‘Trojan’ bid to make longer Sunday trading permanent
The Government is to consider making extended Olympic Sunday trading hours permanent, but critics are concerned about the impact on families. During the six weeks of the Olympics and Paralympics large shops are allowed to choose when they open on a Sunday, rather than being restricted to six hours between 10am and 6pm. On Monday the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the legislation allowing unrestricted opening was for a defined period but a ‘number of people want to look at this issue. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said , ‘I’m always keen that we respect people’s religious beliefs. But I think we should kind of look long and hard at the results.’ Labour Party’s business spokesman Chuka Umunna commented,’We were very clear – a temporary relaxation of Sunday trading restrictions should not be used as a Trojan horse for permanent change.’
Pray: that this debate will not lead to extending current Sunday trading laws. (Gen.2:3)
Baroness Amos in Syria to press for humanitarian access
The UN's emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos is in Syria to discuss ways of getting aid to the estimated two million people caught up in the country's conflict. Diplomats warn that unless the violence eases it will be impossible to get emergency relief to the worst affected areas. Syria's PM Riad Hijab has spoken out for the first time since his defection last week – saying the regime controls no more than 30% of the territory, and he calls on the opposition abroad to unite and on the Syrian army to stand alongside its people. He said, ‘Syria is full of officials and military leaders who are awaiting the right moment to join the revolt.’ Baroness Amos said around 2.5m people across the country are now in need of assistance. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19262815
Pray: that God would implement His way forward through Baroness Amos and others working for justice and peace for the people of Syria. (Ps.5:7,8)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19252811
Germany: NGO calls for violence against Christians
The Salzburg-based NGO ‘Infoladen’ calls for violence against Christians when expressing pro-life views. In July they called for a counter-demonstration against a pro-life manifestation. ‘Let’s make their 1000-crosses-manifestation a disaster!’ and ‘Sink the 1000 crosses!’ are some of the slogans on their website. In between long paragraphs of prejudices, the NGO ‘Infoladen’ admits that it has already used intimidation and anti-democratic means in their attempts to silence pro-life Christians: ‘They just do not want to understand. Although last summer it was made sufficiently clear to Human Life International, Euro Pro Life and Youth for Life, that they and their anti-women processions are not welcome in Salzburg, and they are planning another manifestation. Last year, the march was disturbed by blockades and successfully shortened through the courageous intervention of emancipatory activists. The closing ceremony of the fundamentalists had to take place virtually in the exclusion of the public.’ They also pronounce a meeting point for the counter manifestation. No names of the leadership of the NGO nor the main organizers are given online. Pray: that the calls by ‘Infoladen’ against pro-life organisations would be silenced. (Job.12:10) More: http://infoladensalzburg.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/25-7-pro-choice-demo-1000-kreuze-versenken/#more-896
Germany: NGO calls for violence against Christians
The Salzburg-based NGO ‘Infoladen’ calls for violence against Christians when expressing pro-life views. In July they called for a counter-demonstration against a pro-life manifestation. ‘Let’s make their 1000-crosses-manifestation a disaster!’ and ‘Sink the 1000 crosses!’ are some of the slogans on their website. In between long paragraphs of prejudices, the NGO ‘Infoladen’ admits that it has already used intimidation and anti-democratic means in their attempts to silence pro-life Christians: ‘They just do not want to understand. Although last summer it was made sufficiently clear to Human Life International, Euro Pro Life and Youth for Life, that they and their anti-women processions are not welcome in Salzburg, and they are planning another manifestation. Last year, the march was disturbed by blockades and successfully shortened through the courageous intervention of emancipatory activists. The closing ceremony of the fundamentalists had to take place virtually in the exclusion of the public.’ They also pronounce a meeting point for the counter manifestation. No names of the leadership of the NGO nor the main organizers are given online. Pray: that the calls by ‘Infoladen’ against pro-life organisations would be silenced. (Job.12:10) More: http://infoladensalzburg.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/25-7-pro-choice-demo-1000-kreuze-versenken/#more-896
Vatican City: Butler 'wanted to rid Vatican of evil and corruption'
The Pope's private butler, 46 year old Paolo Gabriele, stole a raft of private documents from the Pontiff's office and ‘leaked’ them to the media as part of a campaign to rid the Vatican of ‘evil and corruption.’ A judge ordered Gabriele to stand trial for aggravated theft. A Vatican IT expert was also charged in connection with the leaking of the documents and faces a lesser accusation of aiding and abetting. According to a 35-page document Gabriele had told prosecutors that he had acted because he had seen ‘evil and corruption everywhere in the Church’ and he wanted to stop it spreading, adding. ‘I reached the point of no return. I was sure that a shock, perhaps by using the media, could be a healthy thing to bring the Church back on the right track.’ The Pope's spokesman said the Pope could step in and pardon Mr Gabriele and avoid a trial.
Pray: that the Vatican will open itself up to appropriate external scrutiny so that anything hidden will be revealed. (Job 9:4-6)
Vatican City: Butler 'wanted to rid Vatican of evil and corruption'
The Pope's private butler, 46 year old Paolo Gabriele, stole a raft of private documents from the Pontiff's office and ‘leaked’ them to the media as part of a campaign to rid the Vatican of ‘evil and corruption.’ A judge ordered Gabriele to stand trial for aggravated theft. A Vatican IT expert was also charged in connection with the leaking of the documents and faces a lesser accusation of aiding and abetting. According to a 35-page document Gabriele had told prosecutors that he had acted because he had seen ‘evil and corruption everywhere in the Church’ and he wanted to stop it spreading, adding. ‘I reached the point of no return. I was sure that a shock, perhaps by using the media, could be a healthy thing to bring the Church back on the right track.’ The Pope's spokesman said the Pope could step in and pardon Mr Gabriele and avoid a trial.
Pray: that the Vatican will open itself up to appropriate external scrutiny so that anything hidden will be revealed. (Job 9:4-6)
West Africa: Food shortage
A deepening food crisis in West Africa’s Sahel region sparks fears of famine. Events might easily mirror the devastation seen recently in the Horn of Africa unless urgent action is taken. According to a new report commissioned by World Vision and Save the Children a lack of ability to access, grow, and store food year after year means millions of children in West Africa now live in a state of permanent food shortage. The report calls for a radical rethinking of policies to address hunger in West Africa. Contributing factors to this situation are low rainfall and rising food prices leading to poor harvests and declining food supplies. Crop yields have been nonexistent in some areas and severely reduced in others. In addition recent conflicts, the return of hundreds of migrant workers, and a flow of refugees from Mali into one of the most affected areas of Niger has further strained an already stressed food supply.
Pray: for the 18 million affected across Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Chad and Senegal who are facing desperate food shortages are in imminent danger of doing so. (Is.58:7)
More: http://www.worldvision.org/news/west-africa-food-crisis-qa
Somalia: Election next week
As the process for ending Somalia's political transition gathers momentum, some presidential candidates have been accused of interfering with the process of electing new parliamentarians and vote-buying ahead of the presidential election, which is due to take place on August 20. It is common to hear one of the dozens of presidential candidates say ‘I want to run for president.’ In response many Somali politicians and the public ask, ‘Does he have money to buy votes?’ Dr Abdirahman Mohamed, a presidential candidate, says questioning how deep is the pocket of a candidate is like saying only corrupt leaders who have stolen from state coffers are eligible to run. The transition process calls for clan elders to choose members of a new parliament. Those new lawmakers will then elect the new president.
Pray: that vote-buying and corruption will not influence the future for Somalia’s government. (Ps.45:3-5)
Uganda: Pastor forgives Muslim attackers
A Ugandan pastor, who was the victim of an acid attack by Muslims, told International Christian Concern (ICC) that he doesn’t hate his Muslim attackers and wants them to believe in Jesus Christ. ‘My message to my attackers is simple, I hold no grudge against them. They wished me death but I wish them life today and forever in Christ Jesus our Lord,’ said Pastor Umar Mulinde in his statement to ICC. Pastor Mulinde was a Muslim leader before he converted to Christianity and started a church. He successfully brought many Muslims to Christ and openly opposed the call for Sharia law in Uganda. He was attacked last Christmas and is currently receiving medical care in Israel. Pastor Umar’s message to Christians around the world warned of the danger of radical Islam, ‘The vision of Islam is all about world dominance and no country should think itself to be safe from radical Islam.’
Pray: for the persecuted Church in Africa and the Middle East to experience God's provision (Ps.17:8-9) and to be able to forgive those who hate them. (Lk.6:27-31)
More: http://blog.godreports.com/2012/08/pastor-hit-with-acid-attack-forgives-muslim-attackers/#more-2001
Egypt:Lawyer wants Coptc Christians removed from Egyptian Constitutional Committee
A lawyer from Alexandria has submitted a report to the public prosecutor requesting that Egypt's Coptic Christians be excluded from the committee forming the nation's new constitution. Sherif Gadallah claimed that Orthodox Coptics are not representative of Egypt's Christian population because they're not Nasara, the so-called ‘true’ Christians of Islam's Qur'an, a book in which the word ‘Christian’ never appears. Since Orthodox Copts are not Nasara, or even Christians, Gadallah said they can be counted as polytheists, which will make Coptics non-representative of Egypt's Christian population. Gadallah justified his report by the Qur'an, which claims the prophets of Allah - Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad - are all mere humans sent by God to pass his message on to creation. Since Christians believe Jesus to be the divine Son of God, they are polytheistic infidels and not the Nasara of the Qur'an; therefore, Copts who also profess the divinity of Christ as expressed in the Trinity must be barred from having any say in Egypt's new constitution
Pray: against any move to marginalise Coptic Christians which would restrict full representation of all people on the constitutional committee. (Pr.29:14)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11682-lawyer-wants-copts-removed-from-egyptian-constitutional-committee