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Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, has charged several of the UK’s most prestigious universities of ‘turning a blind eye and a deaf ear’ to the increasing number of speeches defaming and delegitimizing Israel being made on campuses all over Britain. He contrasted the conduct of universities with government officials of all political parties who take ‘an unequivocal and a firm stand against anti-Semitism.’ ‘Let me be blunt,’ Sacks said. ‘I believe that the inflammatory public speeches being allowed to take place on university campuses would, in any other context and directed against any other group, be prosecuted under the law forbidding incitement to racial and possibly religious hatred.’
Pray: against this trend in our education establishments by those whose values are distorted. (Pr.16:13)
More: http://www.icej.org/article/anti_semitism_on_rise_at_british_universities
Micah Challenge UK is encouraging Christians in Britain to get on board with an anti-poverty action pledge, following the example of public figures. The Archbishop of York has promised to launch a global charity for those in need, the Chief Executive of aid agency Tearfund has promised to inspire his children afresh about world poverty; Andy Flannagan, songwriter and Director of the Christian Socialist Movement, has promised to be part of changing the global economic system. These are just a few of the promises being made at the request of Micah Challenge to help end world poverty. ‘What’s Your Promise?’ is part of the Micah 2010 campaign being mobilised around the world. The promises of Christians, around the globe, will be brought together on Sunday 10th October (10.10.10) when over 100 million people worldwide will stand united in prayer and commitment to a life that remembers those in poverty. Pray: for all involved in Micah Challenge and for a huge global response to help the poor of the world. (Gal.2:10)
Peter Sissons has revealed that the BBC has no qualms about insulting Christians. Mr Sissons, whose memoirs are being serialised in the Daily Mail, slammed the BBC for its bias. He said: ‘Islam must not be offended at any price, although Christians are fair game because they do nothing about it if they are offended.’ His comments are unlikely to surprise many Christians who have become increasingly concerned about a perceived anti-Christian bias at the public broadcaster. The veteran presenter, who fronted news and current affairs programmes at the BBC, also said that staff damage their careers if they don’t follow the BBC’s mindset. In 2010 Radio 2 host Simon Mayo warned that religion was ‘increasingly driven to the margin’ on the BBC. And in 2009 Jeremy Vine, another of the Corporation’s radio presenters, said he believed it had become ‘almost socially unacceptable to say you believe in God’.
Pray: that the anti-Christian bias in the BBC be halted and the agenda of secular religion be silenced. (Ps.31:18)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/anti-christian-bias-is-ok-at-the-bbc-says-former-presenter/
The Government has lost a record eighth vote in the House of Lords over its plans to severely cut and restructure the British welfare system. An amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill, overturning a move to cut payments to specific council tenants with one spare bedroom, was carried by ten votes. The bill is now due to go back before the House of Commons, with the Government defiant but a huge swathe of political popular and public opinion - including charities and others making up Mr Cameron's 'Big Society' - wishing to see significant changes. The latest amendment, tabled by crossbencher Lord Best, would limit the impact of a ‘bedroom tax’, so that disabled people, war widows and foster carers with more than one spare bedroom would be exempt from a proposed £14 cut in housing benefit. It passed by 236 votes to 226, reports the BBC.
Pray: for the Government that they would have wisdom in making just decisions for all those who are affected. (1Ki.3:9)
A street preacher was arrested in Basildon on Wednesday following a complaint by a member of public. The Christian Legal Centre reports that Rob Hughes was held for seven and a half hours at Basildon police station before being released without charge at around 11:30pm. The CLC reports he was detained under Section 5 of the Public Order Act on the grounds that he "caused harassment, alarm or distress", an accusation he denied. The centre assisted him by providing a solicitor to help him during the police interview. "I am so grateful that the Christian Legal Centre was able to react quickly and effectively in my situation," said Hughes afterward. He added that he felt Christian street preachers were being "presumed guilty until found to be innocent". "This is happening alarmingly often now," said the Christian Legal Centre, which has previously warned of a "clampdown on freedom of speech" where Christian views on sexual ethics are expressed.
Pray: for the police to be made fully aware of the guidance previously given that ensures the freedom of speech in these circumstances. (Ps.58:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/another.street.preacher.arrested/33876.htm
An MP who said her late husband died 'like a battery hen' in hospital says she will start a campaign for greater compassion and care in nursing. Ann Clwyd, Labour MP for Cynon Valley, has criticised the 'indifference and contempt' of some nurses who treated her late husband at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. She said she had received an 'amazing response' since speaking out. Mrs Clwyd will now meet campaign groups to see how best to raise standards. “There are some good nurses, but there are also some very bad nurses and people have talked about their own experiences. I've had hundreds and hundreds of emails from people from all over the country and the theme is the same. Mrs Clwyd said she intended to meet patient bodies and campaigning groups to see how the issues raised could be addressed.
Pray: for a society that cares more for everyone especially the vulnerable such as the sick and the elderly. (Php. 2:3-4)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20657747
Nearly 200 church leaders and medics gathered in Birmingham, England, this week to plan new initiatives in health care. Against the backdrop of rising chronic illness in the UK, churches and Christian general medical practitioners (GPs) will outline their initiatives to reverse this trend. Conference convener, and coordinator of the Anglican Health Network, Revd Paul Holley, said, ‘Whilst the UK’s National Health Service delivers medical services, people’s mental and physical health depends far more on their lifestyles. Poor diets, lack of exercise and relentless stress are taking their toll. More people live alone and lack the support of intimate and community relationships to promote wellbeing’. Mr Holley pointed out that churches have supported people in their various circumstances through prayer, ‘but now they are increasingly taking practical action to tackle these causes of poor health. The conference will make visible the wide range of activity already in play.’
Pray: for the opportunities that the Church has in partnering health services bringing God‘s perspective and the power of prayer into health care. (3Jn.1:2)
More: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2013/4/23/ACNS5384
The Anglican Communion and the Methodist Church say they must address the areas that continue to divide. Representatives of the two churches were in Cape Town, South Africa, this week for the Third Annual Meeting of the Anglican-Methodist International Commission for Unity in Mission. The Commission was set up in 2007 to advance the full visible communion of Anglicans and Methodists at every level. A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said there was a ‘much clearer awareness of the need for the Commission to identify and begin to tackle some of the issues that are at the heart of our present denominational divisions’. The Commission went on to acknowledge the bilateral conversations taking place between the two communions particularly in the UK, Ireland, US and New Zealand. Pray: for the unity of God’s church in all its diversity. (Jn.17:23)
A high-powered group of traditionalist Anglican church leaders are to gather in London to address a growing ‘crisis’ over openly homosexual bishops. They want to restore ‘orthodox’ values to the worldwide Anglican Communion and outlaw liberal church leaders who have rejected traditional teaching. They will meet for the first time since more than 200 bishops boycotted an official summit for Anglican leaders in 2008 in protest at the presence of bishops from the US Episcopal Church, which had consecrated the first openly homosexual Anglican bishop. The decision by the leaders to hold talks in Britain is likely to increase tensions between the traditionalists and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who will this year step down amid criticism he has failed to heal divisions over sexuality. The gathering of 200 clergy and laity will be led by Dr Peter Jensen, the Archbishop of Sydney, who is General Secretary of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans.
Pray: that the discussions at this gathering, led by the Holy Sprit, will bring unity and not added dissension. (Jn.17:22)
Ryanair has come under fire over plans to develop apps that will allow passengers to watch adult film content during flights. The budget airline wants to launch apps that passengers can log into via their iPads or smartphones and then pay to watch movies that include sex scenes. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: ‘Hotels around the world have it, so why wouldn’t we?’ The airline is also considering apps for in-flight gambling. Morality in Media (MIM) has reacted with anger to the plans. It is asking pro-family organisations based in Europe to contact Ryanair in opposition to the plans. The US-based group’s President has advised travellers to avoid using Ryanair. ‘We will stop this outrage before it gets started,’ said Dawn Hawkins, Executive Director of MIM. ‘Ryanair, which hopes to expand its market to US destinations as well, is creating an unsafe environment for every individual who travels on their planes.’
Pray: for Ryanair to recognise the unsuitability of such content within an aircraft carrying a ‘general audience’. (Ps.119:115)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/anger.over.ryanairs.plans.for.sex.scene.apps/28879.htm