Writing the Joy of Every Glorious Day... -

Sep. 16, 2009 -

Soooo. How is everybody doing? Hmm...what am I going to post about.*Think think think* Well. Godsdaughter made me a wonderful new blog button (actually, my FIRST blog button) so if anyone is interested in having that, you can ask me, but I would recommend asking her!! Hehehe, sorry to put that on you, Ariel. You see, everyone, I am just slightly technically challenged and it was something of a trial getting that button on my blog to begin with! So, it would probably be best for you to go straight to her :D if you want to use the button. Or I guess you can ask me and I'll ask her for ya if you're not already friends with her!

Speech and debate has continued well. I gave that persuasive speech I was telling you about to the class last night and it went very well. I was able to get some very good feedback, and I really just enjoyed giving the speech. I will be posting it under here so if you have a few minutes to read that, I would really appreciate it. I need to have time to revise the speech with everyone's criticism and have it re-memorized by February 11, 2010. Of course, I would prefer to have it done before that date, but that is the latest date possible for you to turn in your thoughts! I'm sure you can do it by then, right?! ; )

School is also going well. I have been able to keep up with my older sister pretty well in chemistry and somewhat in algebra 2. Although they are both a challenge! I am so glad that Dad is home to be able to help us with those subjects. I don't know what I would have done about that if he was on deployment! It is very nice to have him home : )

My birthday is coming up this month! September 26th. I am thinking that I will have a couple friends over for a sleepover and then we will go to a really fun tea house that I know of, downtown here. It is called Reynold's Tavern, and I actually went there last year for my birthday with my mom and sister. It is really fun to get dressed up and go down there. You get your own pot of tea, and scones and little sandwhiches and everything which equals = very enjoyable experience :P

I hope everyone is doing well and has a chance to read the speech posted below my signature!

In Christ,

Christine

A Persuasive Oratory on The Persecuted Church

By Christine Daae

Gao Zhisheng was arrested for the first time on February 4th, 2005 by secret police in his home-town. Since that time he has often been arrested by Chinese authorities as well as being tortured and imprisoned. Zhisheng was the main founder of The Association of Human Rights Attorneys for Chinese Christians, which he began in 2006. A year later he was again arrested and this time spent over fifty days in prison, while being tortured severely. Finally, in February, 2009 he was again arrested and is currently still imprisoned. Zhisheng has never hurt anyone, or stolen anything. So why is he so repeatedly being arrested? The answer is quite simple, really, Gao Zhisheng is a Christian and was trying to organize other Christians. Now this answer may sound strange to you because we live in a country of religious freedom, right? Perhaps not. Today, let's first look at the persecuted church around the globe, second the persecution going on in the US, and finally, what we should be doing to stop this persecution.

The Bible is an illegal book in fifty-two countries. Some of those countries include: Turkey, China, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Now think about it this way. China alone makes up about 20% of the world's population. If it is illegal for that 20% to read the Bible, that is 1, 330, 044, 544 people who are not getting the gospel message. Yes, there are missionaries to China, but their job is not an easy one. Dozens of Christians in China spent this past Christmas in prison, just for organizing Christmas Eve services, or small study meetings. Chinese pastors are being forced to labor camps, such as Mao Minzi, who was arrested and sent to a labor camp, simply for organizing a house church meeting. This fifty-five year old man was sentenced to a year in a forced labor camp, just a week after a raid on the house church meeting which he had organized. This raid also confiscated Christian books and other materials. The examples of Gao Zhisheng, Mao Minzi and the other Chinese pastors, should be enough to at least give us a desire to support them, even join them. I will talk more about ways to join and support their cause, later in this speech.

Now you may be thinking "okay sure, that sounds terrible and everything, but how does it affect me? I mean, none of that stuff is going on in the US right?" Well, it is true that nobody in the United States in being held in prison for being a Christian. But there are forms of Christian persecution even in the US. Today, many Christian doctors in the US are being sued if they refuse to perform abortions. During the Bush Administration, a federal rule was enacted, stating that Christian physicians could refuse to perform services such as contraconception, abortions, and other services that they found went against the Bible and their beliefs. The rule was still being enforced on the day that President Obama took office. Now, President Obama is working to reverse this order, which will cause many physicians around the country to resign or even to be fired, in the case that they refuse to perform these medical services. Another example of Christian persecution in the United States is that of the gay rights being given more freely every day. When a Christian photographer refuses to photograph a gay or Lesbian marriage, he or she can very easily be fired, and many are being fired around the country today. Others simply resign if they are asked to do such a job as this. On May 24, 2006, a federal district court judge in Harrisburg, PA, violated the freedom of speech rights for two street pastors who were preaching against homosexuality just outside of a Pride Fest event. The two pastors were outside of the event in a place used as a park, so they were not arrested for where they were preaching, but for the content of their message. The two police officers who arrested them, first tried to create a fifty-foot no-speech zone, before their arrest. Thankfully, another judge stepped in and proclaimed this ruling unconstitutional and the order was taken away, but this is just the beginning of more persecution to come to Christians in the United States.

At the beginning of this speech, I told you about a man in China, named Gao Zhinsheng. Just as a reminder, Gao has been repeatedly arrested and tortured for his beliefs. He is currently being held prisoner and many people around the world are doing something to issue his release. People can sign a petition pleading for his release, through a group called the Voice of Martyrs. The Voice of Martyrs ministry offers books, radio broadcasts, and a free monthly newsletter to those who want to get involved in the release and aid of Christians around the world. On their website, www.persecution.com, you can sign up for their newsletter, find a group in your area to get involved with, join online discussions, and even write letters to some of those who are being persecuted right now. As I speak thousands of people are desperately trying to get the attention of government officials in China, to secure the release of Gao Zhinsheng, through the Voice of Martyrs website and the petition which they have available to sign. Please take this step. Take one step closer with us, closer to the enlightening of the burden on Christians around the world. If you want to get involved with stopping the Christian persecution in the US, there are also things for you to do. Remember, that even if you are not a Christian, this fight for religious freedom, still involves you. When we allow our government to force doctors to perform services against their will, and when the government does not allow pastors to speak on the issues that they find important, we are allowing the government to take our liberty away from us, piece by piece. So here are a few things that you and I can do to prevent this from happening. First of all, pray. We must pray for the spiritual battle which is taking place right now. We cannot fight this battle on our own. We desperately need God's intervention. Next, we should educate ourselves, and our friends on what is going on in the lives of many Christians, and how we can help. One way to do this would be to read the books "The Narrow Road" by Brother Andrew, or "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand, founder of The Voice of Martyrs. These books both give vivid details on what is the true story behind the walls of the Christian church. Finally, join the fight by becoming an advocate for the church. There are many ways to do this, but just a few include writing a letter or an email to your Congressman, or Senator. There is no telling how far that could possibly go, towards helping the church. How about taking a short missions trip, to see the persecution around the world first-hand, and to help those who so desperately need our aid. Finally, encourage those prisoners and the workers who are suffering on the front line. Send them a gift, or just a letter or card to let them know that they are not alone.

Today, I have shown you the persecution that is very real in our world, and even our own country today. I have given you several ways that you can get involved in the battle, including pray, educate yourself and your friends, and finally how to become an advocate of the church. Now it is your turn. I urge you to take these steps toward religious freedom, and toward our country's overall liberty.

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Comments

Sep. 17, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Hey Christine!

That was a beautiful speech! Great job. I love your focus, and subject matter, as well as how you put it all together so nicely...blending what's happening in China with persecusion in the USA. It all looks REALLY good, the only thing I noticed was at the end, this sentence didn't flow that well; it was kind of hard to understand:

"...including pray, educate yourself and your friends, and finally how to become an advocate of the church."

I think you should maybe put it like this:

"...including prayer, eduacating yourself and those around you, and finally how to become an advocate of the church."

..Only if you want, of course! But it was REALLY good all in all, I'm sure you'll do fantastic!

Oh---nope, I don't mind at all! I'm actually going to re-send your template to you with the code underneath your blog button, so that people can just leave a comment and take it (copy and paste)...is that alright?

Okay...great job again, and Happy Early Birthday incase I miss it! =D

Love,
Ariel~*~*