The Power of Prayer and Petitions

I recently received the email below from Voice of the Martyrs, a non-profit organization that serves the persecuted Christian church worldwide. Presently, Mr. Gao Zhisheng, a Chinese Christian lawyer, has been imprisoned and tortured by the Communist government there. A worldwide support effort has been launched for Mr. Gao, and an online petition has reached over 50,000 signatures. Mr. Gao's wife, Geng He, has submitted an open letter to the US Congress, and through these efforts, Mr. Gao's case was heard on the Senate floor at Capitol Hill.

I have never personally been one for submitting letters to elected officials or signing petitions--I have always left those things to those so inclined....and stuck to personal support and efforts. But there is a powerful voice in the letters sent to elected officials, as seen here, wherein the Communist government of one of the world's most populous nations and most powerful economic centers has been moved by them. Prayer and petition can go far, and I thought I would post this here as a reminder and encouragement for Schapelle's supporters who have done the same:


DAY 85: Gao Zhisheng's Wife Pleads for U.S. Congress to Intervene and Delivers First Installment of Petition

"My name is Geng He and I am the wife of political prisoner and lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who is currently being persecuted in mainland China. On March 11 this year, I arrived in the United States with my son and daughter for political asylum. ... We are safe now, but my husband's situation has become more perilous...

"In the past, whenever I was worried about my husband because of his challenges against tyranny, he would often console me by saying...that if one day he would be persecuted because of his ideals and sense of justice, the people in the world who believe in justice would stand by him and support him. I know that he would still harbor this light and hope in his heart while enduring various torments in prison!"

-- Geng He's open letter to the U.S. Congress asking for Congress to intervene on behalf of her husband Gao Zhisheng. Read full letter.

Tens of thousands have brought reality to Gao's hope, by standing with him and crying out for his release and for justice on his behalf. Around the world, those who believe in truth and freedom have prayed, signed the petition, shared it with family and friends and e-mailed Chinese government officials calling for his release.

Because of your efforts, last week, Geng He, together with ChinaAid president Bob Fu, presented the first installment of more than 50,000 signatures from www.FreeGao.com to the co-chairman of the Congressional - Executive Commission on China, U.S. Senator Bryon Dorgan. Simultaneously, ChinaAid delivered the petition to the Chinese Embassy. On Monday, April 27, ChinaAid delivered the petition to office of the Secretary of State. View photos of the petition deliveries.

In addition, Senator Dorgan spoke about Gao's case from the Senate floor, calling the Chinese government to account for Gao's treatment. He also urged the Senate to petition the Chinese government for Gao's immediate release. Other leading senators stood up immediately following Senator Dorgan's speech to express their support for additional actions on behalf of Gao. Read Senator Dorgan's speech.

These tangible demonstrations of concern for Gao from around the world are reverberating through the Communist Party. Contacts inside China say that the wall of silence around Gao Zhisheng's captivity has begun to crack, and have asked ChinaAid to convey their plea for an increase of pressure for Gao's release.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this campaign to free Gao Zhisheng. Your prayers, sending e-mails to Chinese government officials, and forwarding this campaign to family and friends are invaluable to this movement. To quote Gao, "the increased level of confidence of the Chinese Communist Party in treating people with increased cold-blooded brutality and cruelty is the direct result of our silence." Thank you for speaking out during this critical hour in the life of Gao Zhisheng.

To see the latest information, make an online donation, view the latest signature totals on the petition, see photos, read Senator Dorgan's speech to the Senate and view the full text of Geng He's letter go to www.FreeGao.com.

» Go to www.FreeGao.com now.




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Schapelle Corby Picture of the Week - 26.4.09

Schapelle isn't personally in this picture, but her spirit is for sure!! The people featured here are (L to R): Leann Hoelscher, Tara Hack, Michael Passe's son, and Michael Passe. The location is the Conference on World Affairs at Colorado University. A whole 82,000 people attended, and many of them learned about Schapelle through the efforts of these four, as well as Kay Danes, who participated in EIGHT panels--five more than the minimum requirement of a freshman panelist.

As I told Schapelle in a letter recently, after these events, it is harder and harder for people to say they've never heard of her! Getting the word out (and directing people to quality research sites) is crucial--THANK YOU EVERYONE who took part for helping toward this goal!

To Schapelle, "May your justice come forever true."

To access the rest of the CWA pictures, visit: http://schapelle.net/cwa.html

"When You Tried to Tell the World" - by Al Wilson and Holly Wilson

This beautiful song was written by Al Wilson, and is sung here by Holly Wilson.

The lyrics are poetry--phenominal work!

Think what you want about the Obamas.....

.......but their new puppy is really adorable. :D

One thing I don't get though, is that in this picture:

the caption reads as follows:

U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd L) presents the first family's new Portuguese Water Dog puppy, Bo, on the South Lawn with his family at the White House in Washington April 14, 2009. With Obama are first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha (R).

Do they really need to point out that the President is the second person on the left? I'm sure the general public will not mistake him for the two girls on the right. At least I hope not.

HLJ Random Quote of the Week - 11.4.09

"But the kind of Cold War-esque notion of should there or shouldn't there be private property, or should the state run everything, those ideological debates are not for this generation." - White House Deputy Chief of Staff Mona Sutphen

Exactly. Because it is for those "debate points" that we prevailed in the Revolutionary War. Because these "ideological debates" are outlined in the first paragraph of the Declaration of Indpendence for all generations, past, present, and future. Because the moment those rights are considered irrelevant is the moment we've been undone.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/13/AR2009041302968_3.html?hpid=artslot

View CWA Events Live

Click on this link to view CWA events live as they happen.

http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/webcast.html

The webcast features channels from two separate venues: the Macky Auditorium and the UMC Center Ballroom.

Real Player is required to view the broadcast. If you need Real Player, you may download it here: http://www.real.com/

At present, the only Macky Auditorium and UMC Center Ballroom events on which Kay Danes is a panelist are

Genocide: Beyond Outrage
2:00-3:20 on Tuesday April 7, 2009

Slavery is Not Dead
12:30-1:50 on Wednesday April 8, 2009

The Truth About Torture
2:00-3:20 on Thursday April 9, 2009

I will be checking with the Free Schapelle Forum to see whether the other events in different venues will be available for webcast as well. Follow up on the forum or this blog to find out. Once I know for sure, I will post the information here.

CWA Colorado Features Event on Schapelle Corby Trial

Listed here at the CWA Colorado site is an event exclusively on the topic of Schapelle Corby.

"Holiday in Hell, or the Accidental Smuggler: The Case of Schapelle Corby" will take place Wednesday, 8 April, at 7pm. While originally designed for Kathryn Bonella, who published Schapelle's autobiography "My Story" or "No More Tomorrows", Ms. Bonnella was unable to attend. Therefore, Kay Danes has taken her place.

Schapelle Supporter Michael (who is from Colorado) will be in attendance passing out flyers, and another Supporter, Leann (from California) will also be present.

Tara Hack, singer and songwriter of "Saya Tidak Bersalah - I'm Not Guilty" (view previous posts for the music video) will perform at the end of the discussion.

Conference on World Affairs Begins TODAY!

Main Page: http://www.colorado.edu/cwa

Schedule of Events: http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/schedule.html?year=2009

The Free Schapelle movement is elated today, and for good reason: The Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado at Boulder is beginning!!

Schapelle Supporters worldwide donated over $2000 for plane tickets, booth registry, flyer print-outs, and much more so that Schapelle's name can be heard loud and clear in Colorado (more on this soon in later posts)!

Also, notably, one of Schapelle's most prominent advocates, Kay Danes, serves on the panel of numerous CWA discussions, including:

1116 The Purpose of the Universe Is to Create God
9:00-10:20 on Monday April 6, 2009
Old Main Chapel
Panelists:
Chip Berlet
Lillian Boutté
Kay Danes
Fintan R. Steele


Moderator: Noah Finkelstein

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1812 Trial by Media
4:00-5:20 on Monday April 6, 2009
Muenzinger Auditorium
Panelists:
Kay Danes
Sharon Y. Eubanks
Simon Hoggart
Jurek Martin


Moderator: Malinda Miller-Huey

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2613 Genocide: Beyond Outrage
2:00-3:20 on Tuesday April 7, 2009
UMC Center Ballroom
Panelists:
Kay Danes
Josh Rushing
E. Benjamin Skinner


Moderator: Paul Shankman

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3461 Slavery is Not Dead
12:30-1:50 on Wednesday April 8, 2009
Macky Auditorium
Panelists:
Kay Danes
Maria Hinojosa
E. Benjamin Skinner


Moderator: Celeste Landry

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3865 PTSD: You Forgot, I Can't
4:30-5:50 on Wednesday April 8, 2009
UMC 235
Panelists:
George Butler
Kay Danes
Maria Hinojosa
Jim Smith


Moderator: David Elm

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4162 The Basic Incompatibility Between Religion and Science
9:30-10:50 on Thursday April 9, 2009
UMC 235
Panelists:
Chip Berlet
Kay Danes
Fintan R. Steele


Moderator: Paul Sperry

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4613 The Truth About Torture
2:00-3:20 on Thursday April 9, 2009
UMC Center Ballroom
Panelists:
Kay Danes
E. Benjamin Skinner
Ann Wright


Moderator: Joel Edelstein

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5111 Activating the Activist
9:00-10:20 on Friday April 10, 2009
Old Main Chapel
Panelists:
Kay Danes
Lorelei Kelly
Jennifer Nordstrom


Moderator: Josie Heath