~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTES FROM THE VALLEY - Special Edition "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me." Psalm 23. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Friends and Family, What follows are the new inputs I've received for Wednesday, October 17th. The third article of the Charles Colson series on understanding Islam, Several items on the need for prayer right now, and a few more opinions. Stay strong in spirit, bold in praise, and humble in prayer. I am as always - your brother in Christ, Steve Hall ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BreakPoint with Charles Colson Commentary #011017 - 10/17/2001 Understanding Islam's Religion and Doctrine: Islam Series 3 Our BreakPoint editor, Jim Tonkowich, met with a Muslim friend just after Ramadan, the month in which Muslims are obliged to fast daily from sunrise to sunset. Jim asked, "Do you feel closer to God after the fast?" His friend laughed. "That's not a Muslim question," he replied, "That's a question Christians ask. God is to be obeyed because he is God." This interchange highlights critical differences between what Christians believe and what Muslims believe. The first difference has to do with God. Christians understand their relationship with God as between a loving Father and his children. The Church is called the bride of Christ who Christ loves and for whom he died. The picture expressed in the Bible and in Christian hymnody and spiritual writings is one of intimacy, warmth -- even passion -- between a loving God and his redeemed people. And our God reveals himself as one God in three Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is love and intimacy within the Godhead before he created anything. Allah, the Arabic word meaning "the God," is never understood in this way. Allah is removed, aloof, and distant. He is a god of justice, not a god of love. His revelation is primarily a revelation of his will. While Islam lists the Old and New Testaments among the scriptures, from its point of view, Christians believe in three gods because we believe that God is Trinity. Muslims believe that Allah's will has been revealed through prophets. Their list of prophets includes Moses and Jesus, but they believe that the greatest prophet was Muhammad. Muhammad had visions in which he claimed the angel Gabriel appeared to him and revealed Allah's will. The record of these visions is the Qur'an that can be seen as the constitution of Islam. The Shari'a or Islamic law, applies the Qur'an to every aspect of life and gives Islam its socio-political and geo-political agenda. All of Islam is upheld by the "Five Pillars of Islam" to which every Muslim is to submit. These are: the belief that there is no god except the one god, Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet; prayer five times each day; giving to the poor; the yearly fast of Ramadan; and, if possible, a pilgrimage to Mecca, the Arabian city were Muhammad first established Islam in A.D. 622. Four of the pillars revolve around the Islamic doctrine of man. Muslims believe that children are born sinless and Muslim and are subsequently led astray. Guidance in the form of the Islamic law is necessary to live a life pleasing to Allah who, after death, will judge each person by weighing the good done against sins. Salvation is not necessary since all people have in themselves the ability to obey. Entry into heaven is a matter of submission and personal effort -- no assurance, by the way. This is easiest, of course, in an Islamic state that enforces Islamic law. To judge by some of what I've heard in the past few weeks, you'd think Islam was little more than a variation of Christianity and Judaism. Not so. Islam's ideas about God, humanity, and salvation are vastly different from the biblical doctrines. And ideas -- I'll never get tired of saying -- have consequences. For further reading: You can get a copy of the brochure mentioned in today's on-air closer that commemorates September 11 at http://www.DCHope.com/ ========== To support the series this week, the BreakPoint Store at Parable.com has gathered many additional resources on Islam to help get you up to speed on Islam and other world religions. Come see the selection at http://www.parable.com/breakpoint/default.asp?group=686&rid=159 Plus, don't miss some timely new books on the problem of evil and the role of faith in the American Experiment, featured on the BreakPoint Store home page: http://www.parable.com/breakpoint ========== Copyright notice: BreakPoint may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and individual copies of a particular BreakPoint e-mail transcript may be printed, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of BreakPoint must set forth the following credit line, in full, at the conclusion of the portion of BreakPoint that is used: Copyright (c) 2001 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Prison Fellowship Ministries(R) may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C A P I T O L P R A Y E R F O C U S * * * * * * * Dear Steve and Cathy, You may have heard in recent days that Afghanistan's radical Islamic ruling government, the Taliban, is holding eight Christian mission workers who have been charged with trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. The workers are all part of the German-based aid organization, Shelter Now International. Four Germans and two Australians are also being held, along with two Americans: Heather Mercer, 24 Dayna Curry, 29 Under the strict Taliban law, proselytizing Muslims is a very serious crime. And with U.S. attacks on the Taliban intensifying, these Christian workers are in great peril. ***PRAYER ACTION ITEM Pray specifically and fervently for the eight Christians detained right now. Pray for their protection and safety. Pray that God gives them strength to stand. Pray for their release from the Taliban's control. ***URGE OTHERS TO PRAY Please forward this message to friends, family, co-workers - anyone who may share your concern for these Christian mission workers being held hostage in the war on terrorism. ***CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS Please continue to lift up the President, Members of Congress, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and others who are charged with guiding our nation through these difficult times. Thank you for your prayers! Dr. Frank Wright, Executive Director Center for Christian Statesmanship ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded by Bluegrass DIAL 911 "A PROPHETIC PERSPECTIVE ON RECENT DAYS" By Jim W. Goll The recent tragedy that hit the U.S. is indeed a massive wake up call not only to the church in America but to the global body of Christ. What is the Lord attempting to say in this hour? Simply put, "It's time to dial 911.' As the world has it's number to call in an emergency - 911 - so it is time in the Body of Christ to call on the Global Emergency Number for supernatural assistance! As most of you are aware this event transpired on 9/11. Psalms 91:1, "He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." This Psalm goes on to state, "I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust." It is time to Dial 911 and call upon the name of the Lord. It is time to push the trust button and not get frustrated if you feel like you are being put on hold without all the answers. I call this Operation 911. Yes, there is a time to lift up our hands and admit that we do not have the answers and cry for help and this is that time! ======================================================== "IN THAT DAY, I WILL RAISE UP THE FALLEN BOOTH OF DAVID" ======================================================== Amos 9:11 states, "In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, and wall up it as breaches; I will also raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old." While I must admit the subject of rebuilding David's Tabernacle is an enormous subject theologically with many different angles and views, let us at least agree that there is a prophetic trumpet call being blown once again through this 911 passage as well. It is time to restore our breaches in our walls and stand in the gap. It is time for the 24 Hour House of Prayer and Worship as in David's time to be restored. Let the High Praises of God be shot forth from a humble militant church to bind the powers of darkness. It is high time! In the late 1980's I spent hundreds of hours in prayer and intercession doing prayer walks with other prophetic intercessors in Manhattan, New York City. During that time I had a vision in which I saw lower Manhattan in smoldering rubbles. I did not understand what I was seeing at that time. As I watched the vision unfold, I saw small green shoots springing forth from out of the midst of the destruction. More and more plants started bursting forth until eventually the whole scene was covered like a beautiful green pasture. ========================================== WE HAVE CROSSED A THRESHOLD IN THE SPIRIT ========================================== I asked the Lord, "What is this?" I heard the following, "Out of the midst of a time of turmoil and destruction, My triumphant church shall spring forth like a tender shoot out of dry ground." Though I did not understand the reality of the vision those 12 years ago, the understanding is clearer today. Lower Manhattan lies in ruin. It has devastated us all. This is not just a U. S. tragedy - it is a global event of massive proportions. We have crossed a threshold in the Spirit from one period of time into another. What time is it? It is time for the body of Christ to arise. It is time for new growth to spring forth suddenly. It is time for prayer to be more than just a fad or the latest teaching. It is time for us to Dial 911 and call upon the name of the Lord our God and find Him as our shelter and our hiding place. Now is the time! Out of the ashes of ruin shall come forth a living breathing church of Jesus Christ that cares for the hurting, walks in the opposite spirit of hatred and does the works of her Lord. Here are some practical points of prayer for this hour: 1) Confess the sins of our nation such as abortion, greed, idolatry and cry to the Lord for his mercy. (Read my book father Forgive Us! for understanding in the arena.) 2) Ask the Lord for a Holy Spirit Border Patrol to be put in place around the natural borders of the United States. Call for the stationing of angelic attendants at each port, every road of entrance etc. 3) Pray for those in authority: President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defense Rumsfield, Attorney General John Ashcroft and others the Lord brings to your mind to be given divine guidance and counsel in these days. 4) Ask that laborers will be thrust into the field so that a harvest can be reaped at this hour. 5) Call on the Lord to reverse the enemies plans - call forth that division and confusion would be released amongst the international network of terrorist cells. Pray that the enemies schemes would be revealed before they are enacted. 6) Call forth voices for this nation that can be heard at this hour. Pray for Godly voices with the word of the Lord to arise with great clarity and revelation. 7) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the Israel also as a nation and that both the Jewish peoples and the Arabs peoples eyes would be open to behold their Messiah. Kneeling on the Promises! Jim W. Goll http://www.mttnweb.com http://www.mttnweb.com/prayer_shield_upd_010927.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Blue Grass also shared the following: Bryant Gumbel recently interviewed Billy Graham's daughter. Gumbel: "Why didn't God stop this or do something about this?" Billy Graham's daughter: "For years we have told God we didn't want Him in our schools. We didn't want Him in our government and we didn't want Him in our finances and God was being a perfect gentleman in doing just what we asked Him to do. We need to make up our mind - do we want God or do we not want Him? We cannot just ask Him in when disaster strikes." Bryant Gumbel was silent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ O P I N I O N S ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Steve . . . How can some people build their salvation on baptism alone is beyond me. What about the thief on the cross? Did he got to hell just because he wasn't baptized? You and I both know the answer to that one. And the person that thinks God doesn't expect His children to defend their Freedom is beyond me too. Sure, as that person said, God IS a loving God but he is also a God of wrath and a God of justice. When God's wrath is made known, that man will know it. And he will see that sometimes God displays his wrath by the hands of his children. Even if that means taking up the sword or gun or whatever is needful at the time to bring justice for wrong doings. And you know, I don't mean kill innocent people but those that go against what is Godly and right. These are the devil's workmen. And the devil knows his time is short so he is working hard to destroy all he can before it is too late for him. But, you and I both know, we have read the book and we know the out come. We have read the last chapter and know who wins the battle, how the story ends...Praise God! Thank you for being so grounded in God's word that you can answer these people without getting into an arguement with them but still uphold the truth. Your sister in Christ, Bettye Evans ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Steve I thank you for the letters that you have been sending to us giving us a study of Islam. I think this is a good idea as it gives us a clear understanding of what is taking place all around us. What l would also like to say is that it is indeed selfish for someone to preach love and show hatred. We in Kenya also experienced that and as the saying goes, "Once beaten twice shy." We understand what Americans and the world are going through. Everyone is wondering where the terrorists are going to strike next. We pray for Gods love to prevail among his children. Let us all turn our face unto the Lord only, He will never leave us, we are His children and that should be our strength. Our God is an awesome God and all His promises are YES and AMEN and there is no way whatsoever He will ever change; He is the same yesterday, today and forever. As Christians we should be united in Christ (we are part of the Body of Christ) . There maybe times when even us Christians we fall astray, we have pray to overcome every temptation that may befall us, however challenging, God will give us strength to carry on (remember the story of Job). We pray for our brothers and sisters who may fall into temptation to get strength to carry on. The way is rough and that is why our Lord declared saying, "I am the way, the truth and the life no shall come by the Father except by me." We are advised by Christ himself to always pray so that we may not fall into temptation (we can clearly see this when He was about to be crucified). We are weak and that is why He sent us a teacher and a guide, who is the Holy Spirit. God bless you all Dorothy Olweny ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dorothy also sent us the following story that I think everyone will find a blessing. Thanks Sis. This is a great way to close this "special" edition. THE VISIT Ruth went to her mailbox and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter: Dear Ruth: I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I would like to visit. Love Always, Jesus Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer". With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk leaving Ruth with grand total of twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meagre offerings tucked under her arm. "Hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags. "Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us, lady, we'd really appreciate it." Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to. "Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him." "Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and he headed back into the alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart. "Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest. She handed the man her grocery bag. "Thank you lady. Thank you very much!" "Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest. "Thank you lady! Thank you very much!" Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day." She took the envelope out of the box and opened it. Dear Ruth: "It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat". Love Always, Jesus ________________________________________________ Copyright © 1998-2001 by Stephen J. Hall - Weekly letters of encouragement to Christians written by Stephen J. Hall unless otherwise indicated. Notes from the Valley and Humor from the Valley are meant to brighten your day and encourage you along the way. Most of "Notes" and "Humor" are a collection of items provided to me by subscribers and friends. Credit is given to both the contributor and to the true author, where known. If you are blessed by them, please feel free to make copies and pass them along to others. If you have something you'd like to contribute to a future edition or would like to ask us a question or make a comment, please contact us at: sossteve@... ________________________________________________ Your love, God, is my song, and I'll sing it! I'm forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I'll never quit telling the story of your love - how you built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it. Your love has always been our lives foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world. (Psalm 89:1-3 The Message)