Trial to Begin: Pastor Andrew Brunson, Turkey

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, we have been praying for the release of ’88 alumnus and Protestant Pastor, Andrew Brunson , from the time of his arrest in Izmir, Turkey on October 7, 2016 to the present.

Imprisoned and held on false charges of terrorism, it is widely believed that Andrew is being used as a political pawn by the Turkish government to leverage the extradition of Turkish Muslim cleric Fethulla Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania and is believed by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to be behind an attempted rebellion to overthrow the government in July of 2016.

Prior to his arrest, Pastor Brunson had peacefully lived and ministered in Turkey for 23 years.

Rev. Brunson has been scheduled to appear in court this Monday, April 16 at 9:00 am (1:00 am on Monday our time). If the charges against him are upheld - claiming he supported both the secessionist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) guerrilla movement, and the outlawed organization of Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, Pastor Brunson could be sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Please pray for God’s peace to enfold Andrew, his wife Norine and their children. Pray that Andrew will know the reality of God’s presence with him and His love for him, and be able to trust Him with his life and future. Pray for the Lord to give Andrew words to say before the Turkish lawyers and government officials who are trying to trap and condemn him. Pray for the Lord to oversee all that happens in the Courtroom.

Most importantly, pray for the glory and renown of the Name of the Lord in the country of Turkey, once the seat of power of the Christian ruler Constantine. Pray, as in Daniel’s day, the power of the Lord will be revealed and the fear of the Lord would spread, overtaking the government rulers and officials who seek to dismiss and destroy His own. Pray that many in the country of Turkey and in the world will believe in the Lord as an outcome of Andrew’s imprisonment.

If you would like to join others in prayer, students have planned a prayer vigil in Gold Star Chapel in the Beamer Center throughout the day and night on Sunday, with plans to sing his hymn at 8:00 pm.

Thank you for praying and seeking the Lord in Andrew’s behalf.

TO: Campus Community

FROM: The Office of the Chaplain

RE: Prayers for Alumnus Andrew Brunson

ETA:

link --> Trial on Hold till May 2018

Pastor in Trial

In Prison for His Faith in Christ

Trial in Turkey to Begin

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Dan Coats, Syria, and ISIS

WC: The Magic Flute

A couple of Wheaton College alumni have been in the news recently:  Evangelist, Billy Graham ;
 and Dan Coates (class of '65), Director of National Intelligence under President Trump.

As much political experience as Mr Coates has (US Senator, US Representative, Ambassador to Germany), Christians must include him in their daily prayers to God.  Why? Mr Coates and his department produce the daily briefing that the President gets every morning. Thus, Mr Coates' accuracy, wisdom, intelligence, honesty, and memory must never, ever be compromised.  Mr Trump will base much of his decisions regarding national security and US interests abroad based on that daily report (definitely pray for President Trump also).

Regarding SYRIA:

U.S. makes decision on troops in Syria: intelligence chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. intelligence chief said on Wednesday that a decision had been made on the future of American troops in war-torn Syria and the White House would make it public soon.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said the decision was reached at an “all hands on deck” National Security Council meeting on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wanted to “get out” of Syria but offered no timetable. 

At the same time, Trump’s advisers warned of the hard work left to defeat Islamic State and stabilize areas recaptured from the hardline militant group.

Trump said at a news conference the United States would “not rest until ISIS is gone,” using an acronym for the militant group. But he also suggested that victory was imminent.

“It’s time,” Trump told reporters, when asked if he was inclined to withdraw American forces.

The Pentagon and State Department have said a longer term U.S. effort would be needed to ensure that Islamic State’s defeat is a lasting one.

Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by David Gregorio

official portrait, Dan Coates (Director of National Intelligence)

Dan Coates, Director of National Intelligence

US & Syria

Director of National Intelligence

Wheaton College Alumni Profiles

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Preacher Billy Graham, Class of 1943

We learned today (Feb. 21, 2018) that Billy Graham '43 LITT.D. '56, Wheaton's most well-known alumnus, has entered his heavenly rest. The Wheaton College family worldwide grieves his death with members of the Graham family and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association team, and rejoices with them that this beloved servant of the Lord has completed his journey and is at home with his Savior. A special memorial website for Billy Graham is available at wheaton.edu/billygraham.

Billy Graham preached the gospel to 215 million people in live audiences in 185 countries and territories at more than 400 crusades, missions, and evangelistic rallies. His influence for the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ is beyond human measure. He provided spiritual counsel to every president from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama and was sought out by countless other political and religious leaders around the world spanning several generations. Renowned for his humility, transparency, simplicity and integrity, Billy Graham proved faithful to the end as a "prophet with honor." 

From the day he first set foot on Wheaton's campus in September 1940, and soon met his beloved wife Ruth, Dr. Graham remained a booster of Wheaton College. Through the years he went out of the way to encourage each of Wheaton's presidents. It was because of his love for Wheaton that the Billy Graham Center is one of the most prominent buildings on our campus. 

I was just starting high school when the Graham Center was dedicated and Billy Graham preached to a huge crowd on Wheaton's front campus. I was there that day, sitting on a picnic blanket and listening to Dr. Graham preach the gospel he loved to proclaim—the good news of forgiveness for sin and the free gift of eternal life through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like countless others who heard Billy Graham preach, I re-committed my life to Christ. 

Now the Lord has taken Billy Graham to heaven. It is where he belongs, and where in recent years he has been ready to go. When I met with Dr. Graham during my first year as president of Wheaton College, he spoke freely and openly about his hope to be with Jesus soon. 

In his 1997 autobiography, Just As I Am, Dr. Graham wrote,

I don't know the future, but I do know this: the best is yet to be! Heaven awaits us, and that will be far, far more glorious than anything we can ever imagine. As the Bible says, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (I John 3:2). This is the hope of every believer. It is my hope, and I pray that it will be your hope as well. I know that soon my life will be over. I thank God for it, and for all He has given me in this life. But I look forward to Heaven...Most of all, I look forward to seeing Christ and bowing before Him in praise and gratitude for all He has done for us, and for using me on this earth by His grace—just as I am.

Lisa and I, along with other members of Wheaton's community, will be traveling soon to attend Billy Graham's memorial service in Charlotte. Please join us in praying for Dr. Graham's ongoing legacy and for all who grieve the passing of one of the church's most effective evangelists.

Philip Ryken
President
Wheaton College, IL

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Elisabeth Elliot on her Birthday

Remembering Elisabeth Elliot. 
Her date of birth is December 21, 1926. She passed on in June 15, 2015 at the age of 88. 

She became widowed while not quite 30 years old when her husband, Jim Elliot, became a martyr for Christ in Ecuador. Yet, she pressed on.  What great wisdom came from her life's experiences! 

I actually heard her speak at a Christian homeschool conference in Tennessee that we attended as a family a few years back. 

Elisabeth Elliot


Philip James Elliot

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Food Maker: Honey Crisp Apples

I'd recently re-discovered the Honey Crisp apple thru the link below posted via FB.  Otherwise, I was not one to purposefully shop for the Honey Crisp.  I preferred FUJI (IMO, the perfect cross between Red Delicious  & Ralls Janet apples); followed by the Red Delicious.

 After reading the articles and tasting them anew, the Honey Crisp is now my choice #2 among apples. I've also come to find out that it's the favorite of my oldest son and 3rd-born daughter.

FUJI apples, pc: wikipedia

IMO, the must-have basic survival needs of all humans are: Water, Food, Shelter, Clothing.  Of these four, what would be do-able and will result in the most good for the vast majority of people on Earth, is the development or Food and/or new food sources.  It will bring the most bang for the buck.  It is an opportunity waiting to happen for anyone out there who may be ambitious of praise and fame and fortune.
 (Recommended reading:  Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food by Paul Greenberg).

Here's one fellow who did just that. Years of research and work brought about the Honey Crisp Apple.  He's also a Wheaton College graduate (David Bedford, Class of '73)! Click on links for full articles.

The Apple of His Eye
see p.17


Apple Breeder

pc: the splendid table

Apples are mentioned in the Bible. We all know how sensitive our eyes are. God is as "sensitive" as an eye to the treatment of others towards His people (the Jews).  They are a chosen group that God has used to convey the message of eternal Salvation in the PERFECT Jew -- the Lord Jesus Christ.

God's tender care of Israel

additional

Focal Point: The Perfect Apple



Malus pumila 'Honeycrisp'



FUJI Apple



Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food

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Bernie Sanders: Anti-Christian on the warpath

I've read that Mr Sander is an atheist (though from a Jewish background). Then why does it bother Bernie to have a person believe in God/the Bible -- a god who he says does not exist?

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont this week lambasted one of President Donald Trump's budget nominees over a post he wrote last year that discussed Christianity and Islam.

As Russell Vought, Trump's pick for deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, appeared before the Senate Budget Committee for a confirmation hearing Wednesday, Sanders doggedly questioned him about a January 2016 post he had published by conservative outlet  The Resurgent .

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In the post, Vought wrote about a controversy involving a professor at his alma mater,  Wheaton College .

"Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned," Vought wrote.

Sanders – an independent who last year ran for the Democratic presidential nomination and who serves as the committee's ranking member – asked Vought whether he thought the post was Islamophobic. Vought said no and attempted to defend his writing against Sanders' repeated questions, stating, "I believe in a Christian set of principles based on my faith."

But Sanders was not appeased.

"Are you suggesting that all of those people stand condemned?" he asked Vought. "What about Jews? They stand condemned, too?"

"Senator, I wrote a post based on being a Christian and attending a Christian school that has a statement of faith that speaks clearly with regard to the centrality of Jesus Christ in salvation," Vought said at the end of the exchange.

Some have said Sanders' line of questioning pushed the boundaries of the U.S. Constitution, which states "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust of the United States."

Russell Moore, who has been a vocal Trump critic and is president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, called Sanders' comments "breathtakingly audacious and shockingly ignorant – both of the Constitution and of basic Christian doctrine.

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by Megan Trimble ... an associate editor of social media for the News division at U.S. News & World Report.

Link to article ---> Bernie Sanders Blasts Trump Nominee

Wheaton College: A couple of guys you should know in early 2017

pc: AP

W.C. Alumni in Trending News, January 2017.  Prayers, please.

(A) Andrew Brunson, '88 (and wife Norine, '89).

Mr Brunson, an American citizen from North Carolina, held in a Turkish prison since October 2016.  He has been a Christian pastor in Turkey for the past 23 years. Turkey's government, led by an Islamic party whose head is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , has been increasingly paranoid since a failed coup attempt.  They have been cracking down on Christians.  

Andrew's unjust imprisonment is just the tip of the iceberg of the turmoil in Turkey.  He is accused of being part of a terrorist organization -- without any evidence! Please, please pray for this godly man currently held in an Izmir prison cell.  Read more on this very dangerous situation here

pc: ACLJ

(b) Senator Dan Coats, '65

Former Indiana Senator; and Ambassador to Germany (2001-2005), Dan Coats, has been recently nominated by  President-elect Donald Trump to be the Director of National Intelligence.

pc: wikipedia