Christmas Movie Time

Ah, what wonder and magic the Christmas season calls forth. And with aforesaid magic comes the delight of Christmas movies. This upcoming season brings one to the fore that I think is especially worth the price of admission (or DVD purchase).

The film is Christmas with a Capital C. It has some big names, a beautiful setting, and an uncommon plot. It truly needs our support if its relevant message is to be heard. Unfortunately, I don't believe it's coming out in theaters except selectively. But it will be available on DVD. Your church can organize a cinematic viewing, though, by contacting its distributor, Pure Flix Entertainment. Here is a sneak-peek to whet the appetite for good ole Christmas fun. And to bring us back to the reason and source for all that fun.

Essential Reads vol. 2

It's been a little more than a year since my inaugural Essential Reads post. Since that time I have run across more books to put into my repertoire of reads essential. Without further ado, the second volume of Essential Reads.

• When struggling with doubt -- Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey
• When struggling with severe doubt -- Open My Eyes, Lord by Gary Oates
• Before helping the poor -- When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert
• When learning to pray -- any George Müller biography
• Before complaining -- Safely Home by Randy Alcorn
• Before doing anything else -- Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
• Before going to Hell -- 23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese

These are all powerful books. Be sure to read them before it's too late.

Afghanistan Christian: Sayed Mossa

Yesterday was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. In light of that, I want to shed what little light this blog can shed on one such man "of whom the world [is] not worthy" (Hebrews 11).

The man's name is Sayed Mossa, and he has a wife and six kids. Read more of his story from the article by World magazine writer Mindy Belz. Mossa is 45 and his oldest child is just 8. One of his children is disabled and Mossa himself is an amputee with a prosthetic limb.

He has been able to sneak out a letter via someone who visited him. In the letter he appeals to his Christian family around the world and President Barack Obama for assistance. In his own words he has been imprisoned "due to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, saviour of the world." He also describes being sexually assaulted and physically abused.

Presumably, being a Christian in Afghanistan, especially one as bold as this, putting his name out there, is no small, trivial thing. With Afghanistan being at the center of a great deal of media and political attention, his case could be a sparkplug for big change and his own cries for help could very well be heeded.

If you feel so moved, apprise your Congressmen, the President, the State Department, and/or the Red Cross -- whom Mr. Mossa used to work for -- of this bold man's plight. Pray for him. He is doing a great thing. Thanks be to God.