New Experience at Church

So church today seemed to be as normal as ever, or as normal as church gets in India. We were worshiping and people were praying. A few started speaking in tongues - normal, though still strange to me.

Suddenly a woman began screaming and thrashing about. People and chairs were moved out of the way and several men and women rushed to her to contain her. Worship continued though prayers grew louder and louder calling, I assumed, for her deliverance from whatever was tormenting her.

She continued to scream and flail her arms and was held to the ground as men and women lay hands on her and prayed for her. I couldn't tell if she was saying anything - in Hindi or otherwise.

Worship didn't stop and everyone in the church cried out for her deliverance. I closed my eyes and prayed with them. I had heard dozens of stories just like this from ministry leaders and our church pastor himself, but was not expecting to see anything like it. I don't know if it was shock or fear or the Spirit but I could sense a strange presence and all I could do was cry out to God for this woman to be saved.

For nearly 15 minutes, or at least that's how long I thought, the intensity grew as she continued to scream. Tears came to my eyes as I pleaded with God for Him to move in the place and to destroy the power of whatever evil in the room. I admit it was a strange prayer, but I can't deny the reality I faced.

She quieted and when I opened my eyes again she was back in her seat. People returned to theirs and worship continued for another song. Everyone sat down and church resumed.

This is the sort of thing I expected only to talk about, all the while stating "I'm not sure where to fit this in my box." Spirits - evil ones at that - are not even whispered about in our Western circles. We've heard stories like this, but they are always heard upon skeptical ears.

I know what I saw and I know this was not the random outburst of a confused woman. It was something far deeper than that.

While she was on the ground one of my friends noticed the pastor taking off her rings. And in the process of it all her plastic bangles shattered into many small pieces. This was very interesting to me because the pastor shared with me a few weeks ago about a woman tormented by a demon who claimed to live in her nose ring. And it wasn't until they removed the ring (with great effort) that the woman was delivered and in a right mind!

It will be interesting to chat with the pastor tomorrow and ask him what he felt and heard and experienced as he prayed with the others over her.

Prayer

Prayer, originally uploaded by harrystaab.

A friendly reminder to pray always.

Working on pictures from VBS. Posted this one from it today, but should post many more in the next few days. Stories to follow.

But I'm still consumed by the happenings in Iran. I really would love to hear your thoughts, so please email me.

Maybe I'm just crazy.

Massacre in Iran

What happens when a people are slaughtered to the silence of those who can take action.
Does God's heart not break for the people of Iran?
Will there be no Justice.

Do you want a political reason?
A people free from an oppressive theocracy and a madman dictator like Ahmadinejad will ease tension in the Middle East. A people freed with the help of the US and the West will score big points against anti-American sentiment. We can be the good people and a young people who aren't blinded by hate will recognize us as friend, not enemy.

Do you want a moral reason?
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" - Edmund Burke.

Do you want an economic reason?
Better ties with Iran make for economic partnership (aside from oil). More trade=better economy.

Do you want a human reason?
Iranians are humans too.

Do you want a New Age-y, feel good reason?
Give peace a chance, yo.

Do you want a Biblical reason?
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." - Proverbs 31:9

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.es are upon you." - 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

"He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him." - Isaiah 59:16
JESUS INTERCEDED FOR US.

"Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees." - Lamentations 3:48-50

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. - 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Pray.

My Eyes Are Set On Freedom #Iranelection

My Eyes Are Set On Freedom #Iranelection, originally uploaded by harrystaab.

I'm still consumed by the demonstrations in Iran. Please, if you haven't yet followed it, please start. Learn about it. Talk about it. Email, tweet, post, share, whatever. Just please don't be silent.

Above all, pray.

Micah 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 8:8

There is still blood running in the streets of Tehran. Have you taken notice? Do you love justice like God loves Justice? Do you pray for mercy as God has Mercy? Have you humbled yourself as Christ Humbled himself?

A girl named Neda was killed recently in Tehran. Maybe 17 years old, she was observing the protests with her father when she was sniped by rooftop gunmen. She was the clear target as there were few around her.

Neda means "VOICE" or "CALL" in Farsi.

Don't let the voice of the Iranians demanding justice go silent by corruption of evil men and the timidity of good men.

Read her story.

I'll write about VBS soon. But this is still too important.

Further Iran Urgings

Dear Friends,

I don’t know why I’ve become so impassioned by the situation in Iran but I feel a great responsibility to speak up and speak out. If you haven’t heard the news, Tehran has been in chaos since the election results were declared in Iran, naming Mahmoud Ahmedinijed the winner for another 4 years. There have been numerous allegations and it is becoming increasingly clear that his “victory” is fraudulent. More than a million people have taken the streets in peaceful protest – only to be met by violent police and military resistance. Tehran has completely crippled any mainstream news media from reporting accurately the events in the city – exactly what you would not expect from a “Democratically elected government.” In an election where 80% of the electorate voted, the country knows they have been ripped off.

This is not simply a matter belonging to some other country, some other place. In the events that take place in the coming days, so much is at stake. The security and stability of the Middle East, four more years of tension and hate-mongering by the holocaust denying Ahmedinijed, and a people – not much different than you and I – taken hostage.

I have no idea what to ask any of you to do but more than anything else I want you all to read about it and pray about it. Pray that the Truth would come out. That the world would respond to the atrocities of this corrupt and hateful regime. That somehow God would open the doors for the country to be open. For Iran to be free.

As Americans we heard so much talk about war with Iran during the election. Right now, in this very moment, the world has the opportunity to force a madman out of office without a single bomb. Please talk with your friends about it. Educate yourself about what the heck is going on. Email your friends and family. Talk to your kids for crying out loud so that they will understand what it means to live in a free country!

Dozens are reported dead by semi-official media releases. Images online and the twitterworld suggest more than a hundred. Many innocent have been jailed for speaking out in masse.

Force yourself to watch and share the clips on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBp2p3MGJqw

Browse images taken by professional media and civilian Iranians: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/06/irans_disputed_election.html

Follow the “news” on Twitter since all we have are brave youth with cell phones: http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23iranelection

Change your profile pics on all your social network sites and spread the news. http://www.flickr.com/photos/harrystaab/3631624611/

Write letters to the editors, call congressmen, or find some other way to show your support and demand the world listen.

Like I asked before, I beg of you again – please pray. But don’t do nothing about this. God calls us to stand up for the oppressed and to speak out against injustice. Our human hearts understand this without a Bible. Please.

Harry

Iran again

Iran is not some country over there. It's not someone else's problem.

Please read and learn about the atrocities taking place this very moment. The immoral and irreprehensible behaviors of the Iranian government. Call upon our leaders to act! Support Iran justice in any way you can.

Follow the Twitter conversation.

Watch this short video essay.

Change your profile pics on your facebook/myspace/twitter/blogger/etc.

Talk to your friends about it.

PRAY ABOUT IT!

Think for just a moment. Four more years of the dictator Ahmedinejid means four more years of worrying about our country, oppression of the Iranian people, and continued suppression of the Gospel.

People are dying for freedom. They are taking the streets peacefully and getting brutally beaten.

DON'T BE SILENT!