“When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message…”
FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications
In light of the recent shootings in California, there has been a lot of push back on prayer as an appropriate response. In some circles prayer is seen as a toothless platitude devoid of any actual action. Pitting prayer against action is unnecessary. Both are required and neither negates the other. In our sports work in restricted access contexts we must bath our actions in prayer in order to see any supernatural fruit and yet there is still the work of being a physical, incarnational witness that is required. That is actually the most Christlike response we can have - a deep, prayerful dependence on the Father with physical, tangible response.
For the Win[dow],
Bubby Bryan, DOC
VERSE OF THE WEEK: Hebrews 1:1-4
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."
COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Egypt
The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.
Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Mohammed MORSI won the presidential election. Following often violent protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood, and massive antigovernment demonstrations, the Egyptian Armed Forces intervened and removed MORSI from power in July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. In January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and in May 2014 elected Abdel Fattah Al SISI president. Legislative elections are expected by the end of 2015.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Pray for a strong and trustworthy government that will act in the interest of all its people.
- Pray for Coptic Christians to receive the encouragement and boldness they need to stand firm before their oppressors.
- Pray for Muslim-background believers to share Christ's love with their families and neighbors.
- Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
- Pray for the US office.