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The BBC is facing a backlash from leading presenters over suggestions that they should use ‘religiously neutral’ terms instead of ‘BC’ or ‘AD’ to avoid causing non-Christians offence. Guidance from the broadcaster’s ethics specialists suggested that the modern phrases ‘common era’ and ‘before common era’ should be considered as potential replacements for Anno Domini and Before Christ. The proposal caused consternation among Christian traditionalists and some of the corporation’s most famous names, who promised to ignore the idea. James Naughtie, the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, said: ‘Nobody has suggested this to me, and if they do, they will get a pithy answer. His fellow Today presenter, John Humphrys, said he did not see ‘a problem’ with using BC and AD, as the terms were ‘clearly understood’ by most audiences. During his Sunday morning political programme on BBC1, Andrew Marr said that he would also continue to use the traditional date descriptions
Pray: for the BBC to concentrate on broadcasting rather than to try and undermine internationally held convention. (Ec.3:11)
Coffee giant Starbucks is failing to filter out pornography from its free in-store wi-fi, leading to concerns about children accessing inappropriate material. The coffee chain was warned over a year ago about the problem but still has not rectified the situation. Baroness Massey, a former chairman of the Family Planning Association, highlighted the issue in the House of Lords and called on the Government to remind ‘high street companies of their duties to protect our children’. She cautioned: ‘In Starbucks anyone can have full access to anything the Internet has to offer including the most obscene websites.’ Baroness Massey said that McDonald’s had ‘told its wi-fi supplier that it did not want customers coming in to bring up pornographic images that people sitting on nearby tables may see’. Speaking for the Government, Viscount Younger of Leckie said he was ‘alarmed’. He said the issue would ‘certainly’ be followed up to ‘find out what can be done to resolve it’.
Pray: that pressure on Starbucks to change its policy over access would succeed. (Ps.12:7)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/starbucks-in-row-over-internet-porn-free-for-all/
Data released by a European research group has revealed how European countries compare with respect to teen abortion rates and the findings have placed the UK under fire. The UK had the second highest teen abortion rates at a rate of 22.1 per cent, and it has also been reported that a quarter of all abortions in the UK are from teenagers, according to Mail Online. Interestingly, Greece, which shares similar abortion laws to the UK, had the lowest teen abortion rates with a rate of only 4.1 per cent. Trevor Stammers, a lecturer in medical ethics and former chairman of the Christian Medical Fellowship, slammed the UK for its high teen abortion rates. He said that the privatisation of abortion surgery has become a large moneymaking industry, and suggested that some teens are often encouraged to opt for the controversial elective surgery to generate revenue.
Pray: for God’s guidance as we seek solutions to the alarmingly high rate of teenage abortions. (Je.42:3)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/staggering.abortion.rate.among.uks.teenagers/29111.htm
The Church of England has today published the 142-page report of the Revision Committee that has been considering in detail the draft legislation to enable women to become bishops in the Church of England. Also published is an amended version of the draft, eleven clause Measure and associated draft Amending Canon. The Committee has met on 16 occasions over the past 12 months and considered 114 submissions from members of the General Synod and a further 183 submissions from others. As indicated to the General Synod in February 2010 (scroll to p6), the draft legislation continues to provide special arrangements for those with conscientious difficulties by way of delegation from the diocesan bishop under a statutory Code of Practice. The earliest that the legislation could achieve final approval in Synod (when two-thirds majorities in each of the Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity will be required) is 2012, following which parliamentary approval and the Royal Assent would be needed. 2014 remains the earliest realistic date when the first women might be consecrated as bishops.
Pray: for wisdom and guidance to the Synod as these controversial matters are discussed. (Pr.8:33)
More: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr4210.html
The annual ‘Mind Body Spirit’ Psychic Festival in London, England claims to be at the forefront of innovation in the world of the supernatural, natural healing, and personal growth. Thousands of people who attended this year’s festival were looking for advice, direction in life, healing and new products to make life better – everyone was looking for practical and spiritual solutions. This year Youth With A Mission had a booth at the festival, staffed by volunteers ready to talk with and pray for festival-goers. The teams were pleasantly surprised by how open people were to talk to them and receive prayers for blessing and healing. Many of the people who received prayer later brought friends back because of the impact of the words of truth and hope spoken to them. The team would pray throughout the day asking God for specific people and situations He wanted to address. Pray: that all the divine appointments will bear fruit and lead to many new believers. (Zec.10:2) More: http://www.ywam.org/News-Stories/news/Spiritual-Encounters-at-London-Psychic-Fair
Too many churches are neglecting evangelism, with little time and money spent on it, a leading evangelist has claimed. Many churches have one-dimensional evangelism strategies that just focus on Alpha, while very few are actually training their congregation in how to evangelise. The issue is so critical because compared to evangelism, everything else the church is doing 'is like rearranging the furniture on the Titanic'. The comments were made by J John, during a wide-ranging address on what makes a church community at the latest leaders' day at Gorsley Baptist Church. 'What is church about?' he asked. 'It's about looking up in: worship. Looking in: wellbeing. And looking out: witness. However, all the research shows churches spend 90-95 per cent of their time on two of those three things. The first two. Don't you think that's an imbalance?' It's not that churches are not working hard, he said, but more a case of changing their approach. Pray: for church communities to reconsider the place of evangelism in their activities. (1Pe.3:15)
Community lunches will take place all across Britain on 3 June in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Churches are being encouraged to take the lead in their communities so that Big Jubilee Lunches start with a specially written Grace. The Grace has been seen by the Queen and reads - O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, we give you thanks for the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth; for her steadfast faith and for her royal service to this nation and all the peoples of the Commonwealth. Bless the food before us and the people beside us; may the sharing of this meal strengthen our communities, and nurture the bonds between us of friendship, hope and trust. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who reigns as servant of all. Amen.
Pray: that many communities will use this opportunity to pray together on June 3rd (Ps.133:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/special.grace.for.diamond.jubilee.lunches/29900.htm
The continuing loss of life of our Armed Forces in Afghanistan is distressing but when it is allegedly due to ‘friendly fire’ it becomes more poignant. Each soldier’s life is precious, but needless accidents, including for example road traffic accidents, are more difficult to comprehend. Most recently the Ministry of Defence has named a soldier killed in Afghanistan as Private John Howard, from 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. The 23-year-old New Zealand-born soldier was serving with 16 Air Assault Brigade's Reconnaissance Force when he was killed last Sunday, 5 December. Our prayers thank him for his selfless giving and seek the Lord’s support for his grieving family.
Pray: for the safety of our troops deployed in Afghanistan and for the families of those killed and seriously injured. (Ps.29:10-11)
The SNP won a majority in the Scottish elections last Thursday; it’s the first time since devolution in 1999 that a majority government has been elected. First Minister Alex Salmond indicated during his campaign that he personally supports the idea of same-sex marriage, and within hours of the historic win the SNP majority government was being urged by a homosexual lobby group (Equality Network) to fundamentally redefine marriage. Daniel Donaldson of the charity said, ‘We hope and expect that a consultation will now proceed quickly.’ Critics are concerned about the implications for society and schools if marriage is redefined. The Guardian’s Michael White has expressed concern about same-sex marriage, saying that heterosexual marriage is distinct because it ‘is there to produce and raise children in a more or less stable environment’. The homosexual activist group, Stonewall, has already sent a teacher training pack to primary schools urging them to use story books pushing same-sex marriage.
Pray: for First Minister Alex Salmond, and that God will work through the SNP’s election manifesto, and Scottish Parliament’s law makers. (Ps.2:10-11)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/snp-govt-urged-to-make-gay-marriage-a-top-priority/
A girl is far more likely to become a teenage mum if she has a sister who has already become one, a new academic study shows. ‘The research says how important family is compared to institutions,’ says one of the researchers Professor Carol Propper. The ‘peer effect’ on girls aged 16 to 18, raised the chances of becoming a teenage mother from about one in five to two in five. The researchers, who conducted the study, said the effect was stronger when sisters were closer together in age, and also from poorer households. The study concluded that the ‘peer effect’ had a greater impact on teenage pregnancy than any education or advice they are given at school. ‘These findings provide strong evidence that the contagious effect of teen motherhood in siblings is larger than the general effect of being better educated. ‘This suggests that more policies aimed directly at decreasing teenage pregnancy may be needed in order to reduce teen births.’
Pray: for a better understanding of how to reach vulnerable girls to help them make better informed life choices. (Ex.18:20)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/sisters-of-teen-mums-more-likely-to-have-babies-young/