Bishop of Faisalbad

Punjabi police have issued warrants of arrest against the Rt. Rev. John Samuel, the Church of Pakistan’s Bishop of Faisalabad and 28 other Christians, in retaliation for complaints of police incompetence in the wake of the attacks on Christians in the town of Gojra that left ten dead and destroyed three churches and over 100 homes.

Father,
In the name of Jesus, we pray that no weapon formed against Bishop Samuel, his family, or the other Christians will prosper. We refute every tongue that would rise to accuse them. May all word curses spoken ignorantly or intentionally be cut off from them forever. Amen.

Hat tip: Religious Intelligence

Anti-despair song

Lately, I’ve prayed with several persons suffering from depression, under medical treatment. One complaint I’ve heard is a need for practical strategies to counteract flare-ups.
I recalled this scene from Pilgrim’s Progress: Along a rough stretch of road, Christian and Hopeful leave the highway to travel on the easier By-Path Meadow, where a rainstorm forces them to spend the night. In the morning they are captured by Giant Despair, who takes them to his Doubting Castle, where they are imprisoned, beaten and starved. The giant wants them to commit suicide, but they endure the ordeal until Christian realizes that a key he has, called Promise, will open all the doors and gates of Doubting Castle. Using the key, they escape.
I’ve compiled a list of God’s promises and am now searching for songs incorporating them in the text.

Deuteronomy 33:27a
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

1 Timothy 4:7-16

But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)
      Holy Spirit, please help us do those things which will bring us to the mind and character of Jesus.

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. (1 Timothy 4:8 )
      Jesus, you lived a life of self-discipline which kept you close to your father in heaven; please help us daily take on that same discipline.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. (1 Timothy 4:9)
      Father, please help us accept all that you are saying to us in the Scriptures.

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:10)
      Jesus, thank you for Bishop Bill and all your faithful apostolic witnesses who have labored and suffered reproach so that we could trust you, the living God.

These things command and teach. (1 Timothy 4:11)
      Holy Spirit, help us receive into our hearts and lives all that you command and teach.

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
      Jesus, please bless all those whom you send to minister to us. Help us receive their ministry; help us receive the ministry of the youth of this diocese.

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:13)
      Father, instill in our hearts a hunger for your word, bless those who exhort us to follow Jesus, and bring us all to sound doctrine.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. (1 Timothy 4:14)
      Holy Spirit, please help us use all the gifts you have given us so that the Body of Christ may be built up.

Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (1 Timothy 4:15)
      Father, please help us think on whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. (From Philippians 4:8 )

Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16)
      Jesus, please restore to the seminaries of the Episcopal Church and those who teach and minister there sound doctrine so that they and those who hear them may be saved. Bless the ministry of Nashotah House and Trinity School for Ministry. Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my people to repent.
      Pray that they will turn to me, for I AM the truth.
      My people are led astray by lies and false teaching.
      Pray that they will turn to me for the truth of the gospel.

Sunday: 148, 149, 150; 1 Kings 8:22-30(31-40); 1 Timothy 4:7b-16; John 8:47-59
Monday: 25; 2 Chronicles 6:32-7:7; James 2:1-13; Mark 14:53-65

Albany Intercessor