Tuesday
Every year, cities in China must create jobs for 25 million people, half of whom are young students, and a quarter of them are college graduates. The remaining 10 million are new military retirees and the unemployed looking for work. The Chinese army is the largest in the world and gets many recruits because it means a good job prospect after service. We take this time to remember all those who are retired from church ministry, the old pastors, many of whom are female, and we ask God to give them health, joy, adequate finances and continuing respect from their congregation.
Wednesday
In the days since the Cultural Revolution in China, the attitude of the government toward religions has softened or relaxed and they no longer try to eradicate them. However, strict control of all religions continues unabated and the Religious Affairs Bureau still tightly monitors all religions. We pray for God's grace to be abundant in the future direction the churches in China take. We know the thoughts of kings are in His hands. This is the year for transition of leadership in the Communist Party and we pray for every church and all believers that they will be in favor with the officials.
Thursday
The common monthly pension for the elderly in China is about 1600 yuan and of that, they will probably spend 1000 yuan for medicine. So most elderly people need some support from their children and are unable to afford nursing home care. Generally speaking, churches have little or no resources to care for elderly believers so this kind of thing falls on volunteer brothers and sisters who do it out of compassion. We pray that the Lord will use their home visits, Bible reading, and prayer times to be a special comfort and blessing to the elderly.
Friday
Using the public fund to go on “learning trips”, buy fancy cars and lavish dinners is a manifestation of China’s corruption problem. Average citizens are very incensed by these outlandish perks and outright abuse. Corruption starts with the mentality that "everyone is doing it, and why should I not take advantage of the opportunity" ? Let us pray for ourselves so we will always have the fear of God in our hearts and beware of greed.
Saturday
Corruption and lavish spending by public officials is of epidemic proportion in China. Average citizens are fed up by how officials spend so extravagantly. They are incensed to see officials clutching expensive handbags and wearing gold-plated watches at official functions. If lavish spending by officials can be successfully controlled, it could be a turning point in the building of a cleaner government in China. As believers must interact with corrupt officials, they must curry favors from them without paying the necessary bribe. Let us pray for their hearts to be guarded and that they will have wisdom in times of need.
Sunday
The Chinese Premier banned the use of public funds to buy expensive cigarettes and "high-end" alcohol, especially hard liquor- Maotai brand liquor. The addition of this prohibition could threaten the future of the ruling party. The ban could also hurt sales for some luxury brands because they are often used for gifting or bribery. Materialism and greed are the great enemies of the church. As Chinese Christians become wealthier, we pray that our their love for the Lord will not become lukewarm and their churches stay committed to the preaching of His Word.
Monday
China's so-called "Golden Time" TV programs include game shows, soap operas, dating competitions, and singing contests. These are unique to China since the audience gets a chance to vote for their favorite contestants. Under government pressure the number of such shows has been cut from over 120 to fewer than 40 a week. We pray for special grace for the churches in China that they will have powerful teaching regarding healthy recreation and how culture impacts our faith. May the Lord give us wisdom so our faith is not compartmentalized in our lives.
Every year, cities in China must create jobs for 25 million people, half of whom are young students, and a quarter of them are college graduates. The remaining 10 million are new military retirees and the unemployed looking for work. The Chinese army is the largest in the world and gets many recruits because it means a good job prospect after service. We take this time to remember all those who are retired from church ministry, the old pastors, many of whom are female, and we ask God to give them health, joy, adequate finances and continuing respect from their congregation.
Wednesday
In the days since the Cultural Revolution in China, the attitude of the government toward religions has softened or relaxed and they no longer try to eradicate them. However, strict control of all religions continues unabated and the Religious Affairs Bureau still tightly monitors all religions. We pray for God's grace to be abundant in the future direction the churches in China take. We know the thoughts of kings are in His hands. This is the year for transition of leadership in the Communist Party and we pray for every church and all believers that they will be in favor with the officials.
Thursday
The common monthly pension for the elderly in China is about 1600 yuan and of that, they will probably spend 1000 yuan for medicine. So most elderly people need some support from their children and are unable to afford nursing home care. Generally speaking, churches have little or no resources to care for elderly believers so this kind of thing falls on volunteer brothers and sisters who do it out of compassion. We pray that the Lord will use their home visits, Bible reading, and prayer times to be a special comfort and blessing to the elderly.
Friday
Using the public fund to go on “learning trips”, buy fancy cars and lavish dinners is a manifestation of China’s corruption problem. Average citizens are very incensed by these outlandish perks and outright abuse. Corruption starts with the mentality that "everyone is doing it, and why should I not take advantage of the opportunity" ? Let us pray for ourselves so we will always have the fear of God in our hearts and beware of greed.
Saturday
Corruption and lavish spending by public officials is of epidemic proportion in China. Average citizens are fed up by how officials spend so extravagantly. They are incensed to see officials clutching expensive handbags and wearing gold-plated watches at official functions. If lavish spending by officials can be successfully controlled, it could be a turning point in the building of a cleaner government in China. As believers must interact with corrupt officials, they must curry favors from them without paying the necessary bribe. Let us pray for their hearts to be guarded and that they will have wisdom in times of need.
Sunday
The Chinese Premier banned the use of public funds to buy expensive cigarettes and "high-end" alcohol, especially hard liquor- Maotai brand liquor. The addition of this prohibition could threaten the future of the ruling party. The ban could also hurt sales for some luxury brands because they are often used for gifting or bribery. Materialism and greed are the great enemies of the church. As Chinese Christians become wealthier, we pray that our their love for the Lord will not become lukewarm and their churches stay committed to the preaching of His Word.
Monday
China's so-called "Golden Time" TV programs include game shows, soap operas, dating competitions, and singing contests. These are unique to China since the audience gets a chance to vote for their favorite contestants. Under government pressure the number of such shows has been cut from over 120 to fewer than 40 a week. We pray for special grace for the churches in China that they will have powerful teaching regarding healthy recreation and how culture impacts our faith. May the Lord give us wisdom so our faith is not compartmentalized in our lives.
星期二
每年中國城鎮需要安排的勞動力在2500萬人左右,其中青年學生大約占了一半,高校畢業生近四分之一;剩下的1000多萬個新增勞動力中,包括軍隊轉業人員、下崗失業的人員。解放軍是世界上最大的軍隊,許多人擠破頭要加入,因為退役之後,容易找工作。我們紀念退休的傳道人,其中許多是女性。求主賜給他們身體健康,有喜樂的心,也有充足養生的財物,更能繼續享受會友們的關心與尊重。
星期三
中國在文革後逐步揚棄「宗教是人民鴉片」的觀點,並認識到消滅宗教的政策不可行。然而,這並不代表開放對宗教事務的管理,反之,宗教組織的嚴密管控,一直沿用舊有管理體制。我們為今年中央導層的替換交接禱告,深信「王的心在耶和華手中,好像隴溝的水隨意流轉。」求神充沛施恩典於中國教會,激勵信徒能在這世代裡為主發光、發熱;也親手引領未來的發展,使福音廣傳黃土大地。
星期四
在中國,生活不能自理的老人選擇養老院時會遇到很大的困難。想入住政府辦的社會福利院目前都要排長龍,預計要十年之久。如果老人突然生病,短期內根本無法進入養老院安養。許多年長的信徒一旦生病,家人不願送他們到教會,就從此無法聚會。 求主恩待、憐憫所有無法再參加聚會或殘障的信徒們,他們仍能經歷主的喜樂及聖靈的同在。
星期五
「三公消費」早已成為一種普遍的現象,所謂的「三公消費」指的是用公款出國旅遊、購置高級公務車供私人用途及用公款大吃大喝。這些全是典型的腐敗行為,長期以來也飽受社會輿論所詬病。社會腐敗普遍化,是因著每個人都認為大家都是這樣做,自已不撈一筆就吃虧了。做為神的兒女,信徒們更要儆醒禱告,好叫我們不失去敬畏神的心,也不貪婪被錢財迷惑而得罪神。
星期六
現今中國民眾對於官員們及其親屬帶著昂貴的皮包和手錶, 身上穿金戴銀,用著人民的稅收來滿足他們物質上的享受十分不滿。 因此,嚴控三公是廉政建設的關鍵一役。嚴控三公是可以讓中國政府變得更清廉的轉捩點。每一天信徒可能需要與官員打交道,甚至也要按照所謂「潛規矩」討好送禮。求主保守我們的心,讓我們都能有智慧來應付這些棘手的人際「關係」。
星期日
國務院出台的《機關事務管理條例》﹐明確禁止使用公款購買昂貴香煙及名酒,尤其是茅台酒。官方意識到腐敗會威脅到執政黨的未來。而這項禁令也必定降低某些奢侈品牌的銷售,因為奢侈品往往是用來做送禮或行賄的通行選項。感謝主,中國的基督徒遠比以前更是富有,但物質主義與貪婪成為教會最大的敵人。求主幫助我們,對主的愛不減少,教會不冷淡,也不懈怠傳福音的使命。
星期一
電視的「黃金時段」有各樣的遊戲節目、肥皂劇、相親比賽以及歌唱比賽。普通中國老百姓藉著這些節目,才有機會給自己喜歡的人投一票。在政府施壓之下,這類節目的數量已經銳減,從每週120多個減少至不足40個。求主恩待教會,在通俗娛樂文化對信仰的衝擊中,教會能有力的教導,基督徒也知道如何不浪費光陰。也求主憐憫我們,不將信仰與實際生活做兩分法的割裂,能在平衡中發揮更多正面的影響力。
每年中國城鎮需要安排的勞動力在2500萬人左右,其中青年學生大約占了一半,高校畢業生近四分之一;剩下的1000多萬個新增勞動力中,包括軍隊轉業人員、下崗失業的人員。解放軍是世界上最大的軍隊,許多人擠破頭要加入,因為退役之後,容易找工作。我們紀念退休的傳道人,其中許多是女性。求主賜給他們身體健康,有喜樂的心,也有充足養生的財物,更能繼續享受會友們的關心與尊重。
星期三
中國在文革後逐步揚棄「宗教是人民鴉片」的觀點,並認識到消滅宗教的政策不可行。然而,這並不代表開放對宗教事務的管理,反之,宗教組織的嚴密管控,一直沿用舊有管理體制。我們為今年中央導層的替換交接禱告,深信「王的心在耶和華手中,好像隴溝的水隨意流轉。」求神充沛施恩典於中國教會,激勵信徒能在這世代裡為主發光、發熱;也親手引領未來的發展,使福音廣傳黃土大地。
星期四
在中國,生活不能自理的老人選擇養老院時會遇到很大的困難。想入住政府辦的社會福利院目前都要排長龍,預計要十年之久。如果老人突然生病,短期內根本無法進入養老院安養。許多年長的信徒一旦生病,家人不願送他們到教會,就從此無法聚會。 求主恩待、憐憫所有無法再參加聚會或殘障的信徒們,他們仍能經歷主的喜樂及聖靈的同在。
星期五
「三公消費」早已成為一種普遍的現象,所謂的「三公消費」指的是用公款出國旅遊、購置高級公務車供私人用途及用公款大吃大喝。這些全是典型的腐敗行為,長期以來也飽受社會輿論所詬病。社會腐敗普遍化,是因著每個人都認為大家都是這樣做,自已不撈一筆就吃虧了。做為神的兒女,信徒們更要儆醒禱告,好叫我們不失去敬畏神的心,也不貪婪被錢財迷惑而得罪神。
星期六
現今中國民眾對於官員們及其親屬帶著昂貴的皮包和手錶, 身上穿金戴銀,用著人民的稅收來滿足他們物質上的享受十分不滿。 因此,嚴控三公是廉政建設的關鍵一役。嚴控三公是可以讓中國政府變得更清廉的轉捩點。每一天信徒可能需要與官員打交道,甚至也要按照所謂「潛規矩」討好送禮。求主保守我們的心,讓我們都能有智慧來應付這些棘手的人際「關係」。
星期日
國務院出台的《機關事務管理條例》﹐明確禁止使用公款購買昂貴香煙及名酒,尤其是茅台酒。官方意識到腐敗會威脅到執政黨的未來。而這項禁令也必定降低某些奢侈品牌的銷售,因為奢侈品往往是用來做送禮或行賄的通行選項。感謝主,中國的基督徒遠比以前更是富有,但物質主義與貪婪成為教會最大的敵人。求主幫助我們,對主的愛不減少,教會不冷淡,也不懈怠傳福音的使命。
星期一
電視的「黃金時段」有各樣的遊戲節目、肥皂劇、相親比賽以及歌唱比賽。普通中國老百姓藉著這些節目,才有機會給自己喜歡的人投一票。在政府施壓之下,這類節目的數量已經銳減,從每週120多個減少至不足40個。求主恩待教會,在通俗娛樂文化對信仰的衝擊中,教會能有力的教導,基督徒也知道如何不浪費光陰。也求主憐憫我們,不將信仰與實際生活做兩分法的割裂,能在平衡中發揮更多正面的影響力。
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