the Indian sub-continent have connections with the United Kingdom. Close neighbours that we know came here many years ago, and now four generations have come and settled - or travel between India and England.

Yet, surprisingly, I read on the front pages of British newspapers (Wednesday January 17th), the controversy over comments made on the reality TV show 'Big Brother'. Shilpa Shetty, a Bollywood actress, is driven to tears over cruel bullying, the papers say. She is mocked about her cooking, her standard of home accommodation and another contestant says her name is unpronouncable.

Bollywood and other films still reflect the difficult and painful history between India and it's British rulers under the British Empire. Films such as 'Lagaan' (2001) by Ashutosh Gowarikar , the award-winning 'Ghandi' (1982) by Richard Attenborough and the drama series 'Jewel in the Crown' (1984) by Christopher Morahan, show some of the oppression that existed. Shilpa hoped to demonstrate Indians as 'modern, intelligent and glamourous' on British TV. Instead, she came up against stereotypes, (and perhaps Bollywood could be criticised for stereotypes from history in portraying the British at times?)

But what of the future? India remains a vast challenge for missions, both to the Indian Church itself and missions around the world. Now fast catching up with China, and likely to overtake her as the most populated nation on earth.

The huge social move of Dalits changing religious adherence from Hinduism to Buddhism or Christianity, is unsettling higher castes and ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Hindu political interests. Since November 2001, this has had a huge impact - challenging a social order in place for over 3000 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalit_(outcaste)

http://www.cswusa.com/Reports%20Pages/Reports-India.htm


British relationships ith Gujurat actually began in 1608, with ships from the British East India Company arrived at Surat. Gujarat is probably the most staunchly Hindu of the India's states- so it appears to westerners who have visited. I asked some of those familiar with Gujarat about their impressions of the state. They mentioned the hospitality, the fact that few people speak English, the concern that westerners do not understand the social system. To help a poor member of the community can easily be misunderstood there. Many Gujaratis are now in the UK, frequently recognized as a Patel family running a newsagent or corner shop.

http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-puniyani030206.htm


And this year, millions will visit Allahabad, in North India for the Ardh Kumbh Mela (see www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6224659.stm ). Many seek to wash their sins away, but the waters of the Ganges cannot do it. The bible talks of a better cleasing, an inward one, (see 1 Peter 3:21). The river of life the bible talks about in Revelation 21 and Ezekiel 47 is the only source of life- the fountain of living water that Jesus himself promised would spring up to eternal life in John 4.

Many in India can only dream of the fame, wealth and public interest of Bollywood stars such as Shilpa Shetty. They will never make headlines in the newspaper, never own a floor of a luxury apartment block, never hit the silver screen.

We have been particularily impressed with the heart of C V Vadavana - a dear brother who is working in India in some of the toughest areas, ministering with others through the work of Sathyam (Truth) Ministries. Please have a look at the website : www.sathyam.org


'Father, we ask for your heart for those in Asia particularly India, that you see, but people have despised, neglected, forgotten and discarded. The Dalits, the tribal groups, the children in India. Those who are child prostitutes, those who are with HIV/AIDS, those without hope'.

Cornerstone Asia- Praying for Tibet

There can be few more remote regions of the world that still contain many unreached groups of people as the Tibetan plateau. Behind the peaks of the Himalayan mountains, much of Tibet is a high-altitude plateau, inhospitable, severe and largely untouched by the gospel.

There is a great need for fresh vision to come to the church for reaching Tibet - although there are those historically who have such. Even today, many Christians in China have such a vision in reaching areas West of China as part of the 'Back to Jerusalem' missions movement.

One of the most significant missionaries to the region was Sadhu Sundar Singh, an Indian believer who spent much time reaching Tibetans often at tremendous personal cost.

In recent years prayer trips by intercessors have been part of God's strategy for opening up the heavenly places, to quote Isaiah, 'oh that you would end the heavens and come down.'. In the words of Jesus: 'your kingdom come.on earth as it is in heaven'.

Tibetan Buddhism is a vast subject in itself, since it's influence spreads into surrounding areas such as Bhutan, Arunanchal Pradesh, Qinghai Province and Mongolia. In recent years its influence in the west has grown immensely through the talks, books and profile of the fourteenth Dalai Lama.

Useful Links:A number of interesting articles can be found if you do a www.google.co.uk search under 'Tibet Christians'. Bear in mind that some are about historical references to missions, some are more recent and not all are in sympathy to an evangelical position.

www.backtojerusalem.com Has a recommended booklist regarding the Asian Missionfield, some of which might also be obtained via www.amazon.com I recommend Marku Tsering's 'Sharing Christ in the Tibetan Buddhist World' (1993).

I highly recommend 'Peoples of the Buddhist World-a Christian Prayer Guide' by Paul Hattaway, Piquant Editions. Again, try amazon or www.piquanteditions.com. This has some of the most detailed misions information on Tibetan and other groups I have found in book form.

Try also www.ad2000.org/peoples And the Joshua Project listed in my general recommended links.

A good general introduction to understanding Tibet, would be to watch the film 'Himalaya' (1999-Director Eric Valli, see www.kino.com/himalaya/gb_accueil), or read the book by the author Michael Palin 'Himalaya' (ISBN 0297 84371) - which talks more widely about the regions around also.

It's worth doing a search on the internet for further information - there is no shortage of images on www.flickr.com : try searching under 'tibet' or 'amdo' for example.

'Father bring your light into every tribe and people and ethnic group in Tibet. Reveal your truth and hope. Let your glory be manifest in the heavens over Tibet and your kingdom come on earth in the Tibetan plateau'.

The Heart of Asia

Surprising though it may seem, the heart of Asia is not China, nor India but Israel.

Why do I make such a strange assertion? In Isaiah 2:2-3 (NIV) we read the following:

'In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains;it will be raised above the hills,and all nations will stream to it.

Many peoples will come and say,"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.
"The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

Many other scriptures point to the unique and vital purpose that God has for Israel, most of all being his special instrument to fulfil the purpose of sending his Son into the world to be the sacifice for sins, once and for all people for all time.

The heart of God and the heart of his purposes has a special focus on Israel and the Jewish people. He said to Solomon at the building of temple:

My eyes and my heart will ALWAYS be there (2 Chronicles 7:16)

Have a look at the following scriptures especially: Romans 9:1-5, 11:28-29, Psalm 122:6-9.

Israel -the Jewish people as a nation -has never been given her P45 (told to leave her job) as God's testimony on earth.

This divine purpose is to be a blessing began with Abraham's calling in Genesis 12:2-3.

God's restoration of the Jewish people to their ancient land, and their spiritual restoration are inextricably linked to his salvation of the nations (see Isaiah 49:5-13).

Israel must also have a two-way role:

1.To be in the place of God's favour in order to be a source of blessing to the nations,
(Psalm 67:1-2).

2.To seek God for his blessing for the Gentile (non-Jewish) nations, that they might experience his blessing,
(Psalm 67:3-7).

There are websites and biblical scholars who might communicate these things more adequately, but I hope these thoughts are helpful.

God chose one of Jesus' ancestors - a Gentile -to be redeemed and partner with the spies, in assessing and entering the promised land. This was Rahab (see Joshua 2).

God chose one of Jesus' ancestors -a Gentile- to be married to Boaz and redeemed in order to be a mother in Israel and great-grandmother of David (see the book of Ruth).

Our participation as Gentiles in the riches of God's mercy is only by a joining as 'one new man' (see Ephesians 2 especially 15b).

It is a grafting into the root of Jesus for us as Gentiles (Romans 11:17-18), remembering that when the Jews return to their Messiah, it will be the most natural thing (Romans 11:24). The fruitfulness that results, will be beyond our imagination (Romans 11:12,15).

Father, make us watchmen on your walls day and night until you establish Jerusalem and make her the oraise of the earth (Isaiah 62:6-7).

Cornerstone Asia - pray for the Tsangla

We continue with a special feature on prayer for the eastern Himalayan Tsangla. About 250,000 Tsangla live in Bhutan, Aunacahl Pradesh in India and Tibet. FEBC Christian radio are broadcasting in the Tsangla language and the Jesus film has now been translated also. Like many Tibetan Buddhists, their belief practices are are superficial level over older Shamanistic and Polytheistic rituals. In attributing all disease to demons, the Tsangla believe they must appease angry demons by sacrificing often quite valuable animals. They also believe that humans may, in some cases, be demons. Such individuals,and those who marry them, are 'demon families' and must intermarry only with one another.

Father, bring your hope and freedom to the Tsangla - the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work (I John 3:8) - liberate these dear people in your compassion and mercy, as you did for that Canaanite child tormented by evil spirits, during your ministry on earth (Matthew 15:21-28).

(Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World P.Hattaway, Piquant Editions, www.piquanteditions.com)

Send workers into this harvest field!

Father - release workers into this great harvest field of Asia - especially those who right now have a heart to go. Prepare them, guide them, direct them, anoint them! Let your presence fall on them and fill them with your Holy Spirit and the power of your grace , mercy and love.

Let your glory fall on Asia! Send a spirit of wisdom and revelation on those who have yet never been reached with the knowledge of Jesus - to meet you. Amen.

Pray for Thailand

Still things are unclear - please pray for peace in situation in Thailand regarding security after the New Year's Eve bombs in Bangkok.

Father, have your hand on those who are there seeking to reach the lost and reach out to minority groups especially in the north. Let your presence and peace surround them - especially the Mickels and those in Chiang Mai Christian Fellowship.

See:

www.cornerstoneasia.co.uk

www.ccfth.org

for more information on those ministries

Recommittment Prayer for 2007

Father, I come to you today and just need to rededicate everything to you all over - the pains, the struggles, the fears, the hopes and dreams, the expectations, the successes and failures, the pressures, commitments, the things that really matter to you and need priority and first place and the things that you want to fall away and take a second place.

Jesus, be the centre, be the focus again, be the one I turn to the cross, where all of history stopped and changed course for every person on earth to find salvation and wholeness and to know you intimately.

Holy Spirit, come as a wind and a fire and purify again, renew, refresh, fill, lead me into all truth.

Lord let your fire fall again - give us your heart for your purposes and compassion for this nation again, for Asia again, for the many many unreached peoples there. Give us your heart of mercy, of grace, of wisdom. Today again.

Draw together those you want to join here, make it a place of prayer, make this holy ground on the net, let your glory fall here in this room, in this blog, in this space, in every post and podcast, to every reader - let them know your heart for the things that matter to you and your purpose for them - that your kingdom might come, that we become everything you want us to be as the bride of Christ - the bride you long for, for your Son.

Draw us back to your heart, your presence, your word, your glory, the place of prayer again.

Amen and Amen!

Cornerstone Asia - pray for Bhutan

A really helpful book I have been using for prayer for the Buddhist world is called 'Peoples of the Buddhist World - A Christian Prayer Guide' by Paul Hattaway check out the website www.piquanteditions.com for his stuff. Also Asia Harvest have some fantastic detailed newsletters on unreached Asian Peoples - see www.asiaharvest.org.

I owe alot of the information on these areas that I pass on to you, from Paul's existentive work on the subject. I am interested to receive any further more accurate information on areas and peoples I mention if my facts are not quite correct.

Many parts of Bhutan are remote by western standards and the country remained very closed until the mid-sixties. The Leprosy Mission had a key role in setting up hospitals as did the Norwegian Santal Mission in the 1960's and 1970's. As Christianity has been seen as a threat to national cohesiveness. 210 years ago this March, William Carey actually visited Bhutan with a view to setting up some work there, but the hope was not fulfilled and he focussed on his Bengal mission work that had been established already.

Proverbs says: 'A longing fulfilled is a tree of life' and 'Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick' (Proverbs 13:12).

Lord, how long does it have to be for the deferred hope of the nations to come to Bhutan - to the Lap people, the Kurtop, the Western and Eastern Khampa, the Drokpa-speaking majority and the many tiny groups who have never heard? Surely 210 years is too long to wait. Open up the gates and those ancient doors - may the King of glory come in! Send us, release us, anoint us, challenge us to give, to pray and to go.

Cornerstone Asia

My intention in due course is to organise prayer information, prayers and podcasts from this blogspot for those interested in Cornerstone Asia. This is the charitable organisation set up to help promotion of missions in Asia see http://www.cornerstoneasia.co.uk