| JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-468 * 9 FEBRUARY 2004 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG IN THIS EDITION: JN468-1. TYPICALLY GOD: God's electroshock treatment JN468-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Nightwatch for Europe JN468-3. NEWS: Faith lengthens life expectancy JN468-4. WEBLOG: Spiritual authority JN468-5. RESOURCE: Mapping the Olympic Games JN468-6. RESOURCE: Prayer for every place and person --- JN468-1. TYPICALLY GOD: God's electroshock treatment Ishwar Das is a young man who was strongly into drug consumption and smoked hashisch. Gasram, a church planter from central India, came to Ishwar's village one day. Some people greeted him, shaking his hand, including Ishwar. When Ishwar shook Gasram's hand, something strange happened; he received an electric shock. He was instantly freed from his drug addiction. He asked question after question the whole evening, and was baptised the next morning, together with several of his friends. Of the village's 1,500 inhabitants, 275 have been baptised, and they now reach the surrounding villages with the Gospel. Source: Operation Agape --- JN468-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Nightwatch for Europe Roger Mitchell of the Target Europe initiative calls for a weekly night watch for Europe, "a time to call Heaven and earth to stand up together for God's purposes with the continent." The 70-week nightwatch is designed for Christians who are called to 'prophetic breakthrough intercession'. Let's pray that God will raise up the Church in Europe to take responsibility for her continent. Pray for a 'breakthrough anointing' on all those who have joined the watch. LINK: http://www.passion.org.uk/news.html --- JN468-3. NEWS: Faith lengthens life expectancy Do you want to live 10 years longer? Your relationship with God might be of great help, according to an extensive global study performed by epidemiologist Prof. Ronald Grossarth-Maticek, head of the Institute for Preventive Healthcare Research in Heidelberg, Germany. The research shows that faith is demonstrably one of the most important factors, influencing a person's physical well-being and long-term health, significantly affecting life expectancy and the age at which the first serious chronic illness occurs. Grossarth-Maticek distinguished between five forms of belief system: 1. atheism; 2. neurotic atheism; 3. conventional religiosity; 4. neurotic religiosity; and 5. spontaneous emotional religiosity. Members of the third group feel bound to a particular religious group or church, abide by particular external norms and attend services, but do not establish a relationship with God. Their knowledge of a higher authority does not generally affect how they live. Group 5 tells of a positive personal relationship with God which has a pleasing, soothing, energizing and healing influence. Members of group 5 live on average 12.7 years longer than 'churchgoers' and 21.7 years longer than neurotic atheists. Their first severe chronic illnesses occur 10 years later than members of group 3, and around 20 years later than neurotics, whether religious or atheist. LINK: http://www.cimoed.de/html/glaube_und_gesundheit.html (German) --- JN468-4. WEBLOG: Spiritual authority Joel News publisher Marc van der Woude keeps a weblog in which he reflects on God, the Church and daily life. This week he raises the issue of spiritual authority. Who or what gives people spiritual authority? He suggests it's linked to five things: mandate, character, anointing, maturity and ability. LINK: http://marcsmessages.typepad.com/mm/2004/02/spiritual_autho.html --- JN468-5. RESOURCE: Mapping the Olympic Games On March 25, 2004, the flame of the Olympic Games of 'Athens 2004' in Greece will be lit in an official ceremony conducted by pagan priestesses, on exactly the same temple locations where it was lit 28 centuries ago. Prayer leaders say the rituals are aimed at invoking the evil spirits and gods linked to those old temples. Government officials and formal representatives of key nations of the world will be present to mark the significance of the event, and the formal acceptance of those false gods. George Markakis of the house of prayer in Athens compiled a number of resources on the spiritual background of the Olympic Games, and gives suggestions for strategic prayer in the months ahead. LINK: http://www.cdrm.org/cdrm/gateofeu.asp --- JN468-6. RESOURCE: Prayer for every place and person Steve Hawthorne's Waymakers published an easy-to-use prayerwalking guide called 'Every place for every person', coming from 1 Timothy 2:1-5. We are urged to pray for every person with purpose: that everyone would know and all would have opportunity to be saved. But there's even more purpose: that the Christian community would be a brilliant force for transformation in their communities, so that God's heart is pleased. Waymakers also publishes a bulletin in pdf format called 'FreshPrayer', to mobilise prayer. It comes with a leader's guide to help facilitate small group prayer sessions. LINK: http://www.waymakers.org --- COLOPHON Joel News International is a leading special interest bulletin on prayer, church growth and revival. We offer a keen selection of the most encouraging news reports, the most challenging developments and the best resources from over 100 reliable sources in six continents. Joel News International is a great help and time-saver for thousands of Christian leaders and intercessors in over 120 nations. Editor: Marc van der Woude. You can contact the editorial office at joel-news@xs4all.nl. 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