Tragic Death of Woman and Newborn Denied Medical Aid
By Ken Horn | April 25, 2008
AP reported today:
An Indian woman and her newborn died Wednesday from a lack of medical treatment because she is considered an “untouchable” in her country, officials said.
Maya Devi, 28, gave birth outside of the maternity wing of Kanpur Medical College in northern Uttar Pradesh state. The baby boy died within minutes of his birth, French news agency AFP reported.
…
Several doctors, including the hospital’s chief medical superintendent, had refused to touch her or provide medical care as she delivered her baby, the Press Trust of India reported.
This barbaric practice shows why the love of God is so needed in the world. Even in an advanced profession like medicine, in some parts of the world superstition and discrimination cause horrendous problems, like the death of these two who were contemptible to those who could have saved them, but precious to God.
Topics: news | No Comments »
In the News: Praying to the Dead
By Ken Horn | April 24, 2008
The AP reported today from San Giovanni Rotondo in Italy:
The body of Padre Pio, a hugely popular Italian saint, goes on public display Thursday in a southern Italian town where thousands have gathered to pray to the mystic monk….
This kind of woeful superstition and benighted religion persists in much of the world. Unfortunately, this is in the name of Christianity. But it is not true Christianity.
Last year, when my wife, Peggy, and I were with missionaries Steve and Patti Gray in Padua, Italy, we saw this same macabre behavior, people praying to Saint Anthony at displays of his body parts, including his tongue. You can’t find this in the Bible.
Read the AP story here.
My article begins this way:
They gather outside Padua’s bars and in piazzas, tippling the latest trendy drink of the student culture. It’s called spritz, and if you want to be in, you’ve got one in your hand.
Because Padua, Italy, is only 15 minutes by train from Venice, one of the world’s most compelling tourist sites, it is often overlooked. But Padua is compelling in its own right. Students are drawn to the 800-year-old University of Padua where Galileo taught; religious pilgrims to the Basilica of St. Anthony; and travelers-in-the-know to the city’s history, architecture, art, literature (Padua is the setting of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew), and more.
The city was heavily bombed during World War II, leading to a sometimes bizarre intermingling of ancient and modern architecture. This same juxtaposition exists in the city’s spiritual core where the modern — secularism — vies with the ancient — superstition.
Read the full article: ICF Padua: Confronting secularism and superstition in northern Italy.
Read the pdf version with photos.
Topics: Italy, prayer, World Missions Edition, WME, Christian living, missions, Bible | No Comments »
The Pope and the ACLU
By Ken Horn | April 19, 2008
It was my privilege to interview Pat Boone a few years ago for TPE. Boone has some interesting thoughts on why the ACLU didn’t complain about all the attention shown the Pope on his current visit to the U.S. Read “ACLU: Tear down this wall!”
Topics: news | No Comments »
God’s Creation in Bloom
By Ken Horn | April 18, 2008
Spring is here. What a wonderful time for creation watchers to observe God’s wonders. I never fail to thrill at His handiwork.
Topics: Photos by Ken | 4 Comments »
Out-of-Wedlock Mom-Starlets Make Poor Role Models
By Ken Horn | April 16, 2008
Bravo for the Catholic League!
Christians—and all moral people—need to follow the lead of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in decrying the state of affairs that sees numerous female stars bearing children out of wedlock.
They rightly call for young people to not make them role models. “We encourage young people not to look up to these Hollywood starlets as role models,” a spokeswoman said.
Unfortunately, most young people will have a tendency to admire out-of-control starlets regardless of what moral people say.
Hollywood has always had such goings on. But fear of a disapproving fan base kept them from airing their dirty laundry. Today, anything goes. And young people—and their families—are paying a high price.
Topics: news | No Comments »
In the News Today
By Ken Horn | April 16, 2008
Of interest to Christians today:
Religion will figure in Democratic debate in PA tonight.
Pope turns 81 at the White House.
Ongoing story of Texas polygamist sect.
Topics: news | No Comments »
Salvation Coupon Bears 10 Signatures
By Ken Horn | April 15, 2008
A salvation coupon bearing the individual signatures of 10 female inmates was received today in the TPE office. We rejoice at such mail. All 10 will receive a booklet with scripture and direction for living the Christian life.
Getting TPE behind bars continues to be one of the best uses of the magazine.
Topics: Key Bearers, salvation | No Comments »
In the News
By Ken Horn | April 15, 2008
Today is tax day … and there are a lot of things in the news that are of interest to believers. From time to time, I will provide a list here of news items I believe are of interest to Christians. Though I don’t have time to comment on all of them, I can point them out. Feel free to send comments. Here are a few for today, with links to the stories:
Massive child abuse in polygamist cult in Texas.
Pope flies to America. A first.
Atheist dad can’t keep his daughter from attending parochial school.
Hamas predicts victory over Catholicism.
Divorce, out-of-wedlock children cost U.S. taxpayers more than $112 billion a year, according to a study.
Topics: news | No Comments »
From Suicide to Salvation
By Ken Horn | April 14, 2008
Correctional Chaplain Richard E. Cawthon recently sent this thrilling report of salvation and transformation to our national chaplaincy department:
I was asked by one of our correctional officers to visit with an inmate who had attempted to commit suicide two days prior. When I saw him, he was a broken, defeated person. The officer told me that the man had been crying uncontrollably all day long. He said he felt like a complete failure who could not even succeed at suicide.
I was not able to take any items into “the bubble” (an all glass cell) with me, due to his suicide status. I spent quite a bit of time just listening to him. I shared some scriptures with him and then I prayed with him. After that I left. He was still crying when I left.
Two days later I went back to see him. He had been moved from “the bubble” to an adjacent cell in “processing.” When I saw him, he looked completely different. His countenance had changed and he was smiling. I asked him what had been happening with him. He said that when he was moved an officer “gave me this.” (He pointed to the TPE that was on his bed. The officers couldn’t find a Bible laying around processing, but they found a TPE that I distribute.) He said that he flipped through the magazine, scanning the pages. He said that when he turned the magazine over he saw the “ABCs of Salvation.” The following were his exact words. “I read and did what it said. When I did, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of me. I have been so happy since then and I have been dancing around my cell.”
I explained to him that the weight he felt lift off of him was the weight of sin that had been pressing down on him. It was awesome to watch the transformation that Jesus had done in this new child of God. We serve an awesome God who reaches into prison cells to set captives free. Praise His Name!
Just this morning, the TPE staff prayed for the 51 people we heard from last week who committed their lives to the Lord by following the ABCs of Salvation that we put in every issue. Every Monday morning our staff prays for those who responded to the ABCs the previous week. Many of them are inmates. This makes it all worthwhile!
Topics: U.S. Missions, salvation | No Comments »
Blind Golfer, 85 Years Old, Shoots Hole-in-One
By Ken Horn | April 12, 2008
An AP report from Green Valley, Arizona carries one of the best sports stories ever.
An 85-year-old legally blind golfer from southern Arizona made a hole-in-one this week on a par-3 course. Robert Dunham accomplished the feat on the third hole at Tortuga in Green Valley.
Playing with a group of fellow blind veterans enrolled in a Veterans Affairs health care system program, Dunham’s volunteer assistant lined him up with the ball, handed him a 9-iron and stepped back.
What an inspirational story … and a great illustration for people who are up in their years. Life is still to be lived. Christians who are up in age still have a lot to give. Never quit living. Never quit serving Jesus. There are very few golfers, even in their prime, who have a hole-in-one to their credit. And there are things you can do to impact the Kingdom that others can’t. You are precious to the Lord.
Topics: sports, news | No Comments »
