A renewed burden for the world
A renewed burden for the world... It all started when I recently watched a movie "Dr Zhivago". I had seen it before, many years ago. But this time, it struck me so differently, I guess because I have been praying, night after night, for the world and all its current calamities... As the historical events of the Russian Revolution of the early century unrolled, I had a sick feeling in my stomach. I felt sad, heavy hearted, thinking about the ever continuing battles of man, throughout history, for power and greed and equality and justice and freedom, etc. at the cost of lives and the suffering of ordinary people, families, lovers, men, women, children... I woke up the next morning at four o'clock and began praying again for the world, loved ones in need of salvation, friends, Israel, the Middle East, America, Canada... and my mind was racing to get down to my computer and write out my thoughts. As I checked my email, one of them was from a contact in Pakistan who shared the problem situation going on there and its effect on Christians. I include his e-mail below, so that you can put them on your prayer list. It served to extend what I said about the ever continuing wars above from ancient times to even today. It never stops. And it will never stop until the Prince of Peace (Jesus, God) returns to take the government upon his shoulder. Isaiah 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Here is the copy of the email (unedited) from the Christian group in Pakistan: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hello Dear friend Hoffmann, I believe everything is going well with you and with your all staff there, I believe you heard the bad situation of Pakistani helpless Christian people, How they are attacking at the different communities of Christian people and how they are killing and burning alive here innocent Christian people, Christian people are very helpless right now here; they lost homes, properties and children, They don't have food, cloths and shelters now; we are giving them hope, courage and love here, They need spiritually help very much here in Pakistan. I just wanted to let you know all these things, I believe you are also praying for us, because I believe prayers can change the situations and pray is the key of the success. And I believe God will open the doors of the success for us, we are waiting his great miracle, I am giving here courage and hope through your precious book that you sent me. If you want to ask me any thing then please ask me, I shall be thankful to you very much, Regards, I meditated on this for a while, thinking about the freedom we have here, how can we feel the magnitude of their predicament? We are so helpless to do anything but pray. (I had tried to raise some funds for this group of Christians some time prior, to provide evangelistic tools which came to no avail, because people did not respond with financial giving.) What can one do other than pray? Here is what I replied: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear brother in Christ: Yes we are hearing about the troubles in Pakistan and activities from Afganistan. It is sad to hear these things. However we do not hear of the extent of the affected areas, except for mostly what goes on in the more Northern part. I hope that you and your group are in a more safe region and that God has protected you from the direct dangers you mentioned. I don't know if you are familiar with Joel Rosenberg but there is great knowledge and comfort to be had at his website/bloghttp://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/ perhaps you can take a look at it. You are in difficult situations and I can only remind you of all the promises of God in His Word. We continue to pray of course and I will pass on your letter to the church people also. Praying for you, And that is how I received "A renewed burden for the world..." 
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