May. 4th, 2006

WATER: A Basic Need & Access

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4967452.stm

The article describes a straw recently invented to kill water-born pathogens as a person drinks through the straw. Below are some excerpts from the above article:

"LifeStraw" made by Torben Vestergaard Frandsen, of Denmark, is made of plastic and resembles a flute. Inside are a disinfectant filter which kills bacteria & active carbon to remove parasites & yields a better tasting water, along with a chamber impregnated with iodine.

In developing world, one person in six does not have access to drinking water, and 6,000 people a day die from water-borne diseases.
But the inventor claimed that it would be possible even to drink water from the notoriously polluted Thames river in London. As the straw is aimed at the developing world, it is being made it in China, where production costs are lower. It is priced at around $3.50 a straw - will last for around 700 litres, around a six months to a year.

OBJECTION:
UK charity WaterAid which works to supply clean water and sanitation in 17 of the world's poorest countries said the price was too high.
"most people in those countries earn less than one dollar a day, with which they have to feed their families," he said. He felt the problem is that many people live very far away from their water, often walking a total of 20km or more carrying a weight of 25 kilos.

It's women and girls who have to collect the water & thus lag the most in education.

WaterAid spends £15 ($30) per person to provide water, sanitation and hygiene education. If there is decent water resource management in the country, this will last them a lifetime.

<><
My reply to the fellow who sent me the tip on this:

It is sad to see people here spend large $ for bottled water, throw the bottles aside, when tapwater is readily available ... & there are places where people don't would be glad to have drop of clean, cool water on their tongue.

May the Lord show mercy to more so that those both here & there would not spend eternity craving but a drop when a well of Living Water is available today!

<><
His reply:

Yes to your comments. My first profession was as a microbiologist and
food inspector. I was shocked the first time I went into the back of a grocery store and saw that about 1/3 of the space was taken storing soft drinks mostly and beer and some other alcohol. Our water districts in the USA provide good tap water almost all the time
almost everywhere. I do not have or use bottled water for common drinking. When traveling by car, we carry our own water in bottles from our tap at home, until we get to the next house where there is a tap.

I have been to Jacob's Well and have drank the water from there on 3-4
occasions. Jesus was right, I drink from the water from that well and have been thirsty every day since then. But, spiritually I have drink from the Living Water which He supplies and I have never been thirsty to go to any other source of spiritual water or teachings.

Blessings,
D.D.

Nov. 15th, 2005

PTAP: Email RCVD & Responded to - A word of correction.

Thank you for the testimony of this faithful worker. It's always a joy to hear how God is using faithful brothers and sisters to do His work in even the darkest of places. I was somewhat surprised, though, at how this older lady was characterized. I'm sure it may be she was not particularly pleasant, but it seems in this story that she is being demonized simply to make us feel good about her humiliation. Even the Pharisees, who murdered Christ, were simply characterized by what they did rather than how they acted or their tone of voice. I'm not saying this as a criticism of you or this work because it is so valuable, but simply so that we may all be above reproach from those who would accuse us.

Anyway, I still want to thank you again for this newsletter. It has been a great encouragement to me to keep praying for this region, knowing that, indeed, God is faithful to accomplish his work.

- James

===== The portion under question. =====
The leader was a harsh-looking older woman who appeared to relish her job. There was no comforting "come join our happy group" air about her, and even some of the converts seemed to eye her with fear. Her faced contorted with pleasure as she maligned Christians, slandered the Bible, and blasphemed the Lord Jesus Christ. This certainly wasn't friendship evangelism!

<+>< + ><+>
Essence of reply:

Thanks for sending your comments. We will keep it in mind in the future. However, I only relay the emails & do not write them, so I don't feel right about editting them extensively.

- Mert Hershberger "Abdul Kalimatullah"

======
later...
(November 29, 2005)

Dear James,

In re-reading through your email & the offending portion. I thought of 2 things.

1. There are some pretty descriptive portions of responses to Jesus & by Jesus.
... Satan is said to have entered into Judas.
... Jesus addressed satan when talking with Peter because he so adamantly opposed the Lord's death.
... Jesus said some serious things about blashpheming of the Holy Spirit.

2. Acts 7:24 uses the words furious & gnashed teeth ... these are pretty descriptive words, actually containing meanings very similar to the testimony originally sent.

3. Having had some times of witness with Muslims who adamantly opposed the gospel, I dare say that there are some who contorted their faces & really seemed to take on a different character when harshly attacking the holiness of Jesus' death on the cross.

4. It should be noted, that there are places in the NT where a group of inquirers or a crowd was described as divided in their responses to Jesus ... some members in the crowd fearing others.

... just some further thoughts in "defense" of the original statement that have come to mind over the intervening weeks.

<+>< + ><+>
Mert Hershberger
ptap@srginc.org -- 1-800-376-5876
North American Coordinator
Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
mertaka@everybody.org

February 2007

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