If the trend continues, by 2012 some 500,000 may die from measles, reversing the gains of the last 18 years that were made against the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Severe measles can incur complications such as blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea and dehydration, ear infections or severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

Measles deaths among children under five years old fell to 118,000 in 2008 from 733,000 in 2000.

The disease tends to occur among poorly nourished young children with the most severe complications, according to Reuters.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the African countries that had the largest outbreaks are Zimbabwe, Chad and Nigeria.

Some 8,000 migrant children in Bulgaria also had the highly-contagious disease during the period,

WHO expert Peter Strebel said the World Health Assembly’s 193 member states, in their annual meeting in Geneva last Thursday, decided to aim for at least 90 percent measles vaccination coverage nationally by 2015, Reuters reported.

However these goals, while achievable, require a long and determined commitment by the states themselves.

Strebel said the assembly will also aim for 80 percent coverage in every district, and to reduce measles to less than five per million population, Voice of America said.

They also strive to reduce measles mortality by 95 percent compared to 2000 levels.  It costs less than $1 to vaccinate a child against measles, but two doses are required for full protection, according to Voice of America.

Meanwhile large cases of measles have also erupted in the UK, the USA and parts of Europe due to a flawed study that linked measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination to autism.

In Britain vaccination rates dropped below 90 percent last year following the autism scare, Strebel said.  However, after the study was proven to be flawed, in the U.K. in fact there have more recently been improvements in vaccination levels and disease spread has fallen to very low levels, Reuters reported.

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Answer:
Theres no doubt that persecution is a stark reality of living the Christian life. The apostle Paul warned us that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus told us to expect persecution from the world because if they persecuted Him, they will persecute His followers also. Jesus has made it very clear to us that those of the world will hate us because they hate Him. If Christians were like the worldvain, earthly, sensual, given to pleasure, wealth, ambition, the world would not oppose us. But Christians do not belong to the world which is why they hate and persecute us (John 15:18-19). Christians are, or should be, influenced by different principles from those of the world. We are motivated by the love of God and holiness, while the world is driven by the love of sin. It is our very separation from the world that arouses the world’s animosity toward us. The world would prefer that we were like them; since we are not, they hate us (1 Peter 4:3-4).

As faithful Christians, we must learn to recognize the value of persecution and even to rejoice in it, not in an ostentatious way, but quietly and humbly because persecution has great spiritual value. First, persecution allows us to share in a unique fellowship with our Lord. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul outlined a number of things he surrendered for the cause of Christ. Such losses, however, he viewed as rubbish (Philippians 3:8), or dung (KJV), that he might share in the fellowship of Christs sufferings (Philippians 3:10). The noble apostle even counted his chains as a grace (favor) which God had bestowed upon him (Philippians 1:7).

Secondly, in all truth, persecution is good for us. James argues that trials test our faith, work or develop (endurance) in our lives, and help develop maturity (James 1:2-4). For as steel is tempered in the flames of the forge, trials and persecution serve to hone down those rough edges that tarnish our character. Yielding graciously to persecution allows one to demonstrate that he is of a superior quality than his adversaries. Its easy to be hateful, but an ugly disposition throws a light upon our human weakness. It is much more Christ-like to remain calm and to respond in kindness in the face of evil opposition. Without question this is a tremendous challenge, but we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us and the wonderful example of the Lord to encourage us. Peter says of Jesus: When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).

Third, persecution enables us to value the support of true friends. Conflict sometimes brings faithful children of God together in an encouraging and supportive way they might not have known otherwise. Hardship can stimulate the Lords people toward a greater resolve to love and comfort one another and lift one another to the throne of grace in prayer. Theres nothing like an unpleasant incident to help the more mature rise toward a greater level of brotherly love.

So, when we think about it seriously, we can move ourselves forward, even in the face of antagonism, whether from the world or within the church, and press on. We can thank God for His grace and for His patience with us. We can express gratitude for those whom we love in the Lord and who stand with us in times of distress. And we can pray for those who would accuse, misuse, or abuse us (2 Corinthians 11:24; Romans 10:1).

Recommended Resource:
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe

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How often do you think about your spiritual armor? Photo copyright Paramount Pictures & Marvel Entertainment Studios.

Have you ever considered yourself the warrior type? Odds are, as a Christian, you proabably haven’t given too much thought to battle tactics, ground strategy or how to overtake a stronghold.

But we see this type of action in movies all the time. And speaking of movies…

The wait is finally over — Iron Man 2, the most anticipated action film sequel of the decade, has officially rocketed into theatres nationwide and taken the American movie-going public by storm.

And, if you’re anything like me, you’ve been looking forward to this flick since the closing credits of number one.

Let’s face it: there just isn’t anything cooler than watching the debonair Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.)  suit up as the famous armored Avenger and give bad guys everywhere a run for their money.

Besides, what other superhero do you know who can manage to save the world and still find time to go for a late night sports car cruise and belt out those side-splitting, sarcastic one liners while wooing every unsuspecting dame in his path?

But fancy gadgets and hot rod cars aside, there is a spiritual truth to suiting up and preparing to do battle – and this suit, just like Stark’s, comes outfitted with an array of weapons that will light up the world of evil like Iron Man’s suit in a dark alleyway full of bad guys.

Most of us would give our right arm for a chance to blast off in an armored Iron Man suit for a quick soar through the heavens.

But, as Christians, we’ve been given access to an amazing suit of armor.Check out Ephesians 6:10-18:

“¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God   so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of   righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (New International Version)

Wow! Talk about a seriously sweet and super suit of armor! Unlike Iron Man, who fights against “flesh and blood,” we as Christians are instead battling against “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Take it from a fellow soldier, this war isn’t for the weak at heart or for the soldier who can’t decide which side he wants to fight on.

Now is the time for Christians to be strong and courageous and take a tough stance against the enemy (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Check out the elements of your suit and your arsenal of holy weaponry:

The Belt of Truth: this comes in handy for overcoming the lies and deceptions of Enemy Number One, Satan. Remember that Jesus said He alone was and is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6).

The Breastplate of Righteousness: this means having a daily, consistent walk with God. Remember that Satan is the Accuser (Revelation 2:10), but a Christian who walks in the light will not give Satan an opportunity to attack.

The Shoes of Peace (yes, contrary to popular belief, way cooler than Iron Man’s rocket boots): Because Satan desires to instigate spiritual warfare and unrest, a believer who walks in the way of peace will be better prepared to defeat such attacks.

The Shield of Faith: Remember that Satan is the source of all doubt, mistrust and disbelief. He loves to ask believers, as He asked Eve in the Garden, “Hath God indeed said?” (Genesis 3:1). Faith is the weapon we use to overcome every obstacle and every foe (1 John 5:4). Use the shield of faith to repel Satan’s fiery darts of doubt, fear and uncertainty.

The Helmet of Salvation: this refers to our ultimate salvation, which we will receive when God returns to take us Home.

It is no mistake that this piece of our armor guards the warrior’s mind. As long as our mind remains fixed and focused on our eternal Home, which should spur us toward sharing our faith with others, we will not fall into the traps of the Enemy.

The Sword of the Spirit: this is the Word of God, which Paul later describes as being “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). And look at what can happen when we use it:

“ ³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete”
(2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start “demolishing arguments.” Grab a quick bite to eat for lunch and then take a few thoughts captive for the day.

Or better yet, skip this evening’s dessert and demolish some strongholds and pretentions that exist in opposition to the knowledge of God. After all, you’ve got the weapons. Now it’s time to use them.

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After the site’s original launch back in 2007, over 2.7 million users have flocked to GodTube every month to upload, share and watch the latest in Christian music, sermon and inspirational videos from around the world.

And now, after the successful launch of Tangle.com in 2009 (formerly GodTube), the site has returned under its original moniker, much to the approval of millions of users and fans, at www.godtube.com. Users may now visit Tangle, separate from GodTube, at www.tangle.com.

A media release by A Larry Ross Communications reports that, since its return to the web, GodTube has already “realized more than 400,000 unique visitors, indicating the viral community’s excitement,” according to ChristianToday.com.

Trey Bowles, CEO of Big Jump Media (parent company to both Tangle and GodTube), said “There is a great amount of brand loyalty to GodTube.com from the visitors to the site and we plan to grow the site offering and continue to provide a place online for Christians to come find, view and share encouraging and inspirational content across the Internet.”

Bowles also added, “After three years of building online media communities for the Christian marketplace, we have learned how to measurably identify ways to better serve our target audience and continue to expand our growth into the Christian community.”

The new GodTube boasts a fresh, bold and professionally appealing homepage, along with several new video categories, including comedy, cute, inspiration, music, news and even sports. Upon visiting the site, users will be instantly greeted with the featured video of the day and options to share it via their social networking communities such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg and StumbleUpon.com. And, as always, there is an option to e-mail the video to a friend.

As far as faith-based video networking and sharing goes, it just doesn’t get any better than this.

GodTube CEOs and administrators also plan to incorporate several new features in the future, including user video uploading options and a content flagging system to “help ensure a safe environment for the entire community.” And rumor has it users will even be able to create and manage their GodTube account via Facebook.

“We recognized the unfiltered and unmonitored content available on other sites and we wanted to provide an atmosphere where families can feel safer about their viewing choices,” said Bowles.

“We will continue to focus on providing tools and distribution opportunities that will unite the body of Christ online through both the largest social networking platform in the world, tange.com, and the world’s most popular Christian video sharing site, GodTube.com.”

You can check out GodTube’s new look and sign up for an account at www.godtube.com.

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Indonesia has some 215 million Islamic believers.  However, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Christianity is Indonesia’s second largest faith and it is growing dramatically in recent years despite outpourings of violence.  In all of Asia, Christianity has some 350 million believers.

Most of the conversions in Indonesia are Pentecostal and Evangelical.  Pentecostalism is considered by many to be the fastest growing faith in the world in terms of conversions (as opposed to births).  It is estimated that by 2050 most Christians will be living in developing nations.

Troubled Past

It is believed that some of the growth of Christianity is triggered by a wave of terrorism and the rise of conservatism among Muslims in Indonesia, which has led to laws that encourage old practices like caning for drinking beer and forcing dress codes for women.

But the move toward Christianity is also seen as an offshoot of the inception of democracy in the country more than a decade ago which led to pluralism and religious conflict.

Despite some adherence to religious freedom, for the past few years dozens of churches and theological academies were destroyed or forced to shut down by Islamic groups.  They accused Christians of trying to steal Muslim believers.  Dozens of local governments have also passed Islamic-based laws that threaten Christian rights.

Last year, the Indonesia Ulema Council, an influential Islamic clerical body, decried Christian proselytization and urged Muslims to guard their faith. “There is a real fear that Christianity is on the march,” says Mike Hilliard, a Scottish minister married to an Indonesian.  They runs an orphanage outside Jakarta that has been targeted by militant Muslims. “Because of this fear, emotions are easily stirred up and mobs can form quickly.”

Although some Christians hold prominent cabinet positions, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has done little to protect religious minorities. Nevertheless, Christians on the street seem undeterred.

Unreliable Statistics

Although local statistics of growth of Christianity in Indonesia may be unreliable, evidence has shown more boldness among the faithful.  For example, in Jakarta megachurches are found in the city, as well as unofficial churches in hotels and malls.  Asia’s tallest statue of Jesus Christ is in Manado city, eastern Indonesia, and Indonesia cable TV has 24-hour Christian channels.

Pastor David Nugroho who has a church in Gesing, Indonesia with 400 worshippers, was quoted  by TIME as saying, “People think Indonesia is just a Muslim country, (but) we (Christians) are not afraid to show our faith.”

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The survey was conducted in 19 countries namely Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The countries were chosen for being the most populous and for their different colonial histories, languages and religions.

The data was collected through more than 25,000 face-to-face interviews in more than 60 languages/dialects from December 2008 to April 2009.

A recent Pew survey showed recently that sub-Saharan Africa is among the most religious places in the world; and its least religious nation is more religious than the United States--which is among the most religious of the advanced industrial countries.

The two dominant religions are Christianity and Islam, and unlike the United States and Europe (where many have no religion) the vast majority is religiously affiliated.  However, they overlap traditional African beliefs and practices with faith.

Large numbers of Africans, whether Christian or Muslim, also believe in witchcraft, evil spirits, sacrifices to ancestors, traditional religious healers and reincarnation among others.

The survey also showed that Christianity and Islam coexist together, and they often view each other as tolerant and honest.

They attribute the peaceful coexistence to their governments which treat both religions fairly.

Some 40 percent of Christians however consider Muslims to be violent, while Muslims assess Christians more positively.

Most respondents favor democracy and religious freedom.  However, Muslims and Christians would both like a government based on either the Bible or sharia law.

Many Muslims also advocate the imposition of severe punishments like stoning people who commit adultery.

The survey also showed that:

• Most respondents rank unemployment, crime and corruption as bigger problems than religious conflict–except in areas like Nigeria and Rwanda where religious conflict is a major problem.
• Many respondents are concerned about religious extremism, even in their own faith. Muslims are more concerned about Muslim extremism than about Christian extremism; and Christians in four countries say they are more concerned about Christian extremism than about Muslim extremism.
• Neither Christianity nor Islam is growing significantly in sub-Saharan Africa at the expense of the other.  There is virtually no religious switching between the two.
• At least half of all Christians in every country surveyed expect that Jesus will return to earth in their lifetime, while roughly 30 percent or more of Muslims expect to live to see the re-establishment of the caliphate, the golden age of Islamic rule.
• In most countries, more than half of Christians believe in the prosperity gospel – that God will grant wealth and good health to people who have enough faith.
• By comparison with people in many other regions of the world, sub-Saharan Africans are much more optimistic that their lives will change for the better.

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We Take A Long Time To Learn Some Really Important Lessons

We are in the Upper Room, and reading from Luke Chapter 22. It is the night before Jesus Christ is crucified on Calvary’s Cross, and He and His disciples are celebrating the Passover. Jesus has just given new profound meaning to the bread and the wine.

A dispute breaks out among the disciples as to who is the greatest. It is almost unbelievable that that should occur at this moment. These disciples of Jesus, this group of proud men are arguing and squabbling among themselves as to which of them was to be considered the greatest. They are jockeying for position.

They are after what might be considered the best jobs in The Kingdom, which they believed Jesus was about to usher in, and some wanted a higher place and position and rank in the Kingdom of God than some of the other brothers. And, the Bible doesn't hide this.

There is such self-seeking here, which must have made them somewhat insensitive to the battle that was really going on. Self-interest had blinded them to the actual situation. This can creep in to any of us at times.

“What can I get out of it? What is in it for me? How well will I emerge from all this?” It is all there. And the only cure for this is DEATH. Self has to die. Personal ambition has to go. This is supposed to be dealt with when we are baptised in water. Self has to be buried. Self has to be crucified, dead and buried. That is not easy. Even these men who were so close to Jesus had difficulty with this area in their lives.

They are sitting next to Jesus, and receiving from Jesus all that they needed, and yet, there is this struggle for prominence and position and placement and recognition.

This is sin.

Jesus looks at His chosen men. These men in whom He has invested three years of His Perfect Ministry, and this was it. Speak about success? “Your conversation is the sort of thing you hear in the world.”

Verse 26. You are not to be like that. Don't be like the world. We so need to hear this repeatedly. Jesus, come and remind us.

What is the world? The world is the society of the human race which rejects the righteous government of God. Jesus is saying, Don't be like the world. Don't reject the righteous government of God in your life.

The world is in rebellion against God. You can meet nice people, but underneath the nice cloak there can appear rebellion, and the people of God cannot be part of that, and must not be part of that.

This is something to which we have to die. Crucify it. Bury it. Jesus Christ calls us out of all that to be the Church, with different values, and with different aims and goals and ambitions and priorities and desires, and we are separated unto God to serve Him.

In The Church of Jesus Christ and in the Kingdom of God, so many things are reversed.

There is nothing wrong with ruling, with being a leader and leading. Rulers in the Church are called to rule, but to rule by serving, and these people were soon to discover that. It takes time. We do not learn all the necessary lessons the first week, or even the first year.

Some of us take thirty or forty years just to begin to see the fundamentals. Never mind, learn all the vital lessons. Jesus had just washed these disciples’ feet. Jesus had served them in that lowly way, and He lost nothing by doing it. He lost nothing by doing the job which nobody else would do. Jesus sets the example and then says, “Follow Me”.

Originally here:
Word from Scotland

Author bio:
Alexander “Sandy” Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness – on the Moray Firth Coast – not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40 a.m., New Orleans time, at wsho.com.

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Those who were astonished by the courage of Peter and John when they preached the gospel were not ordinary men, but rulers, elders and teachers of the Law.

By contrast, Acts 4:13 (NKJV) says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

Can the same be said of us who are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, it is good to examine ourselves in the light of these words.

Are our lives and actions like those who had been with Jesus? If not, then others might see us as the enemies of God or as those under Satan. Let’s not forget that “friendship with the world is hatred toward God(James 4:4).”

Today there is a great temptation to love the world and the things of the world. It is obvious that many Christians have a superficial brotherly love.

Have we not become selfish, boasters, self-willed, not displaying unity of heart and mind? Satan takes advantage of such tendencies. The main reason for our failure is that we have forgotten that “…your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

If we kept this thought in mind, we would be more alert in our lives, Satan would have less success.

We must remember that the devil wants to create havoc in the lives of born again Christians who desire to serve the Lord.

He is on the lookout for our weak areas. Many of God’s servants have fallen for Satan’s tactics and have ruined their testimony.

Their failure should be a warning to us. If we seriously consider this and take care, we will be better able to “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11), the one who even tried to deceive our Lord (Matthew 4:1-11).

If we live lives that are pleasing to the Lord, others will notice and testify that these men and women were with Jesus.

As we see increasing evidence for the soon-coming of our Lord, may we live lives which are pleasing to our LORD.

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