Brown's Daily Word 9-2-08

Good Morning,
I am reading this morning from Exodus 3. It occurs about the time when Moses was around 80 years old. Do you remember how his life started? We have all heard of rags to riches stories. Well, Moses’ is kind of a rags to riches and from riches to rags. Moses was given the best education and the most lavish life you could imagine; he lived in the palace while his fellow Jews where slaving away in the brick yards. Some say he was being groomed to be the next Pharaoh -- king of Egypt. From rags to riches. But then back to rags after he killed an Egyptian and fled for his own life. When Moses was about 80, he had been in Midian for about 40 years, working for his father-in-law Jethro, tending his flocks, probably looking forward to retirement. Perhaps he had a sign on his staff "rather be fishing". One day, a day just like any other day, he was tending sheep, going about his business. He took them to the far side of the desert to a mountain, Mt. Horeb--which meant ’wasteland’. At that place, a place just like any other until now, Moses met the Lord in the Burning Bush. There are many things today which act as burning bushes--things which draw people to God, things out of which God speaks to people and gets our attention. But more often than not, God has to use tragedy to get our attention. God doesn’t usually send the tragedy, but he uses it to get our attention. After Moses had been chased out of Egypt and had lived in the desert, chasing sheep around, he was open to God. He went from being an Egyptian hot shot to a nothing shepherd, and at 80 years old finds himself at a mountain called "wasteland". In the desert, God had him right where he wanted him -- totally broken, humbled, and open.It takes deserts in our lives sometimes to awaken us to our need for God. There was not anything special about that bush in and of itself, but God wanted to use it. And if God wants to get your attention, if he wants you to wake up to reality, if he wants you to quit whatever destructive or apathetic path you’re on, any old bush will do. Moses went to the bush. Probably the hardest step we take toward God is the first one. God had to remind Moses to take his sandals off, a very common, usual thing to do in holy places. He calls to all of us "take off your shoes, you are in my presence and it is holy." No more games, lay your life bare before me, confess all the sin you’ve been walking through. Confess to all the dirt on your shoes -- the sin and ungodly way you’ve been living or thinking. I can’t have any dirty shoes, or dirty lives in my presence. We all know how dirty shoes can get. They pick up everything we walk through. Everywhere we have been and everything we have done can be found on the bottom of our shoes. It sticks.
God knows every sin we’ve ever walked through, and He tells us that if we want to come to Him, we've got to admit it to Him and confess it. Take off your sandals, I don't care what’s on the bottom of them, just be honest and do it, for I am God."It’s all about humility and reverence. In Jesus Christ, because of His finished work at the cross we are forgiven and cleansed. We are called and commissioned to be His servants, to be His instruments, to be His ambassadors in the world of violence and in the world bondage and pain.

Orissa Update:
I am enclosing the latest report from Orissa. My mom is staying with my aunt's family in Kanabageri, G. Udayagiri. Lisa and Kenny are staying in the refugee center in G. Udayagiri. The children from the Children's Homes are staying in the shelter. The refugee center is located on the soccer field at Hubback High school. It is the same high school I graduated from in 1964. My brother Patel is still in jail. Not only my mom's house, but all of the houses belonging to Christians in the village of Muklingia have been burned. All but 5 or 6 of the Christians from the village have fled - they are too old and weak to flee. These houses are not counted among those destroyed in the following list.
Thank you for your fervent prayers and thank you for caring passionately on behalf of the suffering Christians in Orissa, India.
Brown


Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa violence: Archbishop approaches Supreme court of India
New Delhi : The Archbishop of Bhubaneswar today approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the violence against Christians in Orissa.
The Archbishop's petition has also sought that the NHRC be asked to conduct a probe to find out which organisation was behind the Kandhamal violence.
Senior Advocate Collin Gonsalves informed about the filing of the petition to a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan which agreed to hear the matter later in the day.
The petitioner claimed that the Rapid Action Force has been deployed only in the cities and it has to be moved to the rural areas which have borne the maximum brunt of the unrest.
The petition also sought a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for those whose property and houses were destroyed in the violence.
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa updates death toll rises to 46 in the violence against Christians
Sl. No. Incident Place149 Many churches, namely JEL Church on the main road, Parabeda Church, Bamuniput Church were burnt on 30-08-08. 2 Christians Public schools were ransacked. The SP and the Sub Collector were attacked and stoned. Few Trucks and public vehicles were burnt on the road by the Hindu radicals150 30-08-08 2 Churches in Baipariguda, Koraput Dist were burnt by the radicals Koraput151 30-08-08 54 Christian Houses at Raigada of R. Udayagiri of Gajapati Dist. have been burnt. The victims demand the district Administration to for provide protection. Gajapati dist152 In Ziranga village of Gajapati dist. Baptist Church and 130 Christian houses were burnt by the radicals during last few days Gajapati dist153 In Mukundipur of Gajapati Dist. one Pastor called Mukunda Bardhan was burnt alive by the Sangh Parivar when refused to deny Christ and embrace Hinduism. Gajapati dist154 In KK Singh village of Gajapati Dist. around 200 Christian houses, 1 Baptist Church and 1 Christian (name still unknown) were burnt by the Hindu radicals. Gajapati dist155 In Marlova village, A Baptist Church and 15 Christian houses and 6 Churches of Soura Tribe have been burnt by the Hindu fanatics Marlova village156 Kandha Leader Lambodhar Kanhar has been threatened by the unknown people to be killed.157 10 Churches and around 30+ Christian houses burnt in Kundra village, Jeypore burnt (DATE). Curfew imposed. Jeypore158 N/H No.43 is still closed.159 Inter religious Peace Committee Meet organized by Police and Dist. Admn boycotted by VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal leaders. VHP radicals attempted to disrupt the Peace Meet but police lathi charged the activists.160 In Jeypore villages of Fufu gaon, Chandrasundi pada, and Nara kunduluguda under Dangerpaunsi Panchayat all the Churches and prayer houses are burnt and ransacked Jeypore161 (31st Aug) one father (priest?) was also severely beaten by the extremists162 In Udaliaguda, Mundariguda, Disariguda, and NaraKenduguda under Banuaguda Panchayat, and PandaKimari, Pandaripani, Bada Gunthal Udaliaguda163 Barikguda under Lima Panchayat villages all the churches and prayer houses were burnt and destroyed Barikguda164 Pentecostal Churches burnt in Borigumma, or Biriguda (31-8-08) night. Rajesh Fancy a shop Pastor Esau Suna's son was ransacked, goods worth Biriguda165 Lakhs were looted by the fundamentalists, after which Rajesh Fancy Shop was burnt down166 In Kantamal block of Boudh Dist. 40 Christians were forced to embrace Hinduism 01-09-08. Boudh dist167 Emergency Medical Treatment in Relief Camps, several hundreds Christians suffering from Diarrhoea in the relief camp at Hubback HighSchool at G. Udayagiri. Among them children Srija Nayak (6 Months), Sablun Nayak (10 Months), Nibedita Nayak (2 & 1/2 years)Lack of basic amenities and poor sanitation at relief camps. G Udayagiri168 One person was murdered at Oladi village of Kendra Para Yesterday (31-08-08) (name unknown). Oladi village169 In Bolangir 4 Churches are burnt on 31-08-08 Bolangir170 In Madinato village Christian houses burnt Madinato171 In Bhagamunda village Christian houses burnt Bhagamunda172 World Hindu Council (VHP) planning to take out a mass procession of slained Swamiji's wooden sandal and his photo throughout Kandhamal Dist. under the code name of 'Trishul”. We have learned from reliable sources that this procession is aimed at carrying out large scale violence against Christians and their properties. Rein of terror will be unleashed by VHP to carry out forced mass conversion of Christians to Hinduism which is going on now. Kandhamal173 On 1st September, around 9.00 a.m. to the evening, the VHP extremists have burnt all Christian houses in Beheragaon, Bastingia, Murgiguda, Balagaon and Kaijhargaon under Tikabali Block, Dalagaon, Musuguda, Jigina gaon, Gandagaon, Beredi Sahi, under Chakapa Block and at Gochhapada of Phringia Block where 3+ Churches and around 53+ Christian houses have been burnt. Kandhamal174 On 1st September while it was raining all over, the district administration ordered in the evening that the riot victims and refugees to vacate the Habaq school for re-opening the school for students. This has created more tension and agony among the campus who have taken shelter many small children, pregnant ladies and sick persons. GCIC immediately intervened and the district admin has extended for two more days during which they will find some other safe arrangements for the refugees. Kandhamal175 September 1st around 8.30 p.m. the extremists also went to Mandakia village of Raikia and destroyed the left out Christian houses. Raikia176 VHP extremists have also ransacked and burnt many houses in Batriguda, Pumpudidei, Pradhan pada, Muningia, Katimaha, Dabapadar, Budugaon, Beladanki, Budaguda and Rutingia villages (01-09-08)177 Today also VHP burnt down houses of dalits and adivasis belonged to Christian Communities at villages Pimpudidei, Dagapada, Jigna and Katimaha villages, Talagaon village, Bastingia and few other villages even if the Govt. has been claming that the situation is under control.178 Orissa Missionary Movement Church in Ambaguda, Jeypore, and Koraput burnt down completely between 2:00 to 3:00 am on September 1, 2008. Koraput179 One Bible Mission Church was also burnt down completely between 2:00 to 3:00 am on September 1, 2008 Koraput180 A Blessing Youth Mission (BYM) Pastor was beaten up and his bike was torched in Ramgiri, 50 km from Jeypore. BYM missionaries are hiding in the jungle. No improvement of the law and order situation in Jeypore and Koraput Jeypore181 According to Director general of police Gopal Chandar Nanda, fresh violence against Christians erupted in some villages in Tikabali area of Kandhamal stetting fire to Christian homes Kandhamal Tikabali182 Rioters setting fire to homes and prayer houses in Tudmudibandh and Raikia Raikia Tudmudibandh183 Prayer halls burnt in Kundra area of Koraput Koraput184 Report from Orissa vernacular media indicated that 3 more dead bodies were found in Kandhamal Kandhamal