By Dave Butts

There is no doubt that we live in an age of terror. The threat of terrorism affects us every time we go to an airport, or cast a vote. It affects the policies of nations and the daily lives of individuals. Nations are mobilizing to face this increasingly dangerous threat.

What is the Church’s response to terrorism? It certainly affects us. In some places, the Church has been the target of terror attacks. In order for the Church to fully engage this threat, we must see the spiritual aspect of what is happening. Read the following passage of Scripture from Isaiah, and see whether or not it is able to be applied to terrorists today.

By Jonathan Graf

In the April 6, 2006 TIME magazine, essayist Charles Krauthammer wrote about the dangers of Iran gaining nuclear power. Basing his comments on President Ahmadinejad’s speeches, he said for the first time we have a world leader, with nuclear power, who views himself as someone who can light the fuse for the chaotic end of the world. “[Ahmadinejad] is a fervent believer in the imminent reappearance of the 12th Imam, Shi'ism's version of the Messiah,” who, said Krauthammer, will come following this time of chaos. And Ahmadinejad believes this period is only two to three years away.

For those of us who long to see Jesus Christ’s second coming, Ahmadinejad’s words have to make us think. Christian minds are already racing on how this fits in with end-time scenarios. And as this issue with Iran continues to play out, our minds will continually go to this issue. But I have a question: How should we respond in prayer?

No one in their right mind wants to see a nuclear holocaust destroy entire cities. Certainly most would try to pray against this madman and what his actions might cause catastrophically. It is a natural reaction to pray for our lives to be safe and normal. But safe and normal seldom do much for the kingdom! What if his actions will be used by God to eventually usher in the second coming? If we pray against it, aren’t we praying against God’s will?

Have you gone yet to the Discussion Forum section of our website? This is a place where you can interact with other prayer leaders. Members post questions and others reply to them. Then a dialogue begins to take place. You can both get help for problems or concerns you have (post a question) . . . and use your experience to help other prayer leaders (respond to someone else's quesiton). It is also fun just to read through the stream of responses to each question.

"How do I use this service," you ask?

It is simple.

First, click on Discussion Forums.

Next, decide if you want to see the latest thing that has been posted, or just view all the topics. If you want to view the most current postings, click on "Show Latest Posts." If you want to view the topics, there are three possible starting points: Talk ABout Prayer, Ask the Experts, General Member Forum. Click on any one of those phrases. Under each one are multiple questions and topics you can read--both original questions and the thread of responses. You can add a response to any thread. Or there is also a place to post a new question to start a dialogue.

Check it out and have fun.

Two Timely October Prayer Events

The current conflict in the Middle East heightens our daily consciousness of the need for prayer asking that God’s global plans and purposes be fulfilled. We are certainly in days when we need to seek God’s wisdom and to pray that the love of Christ be born in the hearts of people of all nations.

October will see an unusual overlap of annual prayer initiatives—one focusing on Israel and one on the Muslim World. It certainly isn’t coincidence that this year these two prayer patterns come at the same time. We believe more than ever before that churches need to pray, plan, and prepare for ways to incorporate these into your church’s worship, small group, prayer gatherings, and special designated times of prayer.

Ever Hear of the Miracle Mile?

For racing fans and those living near Indianapolis, the term miracle mile immediately makes us think of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the Indianapolis 500 and the Nascar Brickyard 400 are held each year. But there's a church near Indianapolis--Rainbow Acres Church of God--where that term connotes something different. Its Miracle Mile is a circle one-mile in radius from the church, where it has a focused prayer and evangelism effort.

The goal is to have every business, school, and family within that mile prayed for. They have done things like prayerwalks and pray drives through neighborhoods, getting yearbooks from the high school to pray for teachers and students, going to businesses and asking how they can bless that business in prayer.

Prayer Leader OnLine

August 2006

Vol. 3, No. 8

Introduction

I was disheartened last week to hear of new restrictions at airports--no bottles with liquid, shampoo, gel, etc. can be in carry-on luggage. For non-travelers, that doesn't mean much, but for those of us who fly most weeks, the effects are longer waits. For me, that now means getting up at 3:30 AM instead of 4:30 AM to catch my Friday morning flight. Something that does not thrill me!

We are certainly living in dangerous times. Israel is in the middle of another war. Terrorist bombers, with no concern for their own lives, let alone for those of civilians--people who have nothing whatsoever to do with their fight--and Iranian and North Korean madmen with nuclear power are changing the way we live. But what about the way we pray?

Because of the times we are living, and the intense need to be in prayer, we have changed the format of this issue a little to include two articles on how we should pray. The first, "A Prayerful Response to Terrorism," by America's National Prayer Committee chairman, David Butts provides some thoughts on the spiritual battle we are in. The second, "Praying for a Holocaust?," which I wrote for the last issue of incenseRising, gives some specific, biblical ways to pray, that focus more on God's purposes, than on what we don't want to see happen.

Because of the importance of these articles, we also give you permission to copy them for use in your church newsletters or bulletins. But you must include the author's name and put on the bottom of the article the permission statement as it appears at the bottom of both articles on our website.

Praying for the King's Return!

Jonathan Graf

President