JC Ryle - Prayerless
To be prayerless is to be without God, without Christ, without grace, without hope, and without heaven.
... J. C. Ryle (1816-1900),
Proverbs 17:16 - Money
Proverbs 17:16
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
Stuck for somebody to pray for?
More than one thousand people have fled from a camp for internally displaced people in Burma’s Karen State amid fears of an attack by the Burmese Army.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said it had received reports indicating an attack on the IDP camp at Ler Per Her by Burmese Army infantry and the pro-regime militia group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
CSW’s Advocacy Director Alexa Papadouris said Burma Army troops could attack within hours.
“This is an urgent situation which requires immediate international attention,” she said.
The camp has been forced twice before to relocate as a result of attacks. The latest threat has prompted the camp’s 1,200 IDPs to flee across the border to Thailand.
During previous visits to the camp, including one earlier this year, CSW heard first-hand accounts from IDPs of forced labour, rape, torture, the destruction of villages, crops and livestock, and the use of human minesweepers at the hands of the military regime.
Ms Papadouris said people in Karen State had been suffering attacks and gross violations of human rights “amounting to crimes against humanity” for several decades.
She urged the international community to bring an end to the crisis in eastern Burma.
“We call on the UN Security Council to impose a universal arms embargo on Burma’s military regime, and to establish a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity,” she said.
“We urge the authorities in Thailand to provide shelter and protection to the Karen from Ler Per Her, and we urge members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China and India to use their collective influence with the regime to call a halt to such offensives against civilians.”
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said it had received reports indicating an attack on the IDP camp at Ler Per Her by Burmese Army infantry and the pro-regime militia group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
CSW’s Advocacy Director Alexa Papadouris said Burma Army troops could attack within hours.
“This is an urgent situation which requires immediate international attention,” she said.
The camp has been forced twice before to relocate as a result of attacks. The latest threat has prompted the camp’s 1,200 IDPs to flee across the border to Thailand.
During previous visits to the camp, including one earlier this year, CSW heard first-hand accounts from IDPs of forced labour, rape, torture, the destruction of villages, crops and livestock, and the use of human minesweepers at the hands of the military regime.
Ms Papadouris said people in Karen State had been suffering attacks and gross violations of human rights “amounting to crimes against humanity” for several decades.
She urged the international community to bring an end to the crisis in eastern Burma.
“We call on the UN Security Council to impose a universal arms embargo on Burma’s military regime, and to establish a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity,” she said.
“We urge the authorities in Thailand to provide shelter and protection to the Karen from Ler Per Her, and we urge members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China and India to use their collective influence with the regime to call a halt to such offensives against civilians.”
John 15 - Love Each Other
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:12-13
Noah's Ark Sunday School Trip May 09
What a great day - well done to The Hunter for orchestrating the event and Mary for kindly driving the bus!
Snack Attack 2009
Snack Attack May 2009
The children and helpers had a great time, it was a circus and clown theme with face painting, a clown show, circus skills and of course breakfast! Well done to everyone especially Tony and Janet for putting it all together!
Credit Crunch - Greater Meaning
New research out this week has revealed that three in four adults are rethinking their core values and big issues like ‘the meaning of life’.
Out of 2,500 adults interviewed by Christian Research in April, 70 per cent agreed they were searching because of the credit crunch, or worries about personal finances and job security.
The search for meaning was found to be occurring to similar degrees among the young and old, in both genders and across all social grades except the very lowest.
The research found that most people were turning first to family and friends to discover their meaning. Fifty-six per cent of those interviewed said they had considered spending more time with family and friends, while 50 per cent said they had actually done it, and of those, 47 per cent said it had been worth it.
“This is a sign that when things are crumbling down, people are looking for love and to be loved,” said Benita Hewitt, Director of Christian Research, who presented the findings at the Christian Resources Exhibition on Tuesday.
“Jesus said to love one another and that’s what people are doing,” she added.
The second most popular way of finding meaning was in contacting past friends. Thirty-six per cent of respondents said they had considered contacting past friends, while 31 per cent said they had actually done it.
“This is also a sign of the need to love and be loved,” said Ms Hewitt. She pointed to similar conclusions drawn by Christian dating agency Christian Connection, which has reported a 40 per cent increase in subscribers during the credit crunch.
The research also found that people were considering finding meaning by doing voluntary and community work. Although 24 per cent had considered it, however, only 13 per cent had actually done it.
“The church can maybe think about how it can help people to actually do some voluntary work,” said Ms Hewitt.
More than voluntary work, 14 per cent of those searching said they had tried prayer, with 12 per cent saying they had found it worthwhile.
The research also threw up some challenges for the church, however. While 23 per cent of unchurched respondents said they were searching, only three per cent said they had considered going to church. Of them, only one per cent actually went – equivalent to around 60 respondents – and none said they would go again.
“This presents a real challenge for the church,” said Ms Hewitt. “Research also shows that the Dow Jones plummeting has not affected churchgoing. We’re not on the spiritual map at all.”
Christian Research found that out of the non-religious respondents, 45 per cent said they had turned to family and friends, 25 per cent to past friends, eight per cent to voluntary work, eight per cent to an art or music hobby, and another eight per cent to reflective time alone.
“The research shows that if you are from a church background, then going to church helps, but if you are among the unchurched then they don’t find it helpful. More than that, they aren’t even going in the first place,” said Ms Hewitt.
She added: “Our message to all Christians is to remember that three out of four people you know are looking for more meaning and now is the time to talk to them about that. They are looking for meaning in relationships, in love, in community, and that’s what we can give them.”
Out of 2,500 adults interviewed by Christian Research in April, 70 per cent agreed they were searching because of the credit crunch, or worries about personal finances and job security.
The search for meaning was found to be occurring to similar degrees among the young and old, in both genders and across all social grades except the very lowest.
The research found that most people were turning first to family and friends to discover their meaning. Fifty-six per cent of those interviewed said they had considered spending more time with family and friends, while 50 per cent said they had actually done it, and of those, 47 per cent said it had been worth it.
“This is a sign that when things are crumbling down, people are looking for love and to be loved,” said Benita Hewitt, Director of Christian Research, who presented the findings at the Christian Resources Exhibition on Tuesday.
“Jesus said to love one another and that’s what people are doing,” she added.
The second most popular way of finding meaning was in contacting past friends. Thirty-six per cent of respondents said they had considered contacting past friends, while 31 per cent said they had actually done it.
“This is also a sign of the need to love and be loved,” said Ms Hewitt. She pointed to similar conclusions drawn by Christian dating agency Christian Connection, which has reported a 40 per cent increase in subscribers during the credit crunch.
The research also found that people were considering finding meaning by doing voluntary and community work. Although 24 per cent had considered it, however, only 13 per cent had actually done it.
“The church can maybe think about how it can help people to actually do some voluntary work,” said Ms Hewitt.
More than voluntary work, 14 per cent of those searching said they had tried prayer, with 12 per cent saying they had found it worthwhile.
The research also threw up some challenges for the church, however. While 23 per cent of unchurched respondents said they were searching, only three per cent said they had considered going to church. Of them, only one per cent actually went – equivalent to around 60 respondents – and none said they would go again.
“This presents a real challenge for the church,” said Ms Hewitt. “Research also shows that the Dow Jones plummeting has not affected churchgoing. We’re not on the spiritual map at all.”
Christian Research found that out of the non-religious respondents, 45 per cent said they had turned to family and friends, 25 per cent to past friends, eight per cent to voluntary work, eight per cent to an art or music hobby, and another eight per cent to reflective time alone.
“The research shows that if you are from a church background, then going to church helps, but if you are among the unchurched then they don’t find it helpful. More than that, they aren’t even going in the first place,” said Ms Hewitt.
She added: “Our message to all Christians is to remember that three out of four people you know are looking for more meaning and now is the time to talk to them about that. They are looking for meaning in relationships, in love, in community, and that’s what we can give them.”
Steinberg Ministries
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| Steinberg Ministries |
Jeff (rey :) ) and crew did a great job yesterday of delivering a great sermon. Filled with serious humour, great songs and a message of hope, no matter what your handicap (of which Jeff has his share). Worth catching him as he tours the UK. Thank you. http://www.tinygiant.com/ Click the link link above for a few pictures.
Pingu Penguin Mad -but why bother?
Penguin collector Birgit Berends
A mathematician loved the cartoon series Pingu so much that she started collecting everything penguin-related.
With over 7000 penguins in her collection Birgit Berends is now a Guiness World Record holder and has opened her penguin museum in the historical "pilots quarter" in Cuxhaven, Germany
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