It has been heartening to see the media coverage, at least in this part of the world, given to the Paralympics. People with disability are too often pushed to the edges. But before we get too excited let’s remember that the coverage is minimal compared to the coverage of the able-bodied Olympics and that we are looking at only a small number of talented people.
Nevertheless Jesus would have approved. In Matthew 18, he gives value to some of the less significant members of society. He even says that children are models for the way in which we enter into the kingdom of God, and find relationship with him.
Any society which ignores or, worse, oppresses its most vulnerable members, be they children, the elderly or those with special needs, has failed to understand God’s desire for justice. The God of Psalm 149 is a God who crowns the humble. Time and time again in the Bible we find people commanded to care for the vulnerable. Leaving aside the coverage of the Paralympics, how does our society treat the vulnerable?
How does our church? Is there adequate provision for children? Do the elderly feel welcome and comfortable? Is there sufficient provision for the hearing-impaired or those with poor sight? Is there adequate wheelchair access?
John Grayston
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Slavery today
Last year we celebrated the 200 anniversary of the ending of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. We remembered the work of Christians like William Wilberforce. But the sad truth is that slavery is still very much with us. It affects the weakest and poorest in our world. People are shipped across the world with the promise of a better life only to find themselves in forced labour, the sex trade or foreign armies. Many of them are children. As I was preparing this I heard a BBC news item about a report on prostitution in London. It mentioned the exploitation of women and often young girls, many lured from their own countries.
At the time of abolition the slavers argued that the Bible supported slavery – some people still think it does. But our readings in Philemon and Leviticus 25 tell a different story. They show a God who is passionately concerned for justice for all including slaves, who are to be well treated, properly rewarded and seen as brothers and sisters. In time these ideas led to the end of slavery. Apply them today and we would not have the situations that we have.
To find out more about slavery today and discover how you can get involved in the fight against it go to www.stopthetraffik.org.
John Grayston
At the time of abolition the slavers argued that the Bible supported slavery – some people still think it does. But our readings in Philemon and Leviticus 25 tell a different story. They show a God who is passionately concerned for justice for all including slaves, who are to be well treated, properly rewarded and seen as brothers and sisters. In time these ideas led to the end of slavery. Apply them today and we would not have the situations that we have.
To find out more about slavery today and discover how you can get involved in the fight against it go to www.stopthetraffik.org.
John Grayston
Thursday, 28 August 2008
It's a small world
it's a small world With the Beijing Olympics over, the flag has been passed on to London. The Global Village may be a cliché, but the fact is we live in a connected world.
Whilst the games took place in Beijing, the focus was the world. More than 200 nations were represented – more than in the UN. And now athletes, officials, media people and visitors have scattered to the ends of the earth.
This connectedness is not just about warm feelings or the availability of information. Events in one place can have a much wider significance than it first seems. Last week’s terrible plane crash in Madrid didn’t just affect Spain. Victims came from 11 other countries. And the Spanish airline involved is owned by SAS, a joint Danish, Norwegian and Swedish company.
The openness of the world also exposes things which some would prefer to be hidden. Last week, women in Swaziland – one of the poorest countries in the world – demonstrated against a shopping trip to Europe and the Middle East undertaken by 9 of the king’s 13 wives. 1
And as for Gary Glitter, his world became a smaller place with 19 countries refusing him entry. He had no option other than to return to Britain. 2
This week’s readings have this global perspective. But look deeper and you’ll see much more, a glorious cosmic vision!
Emlyn Williams
1http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7574824.stm 2http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2601785/Gary-Glitter-vows-to-clear-his-name-after-travesty-of-justice-in-Vietnam.html
Whilst the games took place in Beijing, the focus was the world. More than 200 nations were represented – more than in the UN. And now athletes, officials, media people and visitors have scattered to the ends of the earth.
This connectedness is not just about warm feelings or the availability of information. Events in one place can have a much wider significance than it first seems. Last week’s terrible plane crash in Madrid didn’t just affect Spain. Victims came from 11 other countries. And the Spanish airline involved is owned by SAS, a joint Danish, Norwegian and Swedish company.
The openness of the world also exposes things which some would prefer to be hidden. Last week, women in Swaziland – one of the poorest countries in the world – demonstrated against a shopping trip to Europe and the Middle East undertaken by 9 of the king’s 13 wives. 1
And as for Gary Glitter, his world became a smaller place with 19 countries refusing him entry. He had no option other than to return to Britain. 2
This week’s readings have this global perspective. But look deeper and you’ll see much more, a glorious cosmic vision!
Emlyn Williams
1http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7574824.stm 2http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2601785/Gary-Glitter-vows-to-clear-his-name-after-travesty-of-justice-in-Vietnam.html
Friday, 1 August 2008
Who'd be a leader?
Barack Obama is back home, fresh from wowing millions of Germans.
After months of speculation, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says that he will stand down in September.
The media see the Anglican Bishops’ Lambeth Conference as some kind of a test of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s leadership (maybe they reached their conclusions about the outcome even before it started).
Meanwhile the British Labour Party is facing its own leadership issues.
And – perhaps predictably – the England cricket team’s test match against South Africa has provoked questions about captain Michael Vaughan.
All this without me even mentioning Robert Mugabe… Leadership is as big an issue as ever.
Leadership challenge
Leaders appear to have great power. But the reality is often different. Those they are supposed to lead can soon tire of the leadership they have cried for.
Already, some Germans seem to be a little less keen than they were on what an Obama presidency might bring. Still, they won’t be voting for him or anyone else in the US.
So this coming week’s readings in WordLive may challenge some of our thinking about leadership. Old Testament leaders weren’t too bothered by opinion polls. But then how much do we ask what God thinks?
And as for Jesus, his leadership challenged the religious and national leaders of his day. How would he fare in today’s confused climate?
Emlyn Williams
After months of speculation, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says that he will stand down in September.
The media see the Anglican Bishops’ Lambeth Conference as some kind of a test of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s leadership (maybe they reached their conclusions about the outcome even before it started).
Meanwhile the British Labour Party is facing its own leadership issues.
And – perhaps predictably – the England cricket team’s test match against South Africa has provoked questions about captain Michael Vaughan.
All this without me even mentioning Robert Mugabe… Leadership is as big an issue as ever.
Leadership challenge
Leaders appear to have great power. But the reality is often different. Those they are supposed to lead can soon tire of the leadership they have cried for.
Already, some Germans seem to be a little less keen than they were on what an Obama presidency might bring. Still, they won’t be voting for him or anyone else in the US.
So this coming week’s readings in WordLive may challenge some of our thinking about leadership. Old Testament leaders weren’t too bothered by opinion polls. But then how much do we ask what God thinks?
And as for Jesus, his leadership challenged the religious and national leaders of his day. How would he fare in today’s confused climate?
Emlyn Williams
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Word-on-the-web hands over to WordLive!
Church Army's pioneering word-on-the-web ministry is handing over the baton to Scripture Union's new WordLive service to guarantee a future proofed multi-media Bible experience for Christians. Word-on-the-web has been operating since 2000, and has built up a current supporter base of over 7,000 subscribers from over 100 countries around the world.
www.wordlive.org, launched by Scripture Union in January 2008, is a free resource allowing online users a wide range of creative approaches to God’s Word, including audio Bible passages, video clips, worship songs and prayer activities, as well as a daily Bible reading and explanatory note.
Word-on-the-web will begin migrating existing subscribers over to WordLive from Monday 7th July. The final word-on-the-web study will be authored by David and Alison Booker who conceived the idea of web based ministry back in 1999 and produced the very first study. Word-on-the-web has issued more than 20 million daily emails over the course of eight years, covering 37 books of the Bible written by over 400 different contributors.
Captain Neil Thomson Church Army's Online Services Manager comments; "We have been so impressed with how Scripture Union's WordLive service has developed in offering Christians a fantastic range of creative approaches to engage with the Bible via text, podcasts, RSS, web and email. We want to encourage word-on-the-web subscribers to move to what we believe is a very creative way to encounter what God has to say to them through this innovative multi-media solution. Like word-on the-web it is FREE service – something we believe is important"
James Burden, Associate Director of Scripture Union says; "We are delighted to be welcoming subscribers from word-on-the-web to WordLive and in doing so celebrate the pioneering work of Church Army in web based ministry. We are pleased that Church Army will be involved in supplying future content for WordLive and promoting WordLive as part of their future web developments."
www.wordlive.org, launched by Scripture Union in January 2008, is a free resource allowing online users a wide range of creative approaches to God’s Word, including audio Bible passages, video clips, worship songs and prayer activities, as well as a daily Bible reading and explanatory note.
Word-on-the-web will begin migrating existing subscribers over to WordLive from Monday 7th July. The final word-on-the-web study will be authored by David and Alison Booker who conceived the idea of web based ministry back in 1999 and produced the very first study. Word-on-the-web has issued more than 20 million daily emails over the course of eight years, covering 37 books of the Bible written by over 400 different contributors.
Captain Neil Thomson Church Army's Online Services Manager comments; "We have been so impressed with how Scripture Union's WordLive service has developed in offering Christians a fantastic range of creative approaches to engage with the Bible via text, podcasts, RSS, web and email. We want to encourage word-on-the-web subscribers to move to what we believe is a very creative way to encounter what God has to say to them through this innovative multi-media solution. Like word-on the-web it is FREE service – something we believe is important"
James Burden, Associate Director of Scripture Union says; "We are delighted to be welcoming subscribers from word-on-the-web to WordLive and in doing so celebrate the pioneering work of Church Army in web based ministry. We are pleased that Church Army will be involved in supplying future content for WordLive and promoting WordLive as part of their future web developments."
Monday, 14 July 2008
WordLive this week
On WordLive this week we take a look at the world through the eyes of Jeremiah. Sometimes he's seen as a prophet of doom, but really he's just speaking a few home truths... that just happen to be inspired by God.
Oh, and you may, you just might want to find an old pot that you don't want anymore. It may come in handy for visualising the odd point that Jeremiah makes.
Oh, and you may, you just might want to find an old pot that you don't want anymore. It may come in handy for visualising the odd point that Jeremiah makes.
The end of an era - Delirious? press release
Keeping you in touch with what is going on in the wider Christian world, and also because some of their music has appeared, and I'm sure will continue to appear, on WordLive, I thought you'd be interested in the following press release from Delirious? On a personal note I would like to take this opportunity to thank the d-boys for their encouragement and support over the years, their humility has been a shining example to myself, thanks.
The End of an Era……
We would like to address all our fans, our friends and people around the world who have faithfully supported Delirious? After 14 albums, thousands of shows in front of millions of people, and many extraordinary memories, we have decided that at the end of 2009 we will take a break from recording and playing as a band.
Our decision was triggered by a request from Martin to be released from the band to pursue new projects including his work with CompassionArt and the desire to be at home more with Anna and his children. We have of course honoured this request and made a decision together that now is the time to end this chapter of our lives.
We will continue to play and be excited about our current tours and bookings but will not be adding many more over the coming 17 months. We are all so deeply grateful to our incredible fans who have sung the songs and allowed Delirious? the privilege of providing the soundtrack to many lives over the years. From the school hall in Littlehampton to the stadiums of the world we have many stories to tell our children’s children. Delirious also would not be what it is without our amazing wives and families, and our gratitude to them is immense. We will now move forward to the next part of our lives where new challenges unfold and greater stories will be written.
We want to make it absolutely clear that although this decision has been extremely painful and difficult, we are still great friends and our respect for each other is unquestionable. We love playing in this band together and know that even though 2009 will bring an end to this current journey, there will be more adventures together in years to come.
We always used to say that we were ‘taking it wherever it goes’. The music ended up going further and deeper than we could ever have dreamed, yet we are now at a point where our creative futures will spread out and take on different journeys.
Thanks again for believing in us through all these years. We believe the best is yet to come.
Jon, Martin, Paul, Stu G and Tim
The End of an Era……
We would like to address all our fans, our friends and people around the world who have faithfully supported Delirious? After 14 albums, thousands of shows in front of millions of people, and many extraordinary memories, we have decided that at the end of 2009 we will take a break from recording and playing as a band.
Our decision was triggered by a request from Martin to be released from the band to pursue new projects including his work with CompassionArt and the desire to be at home more with Anna and his children. We have of course honoured this request and made a decision together that now is the time to end this chapter of our lives.
We will continue to play and be excited about our current tours and bookings but will not be adding many more over the coming 17 months. We are all so deeply grateful to our incredible fans who have sung the songs and allowed Delirious? the privilege of providing the soundtrack to many lives over the years. From the school hall in Littlehampton to the stadiums of the world we have many stories to tell our children’s children. Delirious also would not be what it is without our amazing wives and families, and our gratitude to them is immense. We will now move forward to the next part of our lives where new challenges unfold and greater stories will be written.
We want to make it absolutely clear that although this decision has been extremely painful and difficult, we are still great friends and our respect for each other is unquestionable. We love playing in this band together and know that even though 2009 will bring an end to this current journey, there will be more adventures together in years to come.
We always used to say that we were ‘taking it wherever it goes’. The music ended up going further and deeper than we could ever have dreamed, yet we are now at a point where our creative futures will spread out and take on different journeys.
Thanks again for believing in us through all these years. We believe the best is yet to come.
Jon, Martin, Paul, Stu G and Tim
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