Interview Tonight About New Book

I have been kindly invited to be the guest tonight at 8 pm on the Grizzly Groundswell show on BlogTalkRadio to talk about my soon-to-be published book, A Pastoral Letter to the Captives and Other Works. I am looking forward to this and hope you will join us!

Kidnapped Teachers Released in Philippines

Good news from the Philippines, where three teachers kidnapped by Abu Sayaf have been released unharmed. Via Hindu News:

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) Muslim militants on Tuesday freed three teachers after four months of jungle captivity in the southern Philippines despite a refusal to pay ransom.

The Jan. 23 abductions from a boat off Zamboanga city were among several kidnappings-for-ransom blamed on the Abu Sayyaf extremist group and its allied gunmen.

The teachers' abductions were strongly condemned because they were working to provide education to underprivileged youths.

The Abu Sayyaf militants are still holding at least four hostages, including a Sri Lankan peace activist on Basilan island and an Italian Red Cross worker on nearby Jolo.

Gunmen handed over Quizon Freires, Janette Delos Reyes and Rafael Mayonado to a government negotiator in Mohamad Ajul township on Basilan.

The teachers were brought by speedboat to nearby Zamboanga, where they met their parents in tearful reunions and underwent medical checkups, Mayor Celso Lobregat said.

The three visibly lost weight and were still in shock but appeared to be in good health.

``They're still in a lot of stress but they're fine,'' Lobregat told The Associated Press by telephone. ``We thank God that they're back with us, alive.''

Thank God for this answered prayer! Please continue to pray for Eugenio Vagni, the Italian Red Cross worker held captive by Abu Sayaf, and for all hostages throughout the world.

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Abu Sayaf Kidnaps 3 Teachers

Morning Prayer 5/21/09

Psalm 63

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

9 They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.

10 They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Morning Prayer 5/20/09

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Evening Prayer 5/19/09

We will lie down in peace and take our rest, for it is you, Lord, only, who makes us dwell in safety. You, Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name. Do not leave us, O Lord our God. Preserve us, Lord, waking, and guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Amen.

Abu Sayaf Kidnaps 3 Teachers in Philippines

The terrorist group Abu Sayaf, responsible for the kidnapping of three Red Cross workers earlier this year, is now threatening to behead three grade-school teachers they have abducted. Via GMA News:

MANILA, Philippines - After beheading last weekend a farmer it took hostage, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Basilan province has threatened to behead three teachers it is holding if ransom wouldn’t be paid for their release.

Radio dzXL reported Tuesday the bandits would start the executions in 15 days' time.

The report quoted government's Task Force Trillium, the group organized to deal with the hostage crisis in the province, as saying the bandits made the ultimatum through one Den Mungkay, said to be from the special operations group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Still held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf are Rafael Mayonada, Quizon Freirez and Jeannette delos Reyes, all of the Landang Gua Elementary School on Sacol Island in Zamboanga City.

Please pray for the protection and rescue of these hostages, and for the continued safety of Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni, still held in captivity after his two colleagues, Mary Jean Lacaba and Andreas Notter, were rescued earlier this month.

Morning Prayer 5/19/09

Lord God, the author of all holy desires, all good purposes, and all righteous works; give to us your servants that peace which the world cannot give; so that we, obeying your commandments and being delivered from the fear of our enemies, may live at rest and in quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Morning Prayer 5/18/09

Let the people of God glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O priests and servants of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Morning Prayer 5/15/09

Go before us, Lord, in all our doings, with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name, and finally by your mercy attain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Morning Prayer 5/12/09

We give you sincere thanks, Heavenly Father, for the sleep and rest of the past night, and for the gift of a new day. Grant that we may so pass its hours in the perfect freedom of your service, that when evening comes we may again desire to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.