Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:9

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

-- Gen. 2:9 (KJV)

The first part of this verse states that God made every tree and that He made every kind of fruit that is produced by trees.  Look at that sentence from a logical perspective.  If there was no God, then there would not be any trees or any fruit upon the earth.  The discussion about tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil will be expounded upon on a later date.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,9.  (2) To be delivered, realize that God is the Creator.  (9) To overturn evil, eat good food.  Eat properly.

Muslims go crazy again in Egypt

As the country prepared to mark the fortieth day since the release of a video showing the execution of 21 Christians by ISIS jihadists in Libya, the home village of 13 of the 20 Egyptian martyrs was again the focus of Islamic extremists. At least six cars from a surrounding village carrying more than twenty armed men arrived in Al-Our village as dark started to settle over the village of 5,000. These men joined joined a crowd of more than 100 locals from Al-Our and made their way to Virgin Mary Church, currently the only church for the towns nearly 2,500 Christians.   "At 8 pm, a group of armed Muslim young men in six or seven cars from nearby villages stormed our village. Many Muslim fanatic young men joined those who came from the other nearby villages and attacked the church," Milad Nageh, of Al-Our told International Christian Concern (ICC).   "They shot guns at the church and pelted the church with stones and blocks," Milad said. "They smashed the sign of the church, destroying the ground of the church yard and breaking the widows of the service buildings of the church. They also burned a car that was parked in the front of the church."   It was not only those who came from the other villages, but many of the Muslims from Al-Our were involved as well. "The Muslims whose homes surrounded the church were throwing stones at the church from the roofs of their homes," Milad said.   "This attack on the church was arranged before because a truck loaded with cement blocks had unloaded all of their blocks in the front of a Muslim home nearby the church two days ago," Milad told ICC on Saturday morning, March 28, from inside the Virgin Mary church. He and others from the church stayed awake all Friday night to help protect the church in case there was another attack.   "We thought that these blocks would be used in construction of a building belonging to the owner of this home, but these blocks were prepared to attack the church," Milad said.     Calls for Protection Went Unanswered   Church leaders were concerned that there would be protests from Muslims on Friday.   Fr. Makar Issa, the priest of The Virgin Mary Church in Al-Our village told ICC, "On Thursday evening, March 26, I was informed that the next day, Friday there will be Islamic demonstrations in the village against us."   At the Mass on Friday morning, "Bishop Raphael who came from Cairo to take part in the prayer of the memorial of 40th day of our martyrs informed that some Muslims from the village and the other nearby villages will organize march in our village after their Friday noon prayer," Milad said. "They were protesting the building of a new church and they intend to attack the Christians and the church."   Fr. Makar asked the community not deal with the demonstrators during their march in the streets of the village even if they tried to provoke, and asked the youth to remain in the church to protect it from any attack.   "I called the police many times and asked them to come to guard us but they came late and after their arrival they didn't guard the church. They stopped in the entrance of the village. Even still they allowed the cars of the attackers to enter the village and attack us and the church without any intervention from them to protect us," Fr. Makar said.   "I charge the responsibility of what happened to the policemen," Fr. Makar Issa continued, "and I accuse them accuse them of inaction, indifference and complicity."   At least six Christians were wounded by the attackers, three of them suffering serious injuries.   Martyrs' Families Attacked Again   On Friday, March 27 the Virgin Mary Church in Al-Our held a mass to commemorate the Arbaieen,marking 40 days since the release of the video showing the beheading of the 21 Christians in Egypt. A larger service was to be held in Samalout city on Saturday, March 28.   13 of the 21 martyrs were from Al-Our village. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had declared that a church would be built in the village to commemorate them, but, as Ishak Ibrahim documents, even this had sparked a reaction of protest from some Egyptians.   This overflowed on Friday, following the afternoon prayers at the mosques in the village. Demonstrators made their way through the streets chanting slogans against the church. They were chanting things like "Islamic, Islamic" and "By no means, no church will be built on this ground," and "We will make the church on the ground," Milad told ICC.   They also made their way to the home Samuel Alham Wilson, one of the martyrs, and pelted it with stones and rocks.   Bebawy Alham Wilson, the brother of the Martyr Samuel Alham Wilson, told ICC, "After the Muslim Friday noon prayers some Muslim young men attacked our home which located in the entrance of the village. During their march while I was alone in the home with the my wife, wives of my brothers, and my mother. My brothers were in the church at this time. The attackers attempted to storm my home, I hurried and locked the door and barred it. They then hurled stones at my home."   After more than two hours of protesting and assaulting the Wilson home, three police cars arrived and deployed in the entrance of the village. "They set up in the front of the mosque of the village, not even going to guard the church," Milad told ICC.   Then when more rioters came in the evening, the police again did almost nothing to prevent the attacks on the church, only after much of the damage had taken place did the disperse the crowd.   "There is a situation of panic and fear among all of us here. We are afraid that more violent attacks will occur against us and the church after the departure of the security forces who are deployed across the village now," Malak Nageh Ishack, a resident in the village told ICC.   "We gave the security forces names of 100 Muslim young men from the village who took part in attacking the church, but police men arrested only five of them and the rest of them are free," he said.   "The police asked us to stay in our homes, leaving the Muslim attackers free walking in the village streets," Malak said, "plus we have received threats from the Muslims that they will attack us again after the security forces leave the village."   On Saturday, the diocese of Samalout held a large memorial service, presided over by Bishop Anba of Samalout and attended by many of the local leaders. The hall of the church was packed and the church yard was full of people watching the mass on screen.   Absent, however, were many of the relatives of the 13 martyrs from Al-Our. "I couldn't go to the Diocese of Samalout to attend the service for the 40th day of the Martyrs," Beshir Stephanos Kemal, brother of the two martyrs Bishoy and Samuel, told ICC. "I had to stay to protect my home," he said.   Just 20 or 30 from Al-Our made the trip to Samalout to attend the service, mostly women and children, with the men staying behind fearing there may be more attacks.   Local leaders from the Christian and Muslim communities are to hold customary "reconciliation meetings" to try to stem the tensions that sparked this latest round of violence.   The Sisi government has made declarations to improve the status of Christians in Egypt, but the reality has hardly changed.   For the families of the men martyred in Libya, these attacks serve as yet another reminder that it is not just ISIS abroad, but even in their home village in Egypt they face armed attackers who are hostile to them as Christians and the presence of the church. For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East:  RM-ME@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:8

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

-- Gen. 2:8 (KJV)

This verse states that God created a place upon earth called Eden and that He placed man in the Garden of Eden.  Also, this garden was located in the eastern part of Eden.

Many people that attempt to prove that the Bible is not true use this verse as evidence because the Garden of Eden has never been located by archaeologists.  However, skeptics only use surface knowledge instead of doing the proper research.  Skeptics only look for "Aha" moments instead of searching for the real truth.  Skeptics remain comfortable by deluding their own minds.

However, if you do your research on the former place called Eden, then you will see that Eden was an actual location before it was destroyed by the Assyrian Empire.  Also, if you read further in the Bible, then there is documentation that Eden was destroyed.  (II Kings 19:12, Isaiah 37:12).  The place of Eden was known in ancient times as Telassar.  The moral of this post is to do your research.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,8,1.  (2) To be delivered, allow for God to establish you.  (8) To have a new beginning in God, allow for Him to position you wherever you need to be.  (1) To follow God, allow for Him to position you wherever you need to be.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

-- Gen. 2:7 (KJV)

Every person is formed from dust.  When a person dies, then that person's body returns to the dust.  If there was no God, then man would not be made out of the dust of this earth.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,7,9.  (2) To be delivered, realize that God is the Creator of mankind.  (7) To be complete, allow for God to breathe life into your being.  (9) To overturn evil, choose to live.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:6

But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

-- Gen. 2:6 (KJV)

Basically, this verse states that all of the plants of the earth received water from underneath the ground.  This process is commonly known as irrigation.  If God does not exist, then irrigation would not work.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,6,8.  (2) Walk in God's kingdom in order to be refreshed by Him.  (6) Expose evil in order to be refreshed.  (8) Choose to have a new beginning in God in order to be refreshed.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:5

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew:  for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

-- Gen. 2:5 (KJV)

Before there were people upon this earth, plants and herbs covered the land.  This fact has been proven to be true as archaeologists are still discovering plant formations that are over 40 million years old all over the world.  One of the factors as to why these plant formations have been located is because mankind was not around to destroy any of this ancient vegetation.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,5,7.  (2) To be delivered, realize that planting is a process.  (5) To stay in God's presence, realize that growth is a process.  (7) To be complete, realize that God refreshes and replenishes the earth.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:4

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

-- Gen. 2:4 (KJV)

Those who translated the Bible from Hebrew to English did a major injustice when translating the Hebrew word yom into day.  The Hebrew word yom means a specific period of time.

If you did not know that fact, then you would read this verse as if the entire universe was created in one 24-hour period.  However, the heavens and the earth took billions of years to form.  The verse crams billions of years into one day because the first two chapters of Genesis are an extremely quick synopsis of the creation.  You must do the diligent research on your own time in order to fully understand the full process of creation.

Notice that from era to era was called generations.  That still stands true for today as humanity moves forward from generation to generation.  If God did not create the world, then the idea of generations would not exist.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,4,6.  (2) Walk in God's kingdom in order to be productive.  (4) To stay in God's Word, realize that He created the earth and the heavens.  (6) To expose evil, realize that God created the earth and the heavens.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:3

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it:  because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

-- Gen. 2:3 (KJV)

This verse states that God blessed and sanctified one day of rest within each week.  That means that if you want to experience blessings and if you want to set apart from those around you then you will need to rest one day out of the week.  Staying refreshed will give you that extra edge over the rest of the people in the world that overwork.  Overwork eventually leads to burnout.

In this modern era of time, God is now resting until final judgment is doled out in the eighth and final era.  That's why many people believe that there is no God.  They focus upon the here and now instead of looking at all the work that He has done throughout the previous eras of history.  Don't worry.  God will go back to work soon as the new day is approaching.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,3,5.  (2) To be delivered, realize that rest will reinvigorate your life.  (3) To stay in the Spirit, realize that He has set apart one day of rest for each and every week.  (5) To stay in God's presence, rest after completing your work.

Suicide bombers kill 15 in Lahore

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that fifteen people, including eleven Christians and four Muslims, were killed and over 70 others were wounded following the bombing of two churches in a predominately Christian neighborhood in Pakistan yesterday, March 15. Following the bombings, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and warned of more to come.   At around 11:18 a.m., St. John's Catholic Church in Youhanabad, a Christian neighborhood in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, was attacked by a suicide bomber. Shortly after the bombing at St. John's Catholic Church, at approximately 11:20 a.m., Christ Church, also located in Youhanabad, was similarly attacked. According to a local source, as many as 3,000 Christians were gathered at these churches for Sunday prayers. At both locations, the assailants were prevented from entering the churches by security details set up outside the main gates. Samuel Masih, who witnessed the attack on St. John's Catholic Church, told ICC that, "Three men attacked the church. Two opened fire and tried to enter the church compound. However, thank God they failed to enter because damage to the Christians could have been very high scale."      Dr. Salamat Gill, a local activist, paid tribute to Aakash Bashir, age 22, who sacrificed his life to save many others by preventing a suicide bomber from entering St. John's Catholic Church. Dr. Gill said, "Aakash volunteered his services for the church's security. He is a hero of the Christian community and we will never forget his sacrifice." Father Francis Gulzar, a priest at St. John's Catholic Church, told ICC that, "Three policemen were assigned on the main gate of the church to conduct body searches. However, instead of preforming their duty, the policemen were busy watching the Cricket World Cup on television at a nearby hotel." Father Gulzar went on to take Pakistan's government to task over providing better security to Christian places of worship and taking more affirmative action to curb terrorism. Ayub Khokhar, who witnessed the attack on Christ Church, told ICC the attacker looked like a modern young man wearing eastern style clothing. Khokhar went on to say, "The attacker first opened fire at people around the church. He tried to get into the church compound, but failed and had to blast himself on the road." Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the Wall Street Journal, the group's spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, said, "These attacks will continue until there is an Islamic system in Pakistan." Following the attacks, enraged Christians took to the streets in protest. Two unidentified men, accused of being involved in the attack, were beaten to death by protestors and their bodies were set on fire. Protestors blocked main roads, damaged local property, burned tires, and called on the government to provide their community with better security. Christian communities in both Karachi and Islamabad have organized protests in solidarity. Christians and other religious minorities have often been the targets of terrorist groups in Pakistan. In September 2013, over 100 Christians were killed at All Saints Church in Peshawar when two suicide bombers attacked the church compound following a Sunday worship service. Once again, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing. ICC's Regional Manager for South Asia, William Stark, said, "Christians in Pakistan continue to be treated as an unwanted religious minority. As these bombings clearly illustrate, Christians and their places of worship remain insecure and the target of Pakistan's terrorist organizations. In 2013, over 100 Christians were killed at All Saints Church. Yesterday, more were murdered for no other reason than their religious identity and the fact that they attended church. Not enough has been done to secure Pakistan's Christian community or to guarantee their right to religious freedom. Pakistan's blasphemy laws continue to be misused as a means to settle personal vendettas or provide cover for attacks on entire Christian communities. Christian women across Pakistan continue to face the daily threat of abduction, forced marriage, and forced conversion at the hand of Islamic radicals. More must be done to secure both Pakistani Christians and their places of worship. Unless Pakistan takes decisive action to protect this highly persecuted minority, similar attacks will continue and Christianity in Pakistan could become a thing of the past."  For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia:  RM-SAsia@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Four year anniversary of conflict in Syria

International Christian Concern (ICC) marks with sadness the conflict in Syria that today entered its fifth year of conflict. The protests following the detention of 15 children for writing pro-democracy graffiti have resulted in one of the most brutal conflicts in recent history. In the four years since the conflict began, militant Islamic jihadists have streamed into the country fighting not just against the brutality of Bashar al-Assad, but also to establish an Islamic state. As the February abduction of more 250 Assyrian Christians demonstrated again, Syria's Christian community and other ethnic or religious minorities are being explicitly targeted and killed or driven out of the country. In 2014, the conflict in Syria spilled across the border into Iraq. The group known as ISIS, Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham or the Islamic State, extended their control over a wide swath of land across the northern part of Syria into western and central Iraq. The capture of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, displaced hundreds of thousands more and set the stage for the declaration of an Islamic caliphate. The jihadist group regularly grabbed headlines with their brutal executions of hostages from Western journalists, to captured airline pilots, to Coptic Christians. Their goal, informed by their beliefs about the Islamic end times, has been the establishment of an Islamic state and this requires the subjugation or elimination of those who do not share their beliefs. Their acts have grown to include the removal of not just entire religious and ethnic communities, but the erasure of their history as they've destroyed centuries old historic sites, including churches, monasteries, and libraries. As the international community has wavered in how to confront the jihadist opposition forces, the regime of Bashar al-Assad has been guilty of many atrocities of its own. As of today, 215,518 deaths have been documented, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The actual figure is likely to be much higher, and of those more than 100,000 are civilians, including more than 10,000 children. The ongoing conflict has completely destroyed the infrastructure of the country. As striking satellite images have shown, 83% of the lights have gone out across Syria, since the conflict started in 2011. Nearly 4 million Syrians are registered as refugees in neighboring countries, and an additional 7.6 million internally displaced within the country. 3 million school-aged children are no longer in school as a result of the conflict, an entire generation is growing up displaced from their homes and deprived of future opportunities. The sad reality is that for many of them the feeling is that they will never return. As Safer, who was forced to abandon his seminary studies and flee with his mom and two brothers after his dad was executed, told ICC, "We can't go back to Syria, there is no future for us there." This is the message being received by a Christian community who have been the targets of religiously motivated attacks, including beheadings, executions, rape, kidnapping, and destruction or seizure of homes and churches. These atrocities have been committed by many of the groups that have benefited from support of the "opposition groups." As today the world marked the fourth anniversary of the conflict, and its fifth year began we must consider the cost of what is being lost in Syria. The lands that were the birthplace of Christianity, from where the church first launched, are now witnessing the extermination of nearly all visible presence of Christianity. As we push for an end to the conflict in Syria, we support must be a Syria for all Syrians, including the Christian community and we must ensure the voice of Syria's Christians is clearly heard. Todd Daniels, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, "It is heart-breaking to witness the continuing devastation as a result of the war in Syria. Entire religious communities are being wiped out. In single attacks, Christian villages and centuries of their history has been destroyed. It is not just the past that is being lost, but the future as well as an entire generation is growing up displaced by this conflict. We strongly support the call for an end to the hostilities in such a way that creates a Syria where all of its citizens - including Christians - are able to freely live and carry out their faith. We urge world leaders to act quickly, and decisively to make this a reality." For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East: RM-ME@persecution.org # # # You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:2

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

-- Gen. 2:2 (KJV)

You must find the perfect balance between work and rest.  The example given in this verse shows that you must complete what you are doing before you give yourself time to rest.  Rest must be earned with accomplishment.  Laziness and slothfulness occurs when you rest before you work.

Remember to rest in between assignments designated to you.  Even God had to rest.  Do not burn yourself out.  Do not overwork.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,4.  (2) To be delivered, finish what you start.  (4) To stay in God's Word, rest.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 2:1

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

-- Gen. 2:1 (KJV)

God completed His creation.  If you want to be like God, then you must finish what you start.  Do not be a quitter.

Notice also that the creation was completed after man was created.  The age of man is the final age.  That means that we are living in the last geologic era.  Take advantage of the time that you have now because it could end at any moment.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 2,1,3.  (2) To be delivered, finish what you start.  (1) To stay in the anointing, finish what you start.  (3) To stay in the Spirit, finish what you start.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 1:31

And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good.  And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

-- Gen. 1:31 (KJV)

Notice that in the previous verses that "God saw that it was good" after days 1-5.  However, God deemed the end of the sixth day as being "very good."  What's the difference between the sixth day and the other five days?  Well, God completed everything on the sixth day.  To become great, you must finish what you start.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 1,4,5,3.  (1) To stay in the anointing, focus upon everything that you have made.  (4) To stay in God's Word, look up to Him.  (5) Stay in God's presence for things to be very good within your life.  (3) Stay in the Spirit in order for evil to be exposed.

Search continues for kidnapped American missionary in Nigeria

What began as a normal Monday morning quickly turned to tragedy when American missionary Phyllis Sortor was kidnapped by masked and armed gunmen in central Nigeria. On Feb. 24, Sortor was taken from the front of her house on the Hope Academy compound and a ransom demand of $300,000 quickly followed. Although Christians in Nigeria have been heavily persecuted by Boko Haram (BH) in the last two years, it is suspected that the radical Islamist terrorist group is not responsible for this abduction. According to reports, a group of five masked and armed men scaled the walls of the Hope Academy compound in Emiworo, Kogi State, and fired shots in the early hours of the morning. The men abducted Sorter and fled with her from the compound into mountains. There were no other injuries or kidnappings reported, indicating that she was likely the sole target of the attack. Within hours of her abduction, Sortor's captors demanded a ransom of $300,000. Later, they lowered their demand to $150,000 when it was clear her family was unable to come up with such a large amount of money. Sortor was the financial administrator for Hope Academy as a missionary for the Free Methodist Church. She has built and taught in Nigerian grade schools for nearly 15 years. "She is one of the most God-fearing people in the world, and all she wants is for everybody to have a good life and to be happy - and equality," Sorter's stepson told Q13 Fox in an interview. Abduction of Christians and extreme violence are the types of activities for which the Islamic extremist group BH is known. Their violent November 2014 kidnapping of 270 girls from the primarily Christian village in Chibok and the horrific attack on Baga in January, leaving reports of 2,000 dead, are just two examples of their terrorist capabilities. However, further investigation into the matter seems to indicate that they are not responsible for the capture of Sortor. The initial demand for ransom was made hardly 24 hours after Sortor's disappearance which would be an abnormal timeline for BH. The kidnapping also took place in the town of Emiworo, which is located slightly south of the capital of Abuja in central Nigeria. Due to the fact that BH operates primarily in northern Nigeria, experts believe that the location of the kidnapping is another indication that they were not responsible for the crime. Furthermore, the way the abductors have handled ransom demands points to non-BH actors. While the initial ransom demand was $300,000, within three days it was dropped down to $150,000 which is considered low for a major terrorist group such as BH. According to Fox News,these factors all point suspicions toward small, local gangs looking for a quick buck and operating under the general impression "that Americans have money," said Kogi State Police Commissioner Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi. Following the initial ransom demand, Sortor's stepson stated that his "working-class family" does not have the money to afford the ransom. However, even if the funds were available, the Sortor family has been strongly advised not to negotiate with her captors. "We don't think it's a good idea for the family to negotiate with the abductors on the ransom because we are sure we will find her," said Ogunjemilusi. Paying a ransom would also increase the likelihood of similar kidnappings in the future, possibly within the same compound. There have been no recent reports indicating either Sorter's whereabouts or when she might be released. "We just want her to be safe and get out," her stepson said. In the meantime, the church released a statement on the day of Sorter's abduction, calling for "the U.S. church to join together in prayer for Phyllis' safety and speedy release." For interviews, contact Cameron Thomas, Regional Manager for Africa:  RM-Africa@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

How radical Hindus act in India

"We want to see [the] pastor and kill him for preaching a foreign religion in our village. Let him come out of the house," shouted an enraged mob of 70 Hindu radicals standing at the entrance of a Christian home in Appampally, a village in India's Mahabubnagar district. This is one of several areas of the country where Christians are facing intense pressure for choosing to follow Jesus. Threats and abuse committed against the Christian community by Hindu radicals are becoming a more than regular phenomena in many of India's rural areas. Mahabubnagar, a rural district in the south, topped the list for number of incidents of Christian persecution in India's Telangana state last year. Nationally, Telangana ranked fourth in the country, preceded only by Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. A significant rise in incidents of Christian persecution in the district, which has shocked Christians, followed the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) rise to power at the national level in May 2014. Right-wing fringe elements gained confidence following BJP's political victory and began to carry out attacks against Christian communities across India, such as burning churches and physically abusing Christians. In the beginning of 2015, ICC sent its India representative to document the adverse conditions Christians were facing, particularly in the rural areas of Mahabubnagar district. Christians of Appampally Suffer Intense Persecution Vadde Janardhan, a 50-year-old farmer who became a Christian following a miracle healing in his family, was recently targeted by Hindu radicals in Appampally. "I have been attacked almost on [a] regular basis since I came to faith little over a year [ago]; the latest being on the 23rd of November 2014," Mr. Janardhan told ICC. On November 23, Janardhan had organized a birthday celebration for his 3-year-old granddaughter and invited 20 other Christians from the area to the event, including a pastor from a different village. During the gathering, more than 70 Hindu radicals assembled in front of Janardhan's house and shouted anti-Christian slogans, interrupting the prayers of those at the event. The Christians confronted the mob outside of the house because they were unable to carry out their prayers. The crowd of Hindus then started using vulgar language, particularly toward the Christian women. Several of them then started beating the Christians, saying, "Let pastor come out. We want to see him and kill him today." Meanwhile, someone from the Christian community informed the police about the unfolding incident. When the police arrived, the Hindu radicals ran in different directions out of the village. The pastor, who initially came to lead prayers, was forced to hide in the house that night, fearing for his life. On the morning of October 28, before the incident that took place at the birthday celebration, Janardhan suffered another attack. A man named Ramesh, reportedly a local leader of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) accused Janardhan of accepting a foreign religion and attempted to smash Janardhan's head with a large stone. At midnight on December 31, also in t Appampally,  a mob of 15 Hindu radicals caught a 22-year-old Christian named Raju and beat him severely, attempting to force him into leaving Christianity for Hinduism. A clear pattern of Hindu radicals preying on the vulnerable Christian minority community in Mahabubnagar District has been established. Christian Convert Forced to Choose Between Home and Faith Gangamma, a 60-year-old woman, lives in Akleshpur, another village in Mahabubnagar District, with her three grandchildren. With folded hands and tears in her eyes, she told ICC about the persecution she and her family had endured for going to church and following Jesus. Before traveling to Akleshpur, local pastors strongly advised ICC not to visit the region, warning that the village and its people were dangerous for Christians. Gangamma's granddaughter, currently in high school, heard about Jesus through her friend and started attending a church at Narayanpet, a village near Akleshpur. Gradually, the entire family, including Gangamma, started attending the church and professed their faith in Jesus. This was the first family to convert to Christianity in Akleshpur. Soon after this, Gangamma and her family began to be persecuted. After noticing that the family was regularly attending church, approximately 100 Hindu radicals barged into Gangamma's house on December 23. They assaulted the family, tore down the family's Christian calendar because it had Bible verses on it, and threw other household articles out of the house and onto the street. The village leader intervened, telling Gangamma, "You either choose the village or you choose Jesus. The villagers think that no other religion should be practiced other than Hinduism in this village." Unfortunately, Gangamma chose to stay in the village because she felt she had no other options. Gangamma moved to Akleshpur several years ago after the death of her husband. With much difficulty, she built a house for herself and her family in the village. As a widow, she was afraid to leave the village and the house she built with her own hard-earned money. While meeting secretly with ICC, Gangamma confessed that during this difficult time of decision-making, her grandson was also kidnapped by Hindu radicals who were threatening to kill him unless the family abandoned Christianity. After three days, Gangamma decided to stay in the village and the Hindu radicals released her grandson. For many of India's rural Christians, it is difficult enough just to make ends meet. Now, with a new wave of persecution washing across India, Hindu radicals are taking advantage of the Christian community's vulnerability, causing great misery for these believers. In hopes that the voices of the suffering will be heard, let us stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia:  RM-SAsia@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 1:30

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every herb for meat:  and it was so.

-- Gen. 1:30 (KJV)

In this verse, God spake the command that gave animals the capacity to eat food.  If there is no God, then animals would not be able to eat.  If there is no God, then there would not be any animals left upon the earth because they would all starve since they would not be able to eat.  If you are an atheist, then you believe that animals cannot eat food.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 1,3,4.  (1) To stay in the anointing, realize that God has authority over the animal kingdom.  (3) To follow the Holy Spirit, realize that He has authority over the animal kingdom.  (4) To stay in God's Word, realize that He has authority over the animal kingdom.

Congress sends letter to new Saudi king

In a new letter endorsed by International Christian Concern and Amnesty International, 63 Members of Congress today called upon King Salman of Saudi Arabia to make significant reforms in the area of human rights and religious freedom. The letter, led by Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Peter Roskam (R-IL), is the first of its kind sent to the newly installed monarch and sends a strong message to a nation widely considered one of the most restrictive on earth. The letter, after expressing condolences at the death of the King's brother, includes a list of recommendations for human rights improvements. "In this moment of transition...you have an historic opportunity...to strengthen education and initiate judicial reform, by ending the ban on women driving...lifting restrictions on public gatherings and social media; reforming "anti-terror" laws that have criminalized some who peacefully express criticism; ensuring due process in criminal proceedings and ending the use of torture; and allowing religious minorities to exercise their faiths..." the letter reads. In addition to Members of Congress, the letter was also endorsed by a broad coalition of 15 non-governmental organizations (NGO's), including International Christian Concern, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Equality Now. The unusually broad coalition of NGO's, and the bi-partisan make-up of the letter, is indicative of the widespread concern for human rights abuses taking place in Saudi Arabia.   On September 5th, 28 Christians were arrested by Saudi authorities after Saudi "religious police" raided a suspected underground church. While the Christians were released the next day, raids on illegal places of worship remain common, and Christians and other religious minorities in the past have been held for extensive periods of time or been deported from the country. In January of 2014, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Liferanked Saudi Arabia as the 4th most restrictive nation worldwide in terms of government regulation on religion. In the first line of its most recent report on the issue, the State Department's International Religious Freedom Office noted "Freedom of religion [in Saudi Arabia] is neither recognized nor protected under the law and the government severely restricted it in practice."   ICC's Advocacy Director, Isaac Six, said, "There are few nations on earth more emphatically determined to suppress religious freedom than the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, yet few people around the world understand just how repressive the regime actually is. This letter is significant for two reasons. First, it sends a clear message to the Saudi leadership that they must very carefully consider their policies on religious freedom and human rights in the calculus of the U.S.-Saudi bilateral relationship. This in and of itself could alleviate some of the suffering of religious and other minorities in the country. Secondly, it reminds the world that these restrictions are not a joke, that they deeply impact the lives of millions of men, women, and children who deserve to be treated with the same respect that many of us enjoy on a daily basis, and that a significant number of our elected representatives have and will continue to make removing these restrictions a high priority of our nation's foreign policy. ICC is honored to have been a contributor to this initiative, and we must express our sincere gratitude to our other NGO partners as well as Members of Congress who took the time to endorse this important letter."  For interviews, please contact Isaac Six at: advocacy@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church.  For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Murder trial delayed in Pakistan due to Islamic extremists

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the killers of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's sole Christian cabinet minister, have yet to be brought to justice four years after Bhatti was assassinated. Bhatti's murder occurred only months after the high profile assassination of Salmaan Taseer, then governor of Punjab. Both men were murdered for their public opposition to Pakistan blasphemy laws and for condemning the death sentence received by Asia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy in June 2009.   Bhatti was gunned down in Islamabad, Pakistan's federal capital, on March 2, 2011. Police found a letter at the crime scene from the Tehrik-e-Taliban claiming responsibility for the murder and adding that Bhatti was killed for opposing Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Bhatti's murder trial has moved at a snail's pace, despite police claiming to have arrested all people accused, including the men who shot Bhatti. Many observers cite threats from extremists as the reason for why the trial continues to face delay. Paul Bhatti, Shahbaz Bhatti's brother, was forced to flee Pakistan due to threats. According to media reports, Pakistan's federal government is considering shifting the Bhatti murder trial to a military court. It is hoped that hearing the case in a closed military court will speed up the process and reduce interference from radicals. Talking with ICC, Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance, remembered Bhatti's leadership, saying, "Four years have passed, but we still miss out leader, colleague, and brother Bhatti. Bhatti was a brave and visionary leader, who we miss now and therefore salute for sacrificing his life for his people." Basharat Masih, coordinator for the Commission for Justice and Peace in Islamabad, told ICC,"The Christian community will never forget [Bhatti's] precious service and martyrdom. We have lost a great human being, promoter of peace, and bridge between religious communities." "He was a hero to the [Christian] community," said Professor Anjum James Paul, close friend of Bhatti. "He stood against injustices, inequalities, discrimination, and human rights violations. He remained committed to his call to serve the downtrodden until his last breath. He will be remembered for his extraordinary services." ICC's Regional Manager for South Asia, William Stark, said, "Blasphemy laws continue to be one of the greatest threats to Christianity in Pakistan. While blasphemy laws claim to seek religious harmony through uniformity, in practice they provide cover for the pursuit of personal vendettas and crush fundamental freedoms for Pakistan's religious minorities. By protecting these laws and failing to bring Shahbaz Bhatti's killers to justice, the Pakistani government is further emboldening extremists to commit ever-more violent acts against religious minorities. ICC calls on the Pakistani government to bring Bhatti's murderers to justice as soon as possible. Moreover, ICC calls for the release and safekeeping of Asia Bibi, whose blasphemy accusation and conviction has brought about so much loss already."   For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia:  RM-SAsia@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 1:29

And God said, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

-- Gen. 1:29 (KJV)

In this verse, God stated that He has given mankind herbs and fruits to consume.  If there is no God, then there would not be any herbs or fruit upon the earth.

Anything that has seeds can be used by people for consumption.  However, overusage of these items can lead to destruction.  Fruit carries the sugar known as fructose.  Too much sugar leads to too much fat.  Another example is marijuana.  Marijuana usage has been banned in most countries because smoking too much pot damages brain cells and does three times as much damage to the lungs in comparison to smoking cigarettes.

However, eating fruit in moderation can cause a person to lose weight.  Also, medicinal marijuana in small doses can be used to alleviate chemical imbalances in people.  Do things in moderation.  I do not smoke marijuana, but I do realize that from this verse that God has made every type of herb and fruit with some sort of benefit when it is consumed.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 1,2,3,9.  (1) To walk in the anointing, listen to the voice of God.  (2) To be delivered, receive the good things from the earth that God has given to you.  (3) To follow the Holy Spirit, realize that He encompasses the earth.  (9) Overturn evil in order to grow strong like a tree.