According to Open Door (www.OpenDoorUSA.org), Christians in Uzbekistan, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and other countries which are hostile to Christians, Christians are being persecuted on a regular basis.  They are enduring harsh pressures from the local governmental authorities even to their deaths.  Predominantly Muslim and former communist regimes routinely interrogate, beat, jail and/or fine anyone known to be an active Christian. their water supply is cut off, they are not allowed to bury their dead, children are taken from their parents, adults taken for questioning by police and jailed without explanation and kept for weeks, months or even years and their families are not allowed to see them or even informed as to their whereabouts. Christian children are being forced into the streets when their parents are either jailed or killed for their belief in Jesus Christ.  Anyone found helping these Christian children are threatened with the same fate.  There are at least 50 know countries that are considered hostile to Christians.

The scriptures that Open Door is requesting that everyone meditate on during this time are:  1 Thessalonians 3:7: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:3:8: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

Psalm 25:5:  Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Psalm 5:2: Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

Philippians 3:8-10:  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Pray, Body of Christ, on Sunday, November 14, 2010 for the Persecuted Church, your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.  Think about the freedom of religion that you currently have.  How freely are you able to praise and worship Jesus, how much do we take for granted our freedom of religion?  People are being tortured, killed, kidnapped, mutilated.

Would you be able to stand for what you believe under these same circumstances?  This gives a whole new meaning to the scripture, Joshua 24:15:  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.