Driven by What Purpose, This?

…The physicians who crafted the program apparently don’t share the church’s professed evangelical beliefs, espousing instead various forms of Eastern mysticism and the tenets of a Christian cult, Swedenborgism.

Vowing to lose 90 pounds, Warren said he placed himself under the care of Drs. Mehmet Oz, Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman last fall and worked with each to develop “The Daniel Plan.”

Oz, host of the Emmy-winning “Dr. Oz Show” and professor of surgery at Columbia University, says he is inspired by Emanuel Swedenborg, an 18th century cult founder who taught that all religions lead to God and denied orthodox Christian beliefs such at the atonement of Christ for sin, the trinity and the deity of the Holy Spirit.

Best-selling author Amen, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California at Irvine, teaches Eastern religious meditation and the New Age energy-based practice of Reiki.

Hyman, a four-time New York Times best-selling author, promotes mystical meditation based on Buddhist principles.

More of the story: Rick Warren Hosts Cult Celebrity Doctors

Deceived on Purpose cover graphic
Deceived on Purpose

How to Pray for Egypt

Early this morning via their Facebook page, Operation World presented one Egyptian’s nine-item list of How to Pray for Egypt:

We have just received the note below from an Egyptian friend who has been involved in the prayer ministry in Egypt, but also involved on government level. This note is really helpful to understand the situation in Egypt and helps us to pray with insight. Please read it and pray fervently for this very special nation:

"Thank you for your messages and prayers for the Nation of Egypt. I have been in a state of disbelief and a little confused and now amazed as to what is taking place.

Many have asked me how we should pray for Egypt and to be honest I was not sure. The news is conflicting at the same time the things said do not match with my knowledge and understanding of the reality of Egypt and the people.

The past two days, listening to news on Al jezeera, BBC, and talking to parents and then talking to friends…. Each one had their own analysis and view about what is going on to an extreme… Confusion, confusion, confusion…

But one thing I sensed with them and agreed on is that last Friday, evil was unleashed in Egypt.

The Protest started as [….]

So, please Pray for:

  1. A peaceful transition of power. Wisdom and revelation for the leaders and to the way they address the people of Egypt.
  2. A quick end to this protest and the economic crisis accumulating.
  3. That the evil unleashed will hit a wall, and the plans of the enemy to start a civil confrontation will not succeed.
  4. Peace and security to return to the streets of Egypt
  5. A restraining of the Muslim Brotherhood and other political parties who have evil hidden agendas.
  6. For the Church to have a prophetic voice at this critical time. For Wisdom and revelation from the father to speak life and revealed truth to the Church and the Nation.
  7. The Church to move prophetically and know how to handle this difficult time with confidence and boldness.
  8. That Egyptians will not be taken lightly or mistreated any longer.
  9. That President Mubarak will leave with dignity and honor, and non of His family will be harmed.

Source: How to Pray for Egypt

HT: Stener Dahle Fagerlie (a Facebook friend)

Sam and Nancy Davis

Nancy Davis photo
Nancy Davis

I wasn’t there.

Nancy and Sam Davis were riding along a highway 70 miles south of the border town of Reynosa, Mexico, on Wednesday when they approached an illegal roadblock. Rather than stop, they continued driving and were chased by several gunmen in a black pick-up truck, according Pharr Police Chief Ruben Villescas.

Rather than stop, Sam Davis gunned the engine of their blue 2008 Chevrolet pick-up, a vehicle popular with the dangerous Zetas drug cartel that controls the area. The pursuing gunmen fired at Davis’ truck, and a bullet hit Nancy Davis in the head.

Her husband raced the 70 miles to the Pharr International Bridge, speeding the last part of the way against on-coming traffic to avoid the long lines of northbound cars at the border checkpoint, arriving at 12:25 p.m., according to police reports.

Source: ABC News

I don’t know why Sam didn’t stop at the roadblock.

Neither do I know what I would have done in his shoes.

Unless “in his shoes” means all that it suggests. In that case, I expect I would have done what he did.

Some folks, though, (will) say Sam’s decision to run the roadblock was foolish and/or wrong.

Read it all

In Detention in Eritrea

Open Doors reports the deaths of two Christians in Eritrea’s infamous detention centers.

Seble Hagos Mebrahtu, 27, died in the military training center in Sawa on January 1. According to reliable sources, Mebrahtu was apparently refused medical treatment for malaria and died soon after.

42-year-old Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom was also denied medical treatment for complications from diabetes and injuries sustained from torture. On January 16, 2009, at the Mitire Military Confinement Center, he went home to be with his Savior.

[…]

These deaths come as the Eritrea governments’ campaign against Christians seems to have escalated. Several large groups of believers, members of the underground church, have been arrested since the end of December.

Read it all

Vitamins to Fight Stress

Some days are more stressful than others. When stress hits, knowing which nutrients to incorporate into your diet, either with fresh foods or natural care supplements, can really help you tackle the load and come out on top. A good multivitamin that includes the B complex vitamins, or just a targeted vitamin B complex supplement, is a good choice. These nutrients help in the production of serotonin and dopamine, both of which play a role in relieving anxiety and relaxing. Foods that are loaded with B vitamins are another good choice: whole grains, nuts, dried fruits and eggs. Folic acid is an especially key nutrient, helping to stabilize your mood. It can be found in dark leafy green veggies and beans. And of course there’s L-tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey that has become a legend for its ability to calm you into a post-Thanksgiving dinner slumber.

Their source: Natural Health Magazine

My source: Swanson Health Products

Indonesia: Beauty in Ashes?

I receive a monthly newsletter from The Voice of the Martyrs [….] This month, the cover is a picture of a woman, Yubelina, from Indonesia. She was burned in an attack by Muslims on her Christian village.

Her skin is splotchy & ranges in color from light brown to red to white. Much of it is leathery. Her nose is disfigured. She has a purplish-colored patch of skin in between her bottom lip & the bottom of her chin. Her upper lip is peeling. Her left eye is white & red; her pupil is clearly no longer able to see.

But she is smiling. A huge smile. Joy radiates from her. Why?? She must receive stares. Children are probably afraid of her. The world would call her damaged. Ugly.

Yubelina has figured out where her identity lies. She is a treasured child of the King. She has traded “a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning” (Isa. 61:3). Her smile reveals Jesus.

Yubelina is beautiful. I guarantee she has a joy, a contentment, that no name-brand, trendy clothing; no perfect haircut & makeup; no flawless skin or toned body can bring.

I want to be beautiful like that.

Source: Beauty

Here’s the photo and the magazine in question:

Yubelina
Yubelina of Indonesia
Christian Persecution Blog

Frankly, I don’t know if I’m very gung-ho about using Third World images like this. Or any such image, for that matter.

Is it sensationalism? Is it…ah…now I can’t remember the word I thought of a bit ago. Oh, yeah…is it some form of exploitation?

I hope not.

To be sure, it puts a face to persecution.

And it reminds us of how people treat each other.

And of how Christians should pray for each other.

And of how Christian joy surpasses circumstances.

And of how we should be thankful for freedom of religion.

Of what else does it remind you?

Above all, love God!

since November 9, 2005