William Feather - Do something!
After saying our prayers, we ought to do something to make them come true.
William Feather
Children's True Heroes
The nation's most heroic role is that of a parent, according to a national poll of children run by the Church of England and The Children's Society. The Rt Rev Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton, revealed the results on Monday of an online poll to find the most heroic job in the UK at a ceremony in Manchester Cathedral. Out of the 25 jobs nominated by a selection of school children, the poll revealed that the UK’s most heroic jobs were parents with 25% of the vote, firefighters with 13% of the vote, and soldiers with 12% of the vote.
Bishop Davies said, “The National Hero Poll is part of the Church of England’s efforts to help parents who are not keen on their children dressing up as murderers or taking part in trick or treating, to find alternative ways of marking Halloween in a more positive and fun way. The Church sees the 31 October as 'All Hallow's Eve', which is the night before 'All Saints Day', when we celebrate our own religious heroes. The survey was a way of finding out who children consider as today’s secular heroes. We hope the poll results might encourage young people to look to everyday heroes around them and celebrate all who lead their lives in the service of others.”
Bishop Davies said, “The National Hero Poll is part of the Church of England’s efforts to help parents who are not keen on their children dressing up as murderers or taking part in trick or treating, to find alternative ways of marking Halloween in a more positive and fun way. The Church sees the 31 October as 'All Hallow's Eve', which is the night before 'All Saints Day', when we celebrate our own religious heroes. The survey was a way of finding out who children consider as today’s secular heroes. We hope the poll results might encourage young people to look to everyday heroes around them and celebrate all who lead their lives in the service of others.”
Matthew 22:37 - Love your God
Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
Matthew 22:37
When virtuality meets reality - virtue in a real world?
A woman has been non-virtually jailed after virtually killing her virtual husband in an online role-playing game.
The 43-year-old became so angry about her sudden divorce from her online husband that she logged on with his password and killed his digital persona, police said.
The woman, who has been jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his ID and password to log onto Maple Story, a popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), to carry out the virtual murder in May, a police official in the northern city of Sapporo said on Thursday.
The 43-year-old became so angry about her sudden divorce from her online husband that she logged on with his password and killed his digital persona, police said.
The woman, who has been jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his ID and password to log onto Maple Story, a popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), to carry out the virtual murder in May, a police official in the northern city of Sapporo said on Thursday.
Tough Love
A dying man smells his favorite oatmeal raisin cookies cooking downstairs. It takes all the strength he has left but he gets up from the bed and crawls down the stairs. He sees the cookies cooling on the counter and staggers over to them. As he reaches for one, his wife's wrinkled hand reaches out, smacks his and she yells:
"No, you can't have those! They're for the funeral!"
"No, you can't have those! They're for the funeral!"
FAFF - Beetle Drive
This Saturday 25th October 2008 at 6:30pm in the church hall, a small gathering of board game playing officianados will be competing in the "Knowle Park Beetle Drive Regional Championship". All players are welcome but remember competition is fierce, so leave fear at the door. Please bring some nibbles to sustain the competitiors during their march to the Grand Finals.
Health Warning - This event may be hazardous to your health causing, in most cases, a curling upwards of the corners of the mouth and, in more extreme cases, a stomach ache followed immediately by a loud sound emitting from the mouth akin to laughter!
Health Warning - This event may be hazardous to your health causing, in most cases, a curling upwards of the corners of the mouth and, in more extreme cases, a stomach ache followed immediately by a loud sound emitting from the mouth akin to laughter!
1 Thessalonians - with the Lord forever
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 —
Richard Dawkins' Bus ads - "No God" - (but I won't miss a birthday!)
The British Methodist Church has welcomed news that Professor Richard Dawkins is to fund an advertising campaign carrying “no God” slogans on London buses.
The advertising campaign is being planned and part funded by the British Humanist Association (BHA), which has already raised £15,300 towards costs. “God Delusion” author and prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins has offered to help finance the campaign.
The campaign will run posters on 30 of London’s bendy buses with the slogan, ‘There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.’
Rev Jenny Ellis, Spirituality and Discipleship Officer, said, “We are grateful to Richard for his continued interest in God and for encouraging people to think about these issues. This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life.”
The campaign is due to launch on buses in Westminster in January 2009 and have a four week run, although the BHA is considering keeping the posters up for longer after raising more funds for the campaign than anticipated.
Professor Dawkins was quoted by the BBC as saying, “Religion is accustomed to getting a free ride - automatic tax breaks, unearned respect and the right not to be offended, the right to brainwash children.
"Even on the buses, nobody thinks twice when they see a religious slogan plastered across the side.
"This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion."
Responding to Dawkins’ comment, Rev Ellis said, “As Christians, we respond to Jesus’ call to love God with our minds as well as our hearts, souls and strength.
“Christianity is for people who aren’t afraid to think about life and meaning.
“John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed that no one should be saved from the trouble of thinking because that is the path to understanding God.”
The advertising campaign is being planned and part funded by the British Humanist Association (BHA), which has already raised £15,300 towards costs. “God Delusion” author and prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins has offered to help finance the campaign.
The campaign will run posters on 30 of London’s bendy buses with the slogan, ‘There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.’
Rev Jenny Ellis, Spirituality and Discipleship Officer, said, “We are grateful to Richard for his continued interest in God and for encouraging people to think about these issues. This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life.”
The campaign is due to launch on buses in Westminster in January 2009 and have a four week run, although the BHA is considering keeping the posters up for longer after raising more funds for the campaign than anticipated.
Professor Dawkins was quoted by the BBC as saying, “Religion is accustomed to getting a free ride - automatic tax breaks, unearned respect and the right not to be offended, the right to brainwash children.
"Even on the buses, nobody thinks twice when they see a religious slogan plastered across the side.
"This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion."
Responding to Dawkins’ comment, Rev Ellis said, “As Christians, we respond to Jesus’ call to love God with our minds as well as our hearts, souls and strength.
“Christianity is for people who aren’t afraid to think about life and meaning.
“John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed that no one should be saved from the trouble of thinking because that is the path to understanding God.”
Prayer Cards
There are only 427 seats in the Commons chamber to accommodate 646 MPs.
Hence on major parliamentary occasions, such as the Budget or prime minister's questions, there is always a scramble for the best seats.
Ordinary backbench members can only guarantee a seat for themselves by using a prayer card.
Behind each seat on the green benches is a small, brass frame into which MPs can place a card with their name.
This card must be put in place before prayers take place each day and the MP must be in that seat during prayers.
The seat is then reserved for that MP for the rest of the day.
Hence on major parliamentary occasions, such as the Budget or prime minister's questions, there is always a scramble for the best seats.
Ordinary backbench members can only guarantee a seat for themselves by using a prayer card.
Behind each seat on the green benches is a small, brass frame into which MPs can place a card with their name.
This card must be put in place before prayers take place each day and the MP must be in that seat during prayers.
The seat is then reserved for that MP for the rest of the day.
The Poor will suffer the most - again!
AFTER governments announced a £2-trillion bail-out of banks across the world this week, charities and churches were left wondering whether there would be enough money left to help the poor.
The World Bank warned that the “unprecedented turmoil” in the financial markets, the tightening of credit, and the global economic slowdown could do “serious and in some cases permanent damage” to the world’s poorest people. This year, 100 million people have been driven into poverty. “That number will grow,” the bank’s president, Robert Zoellick, said on Sunday.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking in London on Wednesday, at the end of a meeting of Christian and Muslim scholars, was asked who was responsible for the financial crisis. Dr Williams told reporters: “I was going to say Satan. . . The root problem is human greed.” The priority given to the poor by Christianity and Islam was not always reflected in the realities of economic activity, he said.
Ernese Skinner, policy and campaign manager of the Charity Finance Directors Group (CFDG), warned that the crisis could see matched funding from local authorities dry up, as they tried to recoup their losses after the collapse of the investments they had made in Icelandic banks. “It is the unfortunate who will suffer most,” she warned.
Local authorities and charities, which are believed to have invested about £1 billion in the banks, are not able to apply for relief under the Government’s Financial Services Protection Scheme, she said. For example, 99 charities, valued at a total of £230 million, have investments in the Kaupthing Bank in Iceland, and most of these are British.
CFDG has written to the Treasury to ask it to extend the financial-services guarantee to cover all losses by charities — including churches — after a meeting with Lord Myners at the Treasury on Friday.
The Charities Aid Foundation, in a joint statement with CFDG and other charity groups, has urged charities affected by the Icelandic banking crisis to say who they are, so that the scale of the problem can be assessed.
The Church Urban Fund’s chief executive, Tim Bissett, said the situation could be returning to the way it was in the early 1990s, when the Fund worked with the poorest city communities. “What the Church did then was to show that it could rally to support poor people in this country.
“We recognise the urgency of the economic downturn and its effect on the poorest people in the community, and we will appeal to those who can support us,” he said.
But on Tuesday Mr Bissett had not yet considered what would happen if local authorities’ matched funding stopped. “If that stream dries up, we could be asked to make much bigger grants.”
The Church’s national stewardship and resources officer, Dr John Preston, said that giving had held up well in past downturns. “But for capital funding projects like the church-roof appeal — those could be much tougher in that environment.”
The World Bank warned that the “unprecedented turmoil” in the financial markets, the tightening of credit, and the global economic slowdown could do “serious and in some cases permanent damage” to the world’s poorest people. This year, 100 million people have been driven into poverty. “That number will grow,” the bank’s president, Robert Zoellick, said on Sunday.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking in London on Wednesday, at the end of a meeting of Christian and Muslim scholars, was asked who was responsible for the financial crisis. Dr Williams told reporters: “I was going to say Satan. . . The root problem is human greed.” The priority given to the poor by Christianity and Islam was not always reflected in the realities of economic activity, he said.
Ernese Skinner, policy and campaign manager of the Charity Finance Directors Group (CFDG), warned that the crisis could see matched funding from local authorities dry up, as they tried to recoup their losses after the collapse of the investments they had made in Icelandic banks. “It is the unfortunate who will suffer most,” she warned.
Local authorities and charities, which are believed to have invested about £1 billion in the banks, are not able to apply for relief under the Government’s Financial Services Protection Scheme, she said. For example, 99 charities, valued at a total of £230 million, have investments in the Kaupthing Bank in Iceland, and most of these are British.
CFDG has written to the Treasury to ask it to extend the financial-services guarantee to cover all losses by charities — including churches — after a meeting with Lord Myners at the Treasury on Friday.
The Charities Aid Foundation, in a joint statement with CFDG and other charity groups, has urged charities affected by the Icelandic banking crisis to say who they are, so that the scale of the problem can be assessed.
The Church Urban Fund’s chief executive, Tim Bissett, said the situation could be returning to the way it was in the early 1990s, when the Fund worked with the poorest city communities. “What the Church did then was to show that it could rally to support poor people in this country.
“We recognise the urgency of the economic downturn and its effect on the poorest people in the community, and we will appeal to those who can support us,” he said.
But on Tuesday Mr Bissett had not yet considered what would happen if local authorities’ matched funding stopped. “If that stream dries up, we could be asked to make much bigger grants.”
The Church’s national stewardship and resources officer, Dr John Preston, said that giving had held up well in past downturns. “But for capital funding projects like the church-roof appeal — those could be much tougher in that environment.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 - Strength
You people haven't had any test that doesn't come to everyone. And you can depend on God that He won't let your tests become greater than you can stand. But along with every test, He will make a way out for you, by making you strong enough to hold up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Urban Saints - Re: Act
Urban Saints are celebrating after they experienced a substantial leap in the number of people attending their 'Re:Act' fun days over the summer.
Re:Act fun days are hosted by local churches which train up volunteers to man the events. The day offers free BBQs, face painting, balloon modelling, drama sketches, games and football tournaments but maintains an evangelistic focus.
Re:Act days offer a "fantastic and free day whilst sharing the Gospel in word and action", said Re:Act core team member Bernie Wheeler.
This year saw 41 of their Re:Act days, run by 298 people across 39 different locations. In 2006, just six Re:Act days were held.
"The Re:Act values of empowering church, unity, integrity, discipleship, prayer and excellence complemented well with the vision of Hope08," added Wheeler.
Many of the Re:Act days were provided as part of local church projects being held for Hope08, a yearlong church initiative to restore Christian hope in communities across the country.
The Re:Act team drew together many young Christians, aged between 14 and 25, and the days were held in collaboration with Christian organisations including DNA, Miracle Street, Nexus, NGM and YWAM.
An estimated 140 people became Christians at Re:Act days, according to organisers, with a further 150 making recommitments.
The fun days were also an opportunity for churches to work together on an outreach event.
"Many churches had not worked together before so Re:Act was a catalyst for that, and there’s also a number of locations reporting a good take up for follow on Alpha courses," added Wheeler.
The Re:Act teams also saw answers to prayer for healing, reporting that in one location 11 people were healed in one day.
Local organisers in Hemel Hempstead said, "Our Re:Act day was awesome – over 2,000 people came and everyone had a good time. Quite a few people asked for more information on local churches as well."
Re:Act fun days are hosted by local churches which train up volunteers to man the events. The day offers free BBQs, face painting, balloon modelling, drama sketches, games and football tournaments but maintains an evangelistic focus.
Re:Act days offer a "fantastic and free day whilst sharing the Gospel in word and action", said Re:Act core team member Bernie Wheeler.
This year saw 41 of their Re:Act days, run by 298 people across 39 different locations. In 2006, just six Re:Act days were held.
"The Re:Act values of empowering church, unity, integrity, discipleship, prayer and excellence complemented well with the vision of Hope08," added Wheeler.
Many of the Re:Act days were provided as part of local church projects being held for Hope08, a yearlong church initiative to restore Christian hope in communities across the country.
The Re:Act team drew together many young Christians, aged between 14 and 25, and the days were held in collaboration with Christian organisations including DNA, Miracle Street, Nexus, NGM and YWAM.
An estimated 140 people became Christians at Re:Act days, according to organisers, with a further 150 making recommitments.
The fun days were also an opportunity for churches to work together on an outreach event.
"Many churches had not worked together before so Re:Act was a catalyst for that, and there’s also a number of locations reporting a good take up for follow on Alpha courses," added Wheeler.
The Re:Act teams also saw answers to prayer for healing, reporting that in one location 11 people were healed in one day.
Local organisers in Hemel Hempstead said, "Our Re:Act day was awesome – over 2,000 people came and everyone had a good time. Quite a few people asked for more information on local churches as well."
1 Peter 3:15 - Respect (even back then)
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15
A.W. Tozer - Simple Lives
We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity. Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life but impossible. The need for solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today.
A.W. Tozer
Turning to God in difficult times.
With the Chambers of Commerce reporting that the UK has already entered a recession and may face a prolonged downturn, many people are turning to prayer for divine intervention.
The Church of England has seen higher traffic on its website in recent weeks, particularly on its "prayers for today" and debt advice sections, it said this week.
The "Prayer for the Current Financial Situation", which asks God to "be a tower of strength" and to help people receive His "gift of peace", has received some 8,000 hits and has raised traffic to the Church's website by 28 per cent. And with more people turning to God for help rather than consulting debt advisers, the Church's debt advice web page has seen a 71 per cent increase in visitors.
The website offers practical guides, "common sense advice" and "helpful Bible quotations" to help people assess their personal financial situation and address their money problems along with stress. It also offers advice to churches that want to develop debt ministry and articles on how the Church of England has been speaking to the issues surrounding the credit crunch and household debt.
"Lord God, your will is to bring hope and a future to all your people. Trusting in your steadfast love, we ask your guidance as we work out a household budget. Help us to learn to let no debt remain outstanding, except the debt to love one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen," states one of several prayers on the website.
John Preston, the Church of England's national steward, who wrote the debt advice, said he was "delighted" the content was resonating with people, according to Agence France-Presse.
"I think that people aren't necessarily going online to seek religion, but as they are browsing, their thoughts turn to it," he noted. "We know that many people do pray, but things are made so accessible by having it online. Instead of having to go somewhere, and find something, we just provide some words that people can go through wherever they are."
This week, the International Monetary Fund issued a warning that the unemployment rate in Britain will rise from 5.4 per cent to 6.0 per cent and that the world economy "is entering a major downturn in the face of the most dangerous financial shock in mature financial markets since the 1930s", according to its latest World Economic Outlook. However, the IMF expects Britain to bounce back strongly in 2010.
The Church of England has seen higher traffic on its website in recent weeks, particularly on its "prayers for today" and debt advice sections, it said this week.
The "Prayer for the Current Financial Situation", which asks God to "be a tower of strength" and to help people receive His "gift of peace", has received some 8,000 hits and has raised traffic to the Church's website by 28 per cent. And with more people turning to God for help rather than consulting debt advisers, the Church's debt advice web page has seen a 71 per cent increase in visitors.
The website offers practical guides, "common sense advice" and "helpful Bible quotations" to help people assess their personal financial situation and address their money problems along with stress. It also offers advice to churches that want to develop debt ministry and articles on how the Church of England has been speaking to the issues surrounding the credit crunch and household debt.
"Lord God, your will is to bring hope and a future to all your people. Trusting in your steadfast love, we ask your guidance as we work out a household budget. Help us to learn to let no debt remain outstanding, except the debt to love one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen," states one of several prayers on the website.
John Preston, the Church of England's national steward, who wrote the debt advice, said he was "delighted" the content was resonating with people, according to Agence France-Presse.
"I think that people aren't necessarily going online to seek religion, but as they are browsing, their thoughts turn to it," he noted. "We know that many people do pray, but things are made so accessible by having it online. Instead of having to go somewhere, and find something, we just provide some words that people can go through wherever they are."
This week, the International Monetary Fund issued a warning that the unemployment rate in Britain will rise from 5.4 per cent to 6.0 per cent and that the world economy "is entering a major downturn in the face of the most dangerous financial shock in mature financial markets since the 1930s", according to its latest World Economic Outlook. However, the IMF expects Britain to bounce back strongly in 2010.
Odd - but interesting!
BEIJING (Reuters) - Culture fans thousands of miles from Beijing can now visit its famous Forbidden City, through a three dimensional recreation of the vast palace that also allows them to dress up as an imperial eunuch and meet a courtesan.
One of the jewels in China's cultural crown, the sprawling complex in the heart of the capital already gets tens of thousands of real-life visitors each day.
But now online tourists can also watch the Qing dynasty emperor feast at dinner, train fighting crickets and feed them with blood-fattened mosquitoes, or practice archery with the help of a courtesan.
At the virtual palace, unveiled on Friday, they can also dress up as part of the huge imperial entourage.
"When you enter the Forbidden City you choose one of nine historical costumes, which is to give a sense of history but also keep a sense of decorum," said John Tolva, program manager at IBM who led the project, dubbed "Beyond Space and Time."
"You can't run and you can't fly," he added, a restriction that aims to prevent other virtual visitors, whom you can see and interact with, being distracted.
The program does not shy away from the racier sides of imperial history, shaped in part by the legions of eunuchs who controlled portions of court life and could rise to great power.
"One of the costumes you can chose is a eunuch," said IBM Vice President Paula W. Baker -- though to spare blushes that avatar is only labeled "imperial servant."
One of the jewels in China's cultural crown, the sprawling complex in the heart of the capital already gets tens of thousands of real-life visitors each day.
But now online tourists can also watch the Qing dynasty emperor feast at dinner, train fighting crickets and feed them with blood-fattened mosquitoes, or practice archery with the help of a courtesan.
At the virtual palace, unveiled on Friday, they can also dress up as part of the huge imperial entourage.
"When you enter the Forbidden City you choose one of nine historical costumes, which is to give a sense of history but also keep a sense of decorum," said John Tolva, program manager at IBM who led the project, dubbed "Beyond Space and Time."
"You can't run and you can't fly," he added, a restriction that aims to prevent other virtual visitors, whom you can see and interact with, being distracted.
The program does not shy away from the racier sides of imperial history, shaped in part by the legions of eunuchs who controlled portions of court life and could rise to great power.
"One of the costumes you can chose is a eunuch," said IBM Vice President Paula W. Baker -- though to spare blushes that avatar is only labeled "imperial servant."
FAFF - Trip to Weston 08
Seems like ages ago, the sun shining and Weston are not normally synonymous with each other!
Teen Crazy Games 2008
These pictures were taken a little while ago by Laura (they are all adults now :)) Looks like the kids had a blast! Not so much fun for the parents taking them home though lol!
But will they keep the popcorn machine?
A former Hollywood Bowl bowling alley has seen its well-used lanes become the aisles of a new black-led church in east London.
The venue, next to a Showcase Cinema, boasts a massive 29,800 sq ft ground floor which has become the new home for worshippers of Trinity Chapel, part of the fastest-growing church in London and Europe, the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Negotiations on behalf of the church for a 15-year lease of the premises were handled by Olatunji Adebayo, managing director of TA Property Consultants Ltd, a London-based company specialising in purchasing and leasing property in the south east for Christian churches. TA currently has 350 churches on its books looking for larger premises.
Mr Adebayo said: “Trinity Chapel is one of very many black-led churches in London which is rapidly growing and looking to expand into new premises for worship and to house resources to help local communities. The former Hollywood Bowl was ideal for their needs."
He said the number of churches turning to him for help in finding new larger premises was evidence of church growth.
“Whilst the public perception is that church attendance is declining, in our experience, the black-led churches and many independent evangelical churches are rapidly rising in membership, hence the need for larger premises," he said.
Mr Adebayo is currently holding talks with Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, in a bid to have London’s Planning Laws changed to enable more churches to take over premises formerly designated strictly for employment or commercial use.
The venue, next to a Showcase Cinema, boasts a massive 29,800 sq ft ground floor which has become the new home for worshippers of Trinity Chapel, part of the fastest-growing church in London and Europe, the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Negotiations on behalf of the church for a 15-year lease of the premises were handled by Olatunji Adebayo, managing director of TA Property Consultants Ltd, a London-based company specialising in purchasing and leasing property in the south east for Christian churches. TA currently has 350 churches on its books looking for larger premises.
Mr Adebayo said: “Trinity Chapel is one of very many black-led churches in London which is rapidly growing and looking to expand into new premises for worship and to house resources to help local communities. The former Hollywood Bowl was ideal for their needs."
He said the number of churches turning to him for help in finding new larger premises was evidence of church growth.
“Whilst the public perception is that church attendance is declining, in our experience, the black-led churches and many independent evangelical churches are rapidly rising in membership, hence the need for larger premises," he said.
Mr Adebayo is currently holding talks with Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, in a bid to have London’s Planning Laws changed to enable more churches to take over premises formerly designated strictly for employment or commercial use.
Jonathan Edwards - Last Hour
Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life. Jonathan Edwards
Taxi driver in Heaven!
A cab driver reaches the Pearly Gates and announces his presence to St. Peter, who look
s him up in his Big Book. Upon reading the entry for the cabbie, St. Peter invites him to pick up a silk robe and a golden staff and to proceed into Heaven.
A preacher is next in line behind the cabby and has been watching these proceedings with interest. He announces himself to St. Peter. Upon scanning the preacher's entry in the Big Book, St. Peter furrows his brow and says, "Okay, we'll let you in, but take that cloth robe and wooden staff."
The preacher is astonished and replies, "But I am a man of the cloth. You gave that cab driver a gold staff and a silk robe. Surely I rate higher than a cabbie."
St. Peter responded matter-of-factly: "This is heaven and up here, we are interested in results. When you preached, people slept. When the cabbie drove his taxi, people prayed."
s him up in his Big Book. Upon reading the entry for the cabbie, St. Peter invites him to pick up a silk robe and a golden staff and to proceed into Heaven.A preacher is next in line behind the cabby and has been watching these proceedings with interest. He announces himself to St. Peter. Upon scanning the preacher's entry in the Big Book, St. Peter furrows his brow and says, "Okay, we'll let you in, but take that cloth robe and wooden staff."
The preacher is astonished and replies, "But I am a man of the cloth. You gave that cab driver a gold staff and a silk robe. Surely I rate higher than a cabbie."
St. Peter responded matter-of-factly: "This is heaven and up here, we are interested in results. When you preached, people slept. When the cabbie drove his taxi, people prayed."
Water into wine? Just a plumbing error!
Water into wine - a miracle? Nope, a plumping mishap by bungling Italian authorities.
The Marino Grape Festival normally features a fountain in the square where free wine flows. But at this year's festival sparkling chilled white wine started flowing through the reisdent's own taps.
The free wine was hailed as a "Miracolo" by people in the town south of Rome.
They said housewives doing the washing up or running a bath suddenly noticed a strange smell of alcohol.
Adriano Palozzi, the embarrassed mayor of Marino, said that water engineers had inadvertently misdirected the flow of wine into the domestic supply.
The mistake was quickly spotted and reversed, but not before many quick-thinking residents had filled buckets, jugs, and any containers that came to hand.
The Marino Grape Festival normally features a fountain in the square where free wine flows. But at this year's festival sparkling chilled white wine started flowing through the reisdent's own taps.
The free wine was hailed as a "Miracolo" by people in the town south of Rome.
They said housewives doing the washing up or running a bath suddenly noticed a strange smell of alcohol.
Adriano Palozzi, the embarrassed mayor of Marino, said that water engineers had inadvertently misdirected the flow of wine into the domestic supply.
The mistake was quickly spotted and reversed, but not before many quick-thinking residents had filled buckets, jugs, and any containers that came to hand.
30 Second Nativity!
A competition to tell the Christmas story in 30 seconds or less has been launched by a Christian group.
It will run alongside a Churches Advertising Network (CAN) radio campaign retelling the Christmas story.
Churches, youth groups and individuals can submit entries in the style of either radio adverts or YouTube videos.
CAN said the impetus for the campaign came from a poll last year suggesting only 12% of adults knew the details of the biblical Christmas story.
New generation
Francis Goodwin, chairman of the network, said: "We hope youngsters will write, text, record, video, paint the Christmas story in under 30 seconds.
"This campaign and the competition will be a catalyst for churches to get involved all over the country.
"We hope they will use this to reach out to a new generation that often isn't being brought up with the message of hope embodied in the news of Jesus' birth at the heart of the Christmas story."
He said pressures to secularise Christmas showed that they could not be complacent about promoting the Christmas story.
The network is offering a prize of £500 for the best entry.
The campaign features two adverts presenting the Christmas story in the style of horseracing and football commentaries, ending with the line: "Why not be part of the action at church this Christmas?"
It will run alongside a Churches Advertising Network (CAN) radio campaign retelling the Christmas story.
Churches, youth groups and individuals can submit entries in the style of either radio adverts or YouTube videos.
CAN said the impetus for the campaign came from a poll last year suggesting only 12% of adults knew the details of the biblical Christmas story.
New generation
Francis Goodwin, chairman of the network, said: "We hope youngsters will write, text, record, video, paint the Christmas story in under 30 seconds.
"This campaign and the competition will be a catalyst for churches to get involved all over the country.
"We hope they will use this to reach out to a new generation that often isn't being brought up with the message of hope embodied in the news of Jesus' birth at the heart of the Christmas story."
He said pressures to secularise Christmas showed that they could not be complacent about promoting the Christmas story.
The network is offering a prize of £500 for the best entry.
The campaign features two adverts presenting the Christmas story in the style of horseracing and football commentaries, ending with the line: "Why not be part of the action at church this Christmas?"
Billy Graham - 90
Members of the public are being invited to send in their birthday wishes to renowned evangelist Billy Graham, who turns 90 on November 7.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association announced on Friday that it is gathering personal stories and birthday wishes for the evangelist, who has taken preached the good news of God’s love to nearly 215 million people over the last 60 years.
"My father is a humble man who would never expect to be honoured and recognised like this on his birthday," said Franklin Graham, BGEA president and CEO and Graham's eldest son.
"We urge all who made a commitment to Jesus Christ through my father's ministry to share your story or simple greeting, as nothing could uplift him more on this special day."
Although Billy Graham has retired from public ministry, his impact on world Christianity continues to be felt. Sons Franklin and Will follow in their father’s footsteps with regular large- scale festivals.
Other BGEA projects include Dare to Be a Daniel, a youth evangelism training project, the My Hope World Evangelism Through Television project, and the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains.
A special website has been launched for visitors to leave their greetings until November 1. The website also includes resources for churches and ministries.
On the web: http://www.billygraham90.com/
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association announced on Friday that it is gathering personal stories and birthday wishes for the evangelist, who has taken preached the good news of God’s love to nearly 215 million people over the last 60 years.
"My father is a humble man who would never expect to be honoured and recognised like this on his birthday," said Franklin Graham, BGEA president and CEO and Graham's eldest son.
"We urge all who made a commitment to Jesus Christ through my father's ministry to share your story or simple greeting, as nothing could uplift him more on this special day."
Although Billy Graham has retired from public ministry, his impact on world Christianity continues to be felt. Sons Franklin and Will follow in their father’s footsteps with regular large- scale festivals.
Other BGEA projects include Dare to Be a Daniel, a youth evangelism training project, the My Hope World Evangelism Through Television project, and the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains.
A special website has been launched for visitors to leave their greetings until November 1. The website also includes resources for churches and ministries.
On the web: http://www.billygraham90.com/
1 John - Love
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:10
Youth With A Mission - Prayer and Fasting in India
Youth With A Mission is calling on its 17,000 workers worldwide to join in three days of prayer and fasting for the church in India as it continues to face violent attacks from Hindu radicals.
The wave of violence was triggered by the killing in late August of a radical Hindu leader in the sectarian violence-prone state of Orissa. At least 51 people have died in violence in the eastern state alone, whilst tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes in a bid to escape the violent mobs that have burned hundreds of homes and churches to the ground. The violence has since spread to the west coast state of Karnataka.
YWAM said in a report on its website that more than a dozen of its staff and students had been beaten and injured, lost their homes and suffered damage to personal and ministry property at the hands of radicals, who blame Christians for the death of their leader, despite authorities declaring Maoists to be responsible.
Teams of YWAM workers are working to provide refugees with basic necessities and praying for God to intervene in the crisis.
YWAM India joined 90 Christian leaders in Mumbai last week in praying for an end to the violence. They drew comparisons between the situation facing Christians in India to the book of Esther in the Old Testament.
One of the YWAM India leaders who took part in the meeting was quoted in the report as saying, “Queen Esther appeals, through Mordecai, to the people of God to go on a three day fast. The rest is history. God intervenes. That’s the objective of this call to pray and fast. Accordingly, we are urging all our friends to declare three days of prayer and fasting for India from Monday the 29th [September] to Wednesday the 1st of October.”
YWAM’s International Chairman, Lynn Green, threw her support behind the prayer call.
“This coming Thursday is YWAM’s monthly Global Day of Prayer and our focus is on strengthening yourself in the Lord,” she said. “Our brothers and sisters in India are suffering in a way many of us have never faced and we must stand with them, strengthening them with our prayers as they pursue God’s purposes in that nation.”
The wave of violence was triggered by the killing in late August of a radical Hindu leader in the sectarian violence-prone state of Orissa. At least 51 people have died in violence in the eastern state alone, whilst tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes in a bid to escape the violent mobs that have burned hundreds of homes and churches to the ground. The violence has since spread to the west coast state of Karnataka.
YWAM said in a report on its website that more than a dozen of its staff and students had been beaten and injured, lost their homes and suffered damage to personal and ministry property at the hands of radicals, who blame Christians for the death of their leader, despite authorities declaring Maoists to be responsible.
Teams of YWAM workers are working to provide refugees with basic necessities and praying for God to intervene in the crisis.
YWAM India joined 90 Christian leaders in Mumbai last week in praying for an end to the violence. They drew comparisons between the situation facing Christians in India to the book of Esther in the Old Testament.
One of the YWAM India leaders who took part in the meeting was quoted in the report as saying, “Queen Esther appeals, through Mordecai, to the people of God to go on a three day fast. The rest is history. God intervenes. That’s the objective of this call to pray and fast. Accordingly, we are urging all our friends to declare three days of prayer and fasting for India from Monday the 29th [September] to Wednesday the 1st of October.”
YWAM’s International Chairman, Lynn Green, threw her support behind the prayer call.
“This coming Thursday is YWAM’s monthly Global Day of Prayer and our focus is on strengthening yourself in the Lord,” she said. “Our brothers and sisters in India are suffering in a way many of us have never faced and we must stand with them, strengthening them with our prayers as they pursue God’s purposes in that nation.”
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