THE PRESIDENT AT THE 2008 OLYMPIAD - Just a Minute 08-08-08

Hello – It’s FRIDAY again!

 

            And none too soon for me. This has been a hot and busy week – nothing seemed to go smoothly, but we got through it relatively unscathed.

 

            Now we’re all waiting to see how our American athletes perform on the Mainland. For this week… I’ll stop calling it RED China and call it RED WHITE AND BLUE China – maybe even throw in a dash of GOLD trimmings… let’s hope so!

 

            The weather outlook for the last week has been hazy. Chinese government spokesmen say “Don’t call it smog… it’s just water vapor.” No matter… to denizens of the LAX valley on the ‘left’ coast it looks suspiciously like smog. In fact the Government’s actions in pulling LOTS of vehicles off the road meant they really thought it was smog too. They halted all construction and diminished the traffic – and still it persisted.

 

            On top of that, despite all the assurances of a free and open opportunity for western media to practice their craft in the “Middle Kingdom” – in the week prior to the official opening the media’s advanced guard found when they tried to use their laptops in the specially constructed press centers there were certain sites that were closed down… Like AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL and CHINA AID ASSOCIATION even the BBC was not accessible. When media people complained they were supposed to have free and open access to the Internet – Chinese bureaucrats – who are world class when it comes ‘parsing’ their sentences said: “We meant you can have the freedom we provide for our own media – but we don’t allow them to go to subversive and adversarial sources.”  So much for freedom Communist Style.

 

            I heard one spokesperson trying to explain they did get restrictions lifted.  And another non-government spokesperson said: “Some were lifted but others remained closed.” And so it goes in China. The rule I learned when trying to shoot films there, the answer often was: “No reason – just regulation.”

 

            That’s normal – President Bush nor his wife will experience the persecution the underground church leaders still suffer in parts of China. But then the Chinese cast-iron bureaucrats seem never to have heard: “The blood of the martyr is the seed of the church.” Evidenced by people far more educated in the ancient ways of Chinese culture than am I. It’s especially important now to keep the Christians in your prayers.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama08-08-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt08-08-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

THE PRESIDENT AT 2008 OLYMPIAD

Just A Minute – President and Mrs. Bush will be in China through the eleventh. Opening ceremonies and games are already underway but won’t be seen by Americans until tonight.

Our President will also meet Chinese President, Hu Jintao, and other Chinese officials -- plus attending worship services on Sunday, August tenth. But you should realize it will be a “three-self” government church, including some “House Cells.” Those are government organized and approved which still persecutes unrecognized, unregistered, underground churches.

The President did meet in Washington prior to his China and visit with leaders in the “unregistered” church movement. Those “House Cells” in the TSPM church are actually lead by pastors trained and appointed by the Government and required to obey all their rules. This Communist method was employed in Russia and Eastern Europe. So don’t mislead by this fake inclusion. Really, unless the President disavows the government sponsored church leaders, this visit may actually increase the persecution presently taking place. Please pray for Bible-believing Christians in China.    

<> I’m Jack Buttram

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