Today in History - December 21

1877: Thomas Edison's phonograph introduced by Scientific America (Source)

Recommended sermons and podcasts:

How Thomas Edison, Louis Lamour, Patrick Henry, Ray Crock, and Bill Gates Made it Out of the Box, by Pastor Kevin Swanson (2009)

1989: After 23 Years of dictator rule Romania ousts Nicolae Ceausescu

Recommended sermons and podcasts:

Visit the Fatherless - Impact Romania, by Dorin Magdas [Text: James 1:19-27]
The Failure of Atheism and the Triumph of Faith in Russia, by Dr. Peter Hammond
How to Start an Underground Church, by Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001)

Recommended reading:

Note: You can read Richard Wurmbrand's great book, Tortured for Christ, for free at torturedforchrist.com. Or if you wish to purchase the book or the DVD, follow the links below:

Tortured for Christ, DVD By Vision Video The Voice of the Martyrs presents this cinematic retelling of the testimony of VOM founder Pastor Richard Wurmbrand as written in his international bestseller Tortured for Christ. This movie was produced to honor the 50th anniversary of the book's 1967 release. Pastor Richard Wurmbrand suffered 14 years of imprisonment and brutal torture, while his wife, Sabina, was treated as a slave in a labor camp. Their only "crimes" were their faith and witness for Jesus Christ. Through it all, they loved their enemies and sought to win their torturers for Christ. Filmed entirely on location in Romania, including in the very prison where Richard endured torture and solitary confinement, this is the cinematic retelling of one of the most powerfully inspiring and historically significant testimonies of all time. Approx. 77 minutes. Please note that due to the depictions of the experiences of Richard Wurmbrand as a prisoner for the Faith under Communism, this program is not recommended for children.

Tortured for Christ By Richard Wurmbrand / Voice Of The Martyrs After suffering 14 years in underground prison cells, months in solitary confinement, and years of physical torture, Wurmbrand exposed the persecution of Christians by atheistic Communist governments---and his testimony shocked the world. A stunning account of unshakable courage and steadfast faith! 169 pages, black imitation leather from Voice of the Martyrs.

Trump: 'I Would Approve Waterboarding, and if You Go Beyond That, I'm OK With That'

Trump: 'I Would Approve Waterboarding, and if You Go Beyond That, I'm OK With That' - cnsnews.com

Excerpt from this article:

"I would bring back waterboarding,' Trump said. 'And I would make it a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.'...Stephanopoulos asked Trump if he would authorize torture.
"I would absolutely authorize something beyond waterboarding. And believe me, it will be effective. If we need information, George, you have our enemy cutting heads off of Christians and plenty of others, by the hundreds, by the thousands.'"
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 Recommended reading:

What Would Richard Wurmbrand Think of Waterboarding?

Putin Recalls 'Romantic Years' of Soviet Youth

Putin Recalls 'Romantic Years' of Soviet Youth

Excerpts from this article:

"The Soviet Union may be long gone but President Vladimir Putin, a former KGB spy, has revealed that he retains fond memories of the Communist Party's youth wing."

If you want to learn more about the "Romantic Years" of the old Soviet Union, check out this excellent book:

The Persecutor, by Sergei Kourdakov (Subtitle: "His Job in the Russian Police Was to Inflict Terror and Suffering on Christians...and He Did it Well!")

Here are 2 short excerpts from reviews of this book:

Reviewer #1: "Absolutely mind blowing! Reading this book sent shock waves down my spine! I usually don't upset very easily, but what the communists would do to innocent Christian people is so cruel it would make you sick."

Reviewer #2: "This book is the autobiography of a young orphan, recruited by the KGB to expose and torture Christians.   Converted by their example of love, he defected to Canada and told the truth about communism brutality to the church. For this he was murdered."

To be fair, not everyone is as enthusiastic about this book. Wikipedia points out that since this book was published post-humously (after his murder!), Christians may have done some editing to make things in Russia look worse than they really were.

I've read this book and I believe it was written by Sergei Kourdakov, and what he wrote is factual. I highly recommend this book to everyone around the world, but especially Americans, because what Sergei talks about in this book is rapidly coming to this country!

Recommended reading (my post);

Trevor Loudon: Advocate of Freedom

Also recommended reading:

Tortured for Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand (Also, check out my post, What Would Richard Wurmbrand Think of Waterboarding?)
None Dare Call it Conspiracy, by Gary Allen

Recommended sermon:

When Government Tries to Be God, by Dr. David P. Murray

American Pastor Tortured in Iranian Prison

American Pastor Tortured in Iranian Prison - WND News

See my Post:

What Would Richard Wurmbrand Think of Waterboarding?

Recommended reading:
Tortured for Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand

Persecution Update

About 100 million Christians persecuted around the world: report - Worthy News:

'via Blog this'

Recommended reading:

Persecuted for Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand
Voices of Martyrs website

How to Start an Underground Church - and Why

I take church attendance and church membership very seriously. The Bible says:

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." (Hebrews 10:25,26)

But I don't advocate that you just join the first (or second or third!) church you see.  In my Bible reading today I read I John 4:1, which says:

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world..."

I am not a minister and I am not starting my own church. But there may come a time when Christians all over the globe will need to reevaluate the church they are in and seriously consider leaving (because the church they belong to has become apostate), or even starting their own church.  I think we are coming close to that time in America.

And so I want to refer you to a message by Richard Wurmbrand titled:

Underground Church - Starting 1 - How to organize and establish one