Lebanon: Hezbollah in Lebanon
Human rights activist, and Media Chairman for the Canadian Lebanese Coordinating Council, Elias Bejjani, reports from the Beiruit Observer, ‘3,500 Hezbollah militiamen are secretly deployed in the Eastern Christian region of Lebanon, and Hezbollah has reached its final logistic preparations to execute an armed coup to take over all of Lebanon by force.’ The web site attributed its information to well-informed sources in the Saudi media.’ see Also Syria and Saudi Arabia have stepped in to ease tensions in Lebanon in light of an escalating crisis between rival political parties over a UN-backed tribunal probing the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri. There are fears that should the court indict Hezbollah members, this could lead to a Sunni-Shiite conflict similar to the one that brought the country close to civil war in May 2008. Pray: that militant plans would come to nothing and God’s benchmark would be used in every negotiation. (Ps.29:11) More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gfIikqY7gudl2YLeSKkgs-WTlN0Q
Israel: Prayer for Jerusalem's Mayor to attend event
Millions of Christians around the world will join together on Sunday October 3 to pray during the Global Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem. In Jerusalem the prayer day will be marked by a special live televised celebration to 192 nations from a position overlooking the Old City. The Rev Dr. Robert Stearns of Eagles' Wings will lead the Jerusalem event and Mayor Barkat will bring greetings from Jerusalem to the hundreds of thousands of worldwide viewers joining the telecast. See Jerusalem is under tremendous pressure on all sidesand the prayers of faithful people will make a difference, especially as Christians and Jews from the nations, together with Israeli Christians and Arab Christians, stand together in Jerusalem. Pray: for many to hear of this and stand in prayer with Arab and Israeli Christians for the Peace of Jerusalem. (Ps.122:6) More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=8234
Israel: Jerusalem rioting
Security in Jerusalem was tightened on Thursday following large riots on Tuesday that erupted when Samar Sarchan a Palestinian from east Jerusalem was killed by an Israeli security guard. Jerusalem District Police Commander gave his backing to the guard. Whilst Succot holiday events were scheduled to proceed as planned, a large police presence was in place in the Old City and surrounding area due to fears of further clashes. Also riots broke out in east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan before dawn on Thursday morning, ending a two-month period of calm. The disturbances broke out after members of a Jewish family that owns a pathway in the area sought to take down an illegally built gate placed on the path by Palestinian residents. The gate leads to a mosque in the neighbourhood. (See: http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=186026 In Silwan, three Molotov cocktails were thrown at police and four Molotov cocktails were hurled at the Beit Orot Yeshiva near the a-Tur neighborhood in Jerusalem. Pray: for police to have prudence and discretion as they calm the situations and for residents to refrain from further reprisals. (Pr.8:12-14)
Launch of major UK Campaign: ‘Not Ashamed’
A Christian advocacy group has launched a new campaign defending the right of Christians to express their faith and beliefs in public. The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey is among the supporters of the nationwide ‘Not Ashamed’ campaign launched by Christian Concern for our Nation. The campaign criticises the discrimination some Christians have experienced in school or the workplace as a result of being open about their beliefs. It points to the recent high profile cases of Gary McFarlane, a relationships adviser who was dismissed by Relate for refusing to counsel same-sex couples, and Shirley Chaplin, a nurse who was taken off wards after refusing to remove her crucifix. The group is asking Christians to wear the Not Ashamed logo during Advent and on December 1, which it has declared ‘Not Ashamed Day’. Lord Carey is writing a leaflet to accompany the campaign, to be delivered to every household, in which he explains why Jesus Christ is good news for all. www.notashamed.org.uk Pray: for this campaign to be successful in empowering Christians to express themselves unashamedly. (2Pe.2:2) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.campaign.to.defend.place.of.christians.in.public.life/26765.htm
