Lottery money given for Buddhist healing therapies
The National Lottery has given £205,000 to fund a two year research project which will make spiritual ‘healing therapies’ available on the NHS. The project, led by charity Fresh Winds, is designed to identify the effectiveness of a Buddhist ‘healing’ technique (called Reiki) by testing the method on 200 patients suffering from bowel disorders at NHS Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield. The National Lottery will brief the NHS on the research findings next year ‘to inform their decision whether to introduce elements of complementary therapy into the management of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.’ The controversial therapy, which has been termed by critics as another form of ‘voodoo’ involves the running of hands over the patient’s body (without touching) to radiate ‘healing energy’ which allegedly works ‘like a gentle set of jump leads’ and relieves symptoms of pain.
Pray: that the healing power of the Holy Spirit would be recognised as superior to alternative therapies. (Act.10:38: Mt.10:1)
Christian chemists 'will be forced out' under new rules
Christian pharmacists fear they could face the sack if they refuse to hand out morning-after pills, under new guidelines issued by a medical regulator. Many pharmacists have conscientious moral objections to dispensing emergency contraception and have in the past refused to do so because the drugs work by preventing a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb. Some chemists and lawyers say the guidance circulated last week by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) effectively strips them of their right to object on religious grounds to handling such drugs. Many Christian, Jewish and Muslim pharmacists object to the drugs. The guidance will also compel pharmacists to make drugs available for IVF, to which some object because of the high numbers of embryos created then destroyed in the process. For the first time under the guidelines, pharmacists are told that their right to conscientious objection on religious grounds is secondary to the contractual demands of employers, such as the NHS.
Pray: for all those who stand up for their faith that God would give them the ability to stand firm. (2Cor.1:21)
Atheist clergy in Dutch Churches
According to a recent news report, one in six clergy in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) and six other denominations is either an atheist or agnostic, reports Christian Concern for our Nation. Klaas Hendrikse, who leads a PNK church in Gorinchem, wrote a book called Believing in a Non-Existent God which prompted the denomination to consider removing him. However, having found that his views were so widely shared amongst clergy in the denomination they decided not to single him out. He also stated that God is ‘a word for experience, or human experience’ and that Jesus may never have existed. Sytse de Jong, who is Deputy Mayor of Staphorst, said: ‘When we get people into the Church by throwing Jesus Christ out of the Church, then we lose the core of Christianity. Then we are not reforming the institutions and attitudes but the core of our messagthee.’
Pray: for leaders of the church in the Netherlands that God would bring life where there is death and renew their faith revealing Jesus as Lord. (Rom.10:9)
Christians are Europe’s ‘reservoir’ of values
The vice-president of the Italian Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies has called on Christian politicians to ‘make sacrifices’ and value their conscience more than their position. In an interview with Catholic News Agency published last Thursday, Professor Rocco Buttiglione, a member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences, said that Christian people must enter politics to play an active role forming ‘the future of the land. I think the great reservoir of values today is in the Christian people and we must tell them, you must make politics, you must enter into politics, you must make with your hands the future of the land,’ said the politician and academic. As previously reported by LifeSiteNews, Buttiglione became the focus of controversy in 2004 after critics blocked his appointment to the European Union Commission for his statements that homosexual acts are morally wrong.
Pray: for God’s people to take up the challenge and sacrifice position and value their conscience.(2Pet.3:17)
Christians are Europe’s ‘reservoir’ of values
The vice-president of the Italian Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies has called on Christian politicians to ‘make sacrifices’ and value their conscience more than their position. In an interview with Catholic News Agency published last Thursday, Professor Rocco Buttiglione, a member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences, said that Christian people must enter politics to play an active role forming ‘the future of the land. I think the great reservoir of values today is in the Christian people and we must tell them, you must make politics, you must enter into politics, you must make with your hands the future of the land,’ said the politician and academic. As previously reported by LifeSiteNews, Buttiglione became the focus of controversy in 2004 after critics blocked his appointment to the European Union Commission for his statements that homosexual acts are morally wrong.
Pray: for God’s people to take up the challenge and sacrifice position and value their conscience.(2Pet.3:17)
Papua New Guinea: Criminals repent publicly
During 2010, the Ukarumpa centre of Wycliffe Bible Translators and the neighbouring village in Papua New Guinea were under significant criminal activity on a nightly basis. It was a very stressful time for the local people and missionaries alike, but God was at work nonetheless. Over Easter 2011, one of the village pastors conducted an evangelistic crusade, where the criminals surrendered to Christ. As a result, in July this year, they publicly apologized to everyone for their activities. They demonstrated how they had turned their lives over to Jesus and each young man publicly apologized for his crimes. A few made a point to apologize directly to the owners of the houses they had broken into. The worship service overflowed with testimonies of how God was at work in their hearts! Also some of the missionaries repented of their lack of faith and belief to imagine how God works through prayer, and of their own lack of grace and forgiveness.
Praise: God for this wonderful testimony of His love and grace in action. (Ro.12;9)
Papua New Guinea: Criminals repent publicly
During 2010, the Ukarumpa centre of Wycliffe Bible Translators and the neighbouring village in Papua New Guinea were under significant criminal activity on a nightly basis. It was a very stressful time for the local people and missionaries alike, but God was at work nonetheless. Over Easter 2011, one of the village pastors conducted an evangelistic crusade, where the criminals surrendered to Christ. As a result, in July this year, they publicly apologized to everyone for their activities. They demonstrated how they had turned their lives over to Jesus and each young man publicly apologized for his crimes. A few made a point to apologize directly to the owners of the houses they had broken into. The worship service overflowed with testimonies of how God was at work in their hearts! Also some of the missionaries repented of their lack of faith and belief to imagine how God works through prayer, and of their own lack of grace and forgiveness.
Praise: God for this wonderful testimony of His love and grace in action. (Ro.12;9)
Increasing support for life issues among young people
A new ComRes poll commissioned by Premier Christian Media has revealed that young Christians are more concerned about life issues such as abortion and euthanasia than elderly believers are. The poll surveyed Christians of all ages and denominations, asking them to rate a number of issues in terms of how important they are. The poll revealed that there was a big difference between what young and older generations of Christians regard as important issues, with life issues of greater concern to young people aged between 18-34 years compared with those over the age of 65. Almost three quarters (69%) of young people surveyed believe abortion to be very important compared to just 31% of over 65's, and two thirds (66%) of young people think that euthanasia is a very important issue, compared with just a third (33%) of over 65’s. In contrast, youth related issues were of greater concern to over 65's as compared to young people.
Praise: God for this trend and concern among the young. (1Cor.12:25)
Increasing support for life issues among young people
A new ComRes poll commissioned by Premier Christian Media has revealed that young Christians are more concerned about life issues such as abortion and euthanasia than elderly believers are. The poll surveyed Christians of all ages and denominations, asking them to rate a number of issues in terms of how important they are. The poll revealed that there was a big difference between what young and older generations of Christians regard as important issues, with life issues of greater concern to young people aged between 18-34 years compared with those over the age of 65. Almost three quarters (69%) of young people surveyed believe abortion to be very important compared to just 31% of over 65's, and two thirds (66%) of young people think that euthanasia is a very important issue, compared with just a third (33%) of over 65’s. In contrast, youth related issues were of greater concern to over 65's as compared to young people.
Praise: God for this trend and concern among the young. (1Cor.12:25)
Somalia: Needs more AU troops and aid
UN special envoy to Somalia appealed for more peacekeepers in Mogadishu. The Somali government is offering amnesty to fighters from the militant al-Shabab group who control south and central Somalia, including the areas worst affected by famine. On Saturday it surprised many analysts by announcing a withdrawal of its forces from Mogadishu. However some believe al-Shabab has made a tactical retreat, and think they are likely to wage guerrilla warfare in Mogadishu including carrying out more suicide bombings. Al-Shabab is affiliated to al-Qaeda and was formed to overthrow the government to establish Islamic rule in Somalia. The first UN aid for Mogadishu in five years arrived on Monday with famine relief for the 100,000 refugees in search of food. Insecurity makes it difficult for aid agencies to distribute materials.
Pray: for militant leaders to lay down weapons and return to society and for safe distribution aid. (1Tim.2:2)