Friday, 26 November 2010

Little or big, it’s about change

In the UK, the new Labour leader Ed Milliband is about to embark on a rethink of his party’s policies. He says it’s time to make some changes as they begin the journey to regain power.

A Japanese politician has resigned after he said that his job was easy. Apparently he had two standard replies when he was asked a difficult question to which he didn’t know the answer. I wonder whether he may have been able to stay if he had learnt one or two more answers. But some people can’t change, even a little.

Still in Japan and speaking of little, a tiny Chihuahua is about to become a police dog. The tiny pooch has just passed its police exam and will help out in search and rescue operations. It is amazing how something so small could have such a profound affect on the lives of others.

This week WordLive is all about the things that can bring us closer to God: being like a child, being less than others, selling everything you have and giving the money to the poor. It’s all about change, and how those changes in your life can have a big effect.
Darren

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

Realising what is there

For those with a sporting interest you may have noticed that the youngest Formula 1 world champion was crowned. Sebastian Vettel realised his dream by winning the final Gran Prix of the season.

Those of us whose interest lies in the business and economic arena, may have noticed some news coming from the banking sector. It seems that banks have realised that their bonus systems may appear to be a little unfair to the general public and therefore need a rethink.

And finally in the political arena the world has greeted with joy the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Perhaps Burma have realised that democracy may be a way forward for the country, and who better to help with that than the pro-democracy supporter Aung San.

And then, perhaps one additional pause for thought. This week in WordLive Peter realises that this Jesus who has been walking among him and his fishing buddies may just be someone a little more important than a carpenter’s son.

Darren

Thursday, 11 November 2010

We will remember them

This week in WordLive we follow Daniel as he comes under attack for his faith in God. His continued commitment to prayer, despite the very real risk of death it entailed, is a challenge to us all. What would we do if worshipping God in public meant putting our lives at risk?
This is a question Christians in Iraq are facing this week, following the recent attack on a Catholic church in Baghdad in which 52 worshippers were killed. As many as 60 per cent of the Iraqi Christian population have already been killed or fled the country since the invasion in 2003 and those remaining are now being warned to leave.

However, many are determined to stay ‘whatever the sacrifices, to bear witness to our faith’ (Ignatius Metti Metok, Syriac Catholic Bishop of Baghdad). A prominent Christian member of the Iraqi parliament, Yonadam Kanna, said, ‘This is our home, we have been together with Muslims for centuries, this is our destiny, and we will stay together’.

Daniel’s response to opposition in Babylon was to pray and keep trusting God, though it’s hard to imagine him not being terrified as he was thrown to the lions. This week, let’s remember in prayer those Christians living in constant fear in Iraq. And in Remembrance Week, let’s also pray for all the members of our armed forces who confront danger daily in order to protect our freedom.

Lizzie Evans

Monday, 1 November 2010

Doing the right thing, for the right reason

We know that some things are wrong, but we also seem to be concerned with some things being ‘more’ wrong than others. In a recent report a former drugs advisor has said that alcohol does more damage than hard drugs. Of course this report will now be used by various pressure groups who either want to ban alcohol at one end or legalise drugs at the other.

We also know that some things are good for us. A major study of Norwegians has revealed that exercise is good for us. But not just any exercise – the exercise has to be done in your free time and therefore done because you want to do it.

This week on WordLive we delve into the world of Daniel, a devout follower of the Jewish God who found himself amidst the beliefs and rituals of a totally different culture. He knew what was good for him and why.

Praying and reading the Bible are things that we can do, but if we don’t really want to do them, is there any point?

Darren