2012年7月24日星期二

Prayer Request 7/24 - 7/30

Tuesday
It is said that even today fortune telling lies in a legal gray area and is the target of government crackdowns. Some local governments crack down on "superstition" along with pornography and crime. However, in contrast, Feng Shui, a variation of East Asian Buddhist and Taoist mystical practices fares well. There are still many Christians who believe in fortune-telling or pay attention to Feng Shui. We pray they will place their trust in pleasing God alone, believing that He is good and will protect us.
Wednesday
The belief in Feng Shui is endemic in Chinese communities throughout the world and influences many aspects of personal and even government activity. A recent example is that of a report that authorities in Hong Kong made payments to people living near construction sites as compensation for disturbing their Feng Shui. Buddhist and Taoist traditions and practices deeply influenced Chinese Christian lives in the world. We pray for Christians to have a great witness showing Jesus' love and compassion like a shining lamp in the darkness of the world.
Thursday
As believers in the coastal provinces of China become more financially well off, it is very common to see that their serving in the churches tends to become merely a routine as they lose the passion and love for God they once had. For example, many churches prepare a lunch for people to eat after the morning worship service on Sunday. Many now prefer to give an offering rather than serving or preparing the meals in the kitchen because it is inconvenient for them. We pray that God will help Chinese believers not to become lukewarm.
Friday
Police arrested several baby trafficking rings in Hebei. Hospitals provided examination to many pregnant women from rural regions, too poor to raise children. Doctors identified the gender of fetus and help arrange buyers for the babies delivered. Families buy babies because they are sterile or desire to have someone to care for them later in life. We lift up all the Christian couples who are unable to have children and feeling “excluded” in their church fellowship. May the Lord comfort them and strengthen their marriage.
Saturday
The price of a baby being sold is determined by the sex and the appearance of biological parents. Hospitals will arrange the buyer to view the birth mother. Hospitals also allow several bidders to get the highest price for babies. Chinese grandparents are very much a part of the arrival of new baby, because they will invariably help out with raising the little one. We pray that Christian grandparents are able to show the love of God and exert godly influence in their grandchildren life from the very beginning.
Sunday
Chinese police said, the market price of babies have skyrocketed because the repeated effort to crack down on selling of babies. The going price of a baby girl is nearly doubled to 30000-50000 yuans (9,000 USD). A baby boy is now sold for 70000-80000 yuan (13,000 USD). Chinese tradition favor boys, and this is exacerbated by the one-child policy. We want to remember in prayer for those Christian couples who are “disappointed” of having a girl and especially those who are under pressure from their parents, so they will know God has given them the very best.
Monday
Government limits what broadcasters may air during the prime-time hours from 730 to 10 pm, the so called “golden hours”. Officials impose two 30 minutes segments of news and limit the most popular game shows to no more than 90 minutes. Obviously, there are plenty of temptations and un-Biblical values in secular programs. We pray that Chinese preachers would have more Biblical preaching about how to encourage believers to love the Lord more, to care more about church and His Kingdom, rather than attacking the media or outright anti-cultural rhetoric.


星期二
即使在今天,算命仍然是中國政府取締的項目之一,立於法律的灰色地帶。一些地方官員將算命與打擊迷信,反色情和「打黑」列為同等。 但是,諷刺的是看風水卻是政府能接受的。迷信堪輿風水之說一向大量盛行於東亞的佛、道信徒之中。 還有不少基督徒仍是相信算命的,也頗注重風水。我們深知: 人的任何氣息存留,完全仰賴神的信實供應和全權掌控,求神幫助我們能單一的討祂的喜悅,全然信靠這位愛我們保守我們到底的天父。
星期三
風水在世界各地華人社區中頗為盛行,也深刻影響著個人、企業,甚至政府舉辦的各類活動。以近期報導的事件為例,香港當局竟然補貼施工地區的居民,來調整風水。華人信徒生活在受佛教和道教傳統習俗束縛極深的氛圍之中,周遭每一件事幾乎都受傳統宗教的影響。求主幫助每一位信徒都有美好的屬靈生命,見證神的信實。
星期四
不少中國沿海地區的教會,由於生活條件較好, 日久信徒對肢體事奉漸漸視為例行公事,失去了對主起初的愛心,服侍也缺乏熱情。例如每星期預備愛筳(做飯)的工作,就較多人願意奉獻金錢,用外包就可以了,因為省事方又方便;至於要親身投入的服事如敬拜、教主日學等,就有很多人推卻不願做。 求主幫助眾信徒,不要落在不冷不熱的光景中,凡尊重神,忠心照管神家的人,神必尊重、賜恩於他。
星期五
河北省多處抓獲販嬰集團。許多外地的孕婦來到醫院接受檢查,除了鑒別腹中胎兒的性別等,還幫助尋找可能的買主。這些媽媽們多是來自貧窮地區,養不起孩子。除了不育的家庭想購買嬰兒外,也有不少人買子養老。我們在禱告中特別紀念所有不育的信徒夫婦,他們常感到在教會團契中格格不入,甚至有被「排斥」的感受。願主親自安慰、扶持,使他們的婚姻關係更堅固,生活更甜蜜、融洽。
星期六
在販嬰巿場上,嬰兒的性別、生身父母的狀況都會影響價格,嬰販有時甚至帶著買主來看父母的長相,以確定價格。為了賣個好價錢,他們往往找來數個買主,價高者得嬰。中國的祖父母通常在新寶寶來到時,擔任協助照顧的角色,對幼兒身心靈的成長和發展影響力非常大。我們來為基督徒祖父母禱告,求神使用他們,以神的愛來照料孫子女在開啟階段的生活,並成為他們一生敬虔愛主的好榜樣。
星期日
因著去年開始公安加強對販嬰的打擊,最近販賣嬰兒的價格大漲,原來一名女嬰賣2萬到3萬元人民幣,而現在已經漲到3萬至5(9,000美金);一名男嬰現在要賣到7萬到8萬元(13,000 美金)。傳統的重男輕女觀念,加上一胎政策,造成男嬰供不應求。我們記念信徒夫妻因生了女兒而「失望」,或是經歷雙方家長對求孫心切的壓力,求主讓他們深知,神已經將最好的給了他們。
星期一
政府命令限制晚間「黃金時段」電視廣播的內容。每晚7點半至10點的時段必須包含兩次30分鐘長的新聞播報,而相較輕鬆、受成千上萬中國觀眾所喜愛的娛樂節目則不能超過90分鐘。 娛樂節目中自然有許多的誘惑,和不討神喜悅的俗世價值觀,求主幫助教會領袖們看到靈性上的危機,更多深入聖經真理的教導,不是八股的反文化、反流行娛樂傳媒的講道,且要砥勵弟兄姐妹更多愛主,關心教會與神國事工的拓展。

没有评论:

发表评论