The CIS Mission Board of Directors has approved Colin Campbell, chaplain with the “War on Cancer” in Charlottesville, as a special ministry project. The decision was ratified at a regular board meeting in October, 2008. [read more]

For over 30 years Dr. Bray has used the YWAM Prayer and Planning Diary as a way to stay on track with his personal piety and as a prayer guide for the whole team. "Next to the Bible, this is the most life-changing devotional book I have ever used," says Dr. Bray. "It takes you right into the heart of Jesus for the lost world-it is like walking with God. Plus it helps you plan your daily apostolic action." [read more]

THE volunteers who serve at the CIS Mission Book Table Ministry are offering two free gift books this season as part of their 2008 holiday ministry to needy students, supporters and the whole body of Christ. [read more]

By Dr. Bill Bray

LADY BIRD JOHNSON was buried yesterday at the family cemetery in Stonewall, Texas. My memories of her are vivid-not so much as a Christian-but as a human being and the wife of a war president. This was long before LBJ's widow gained fame as life-long conservationist who chose to beautify highways all around America.

While her then already unpopular husband was meeting with generals and presidents, Lady Bird visited medical evacuation centers at air support bases in Thailand. As a local stringer and Foreign Correspondent, I was assigned to travel with her, and I'll never forget the tears in her eyes as she greeted the young amputees and wounded who were getting medical evacuation treatment and transportation to the Philippines and home.

The horrors of war became real to me through her reaction-and through her iron-willed support of her husband who was then escalating the conflict and dividing the nation over the cost of winning the war in Southeast Asia. She combined her humanity, faith and patriotism into one continuous act of devotion to her husband and his cause.

First ladies are human, and I saw her love for the children in those tears. I don't know what Laura Bush and "W" are going through right now, but I know they need our prayers as they send men and women into combat. As Laura has traveled throughout Africa and the Middle East, I am encouraged that she is consistently showing the compassionate, Christian side of our culture. This is something which her husband seems incapable of projecting, although I appreciate his boldness and willingness to speak out on his demands for justice and peace.

As Christians, may God give George, Laura and all of us the ability to somehow cross the cultural and communication ravines that separate us from Muslim world. Yes, governments have to fight drug cartels and terrorism-not because we are Christians or Muslims-but because it is the right thing to do. No criminal gang, whatever their religious reason, has the right to impose its will on others, or to slaughter the innocent. We must resist with force the extremists who want to continue this global bloodbath. We also need to be patriotic, not to selfishly promote our national interests, but only to defend and save the innocent that are being sacrificed daily in wars of terror.

Like most Christian Americans, I want to separate our national actions abroad-as military and spiritual-but in this war on terror I still don't see how it can be done. Christ never endorsed the military as a method of the Kingdom, but he recognized the government's right to use the sword. We can only pray that somehow our Christian love and concern will show through and be understood. As followers of Christ this is a huge challenge for me-and for any serious Christian. Let's pray for President Bush and all our Christian leaders at every level that somehow God will be glorified in their actions and the poor defended.