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Friday, January 15, 2010

Here's a thought about Islam4UK and others so inclined . . .

Dear Home Secretary,

I'm so glad that you finally had the good sense to ban Islam4UK, but of course this does not preclude Anjelm Choudary and other like-minded extremists from reforming under a new banner with an even greater determination to overthrow the rule of Law and the government and replace it with Sharia Law and an Islamic system of rule.

A couple of things would however.

Firstly, why not enact legislation that anyone involved in any organisation which seeks to impose these things upon the Nation should lose all entitlement to any form of benefits. After all, why should we, the taxpayers of the country, pay characters like Choudary to foment dissension, promote religious hatred and subvert authority? If people such as these are don't like the system that exists in the UK, and has done so for hundreds of years, then they should remove themselves as rapidly as possible to a country that would appreciate their vitriolic posturing.

Secondly, I see no reason to afford any of these people special protection by our belaboured Police Force. If Choudary, as a result of his own actions and hate-filled rhetoric, is a prime target, then it is a situation of entirely his own making. If he needs special protection as a result of his actions then let him get a job, earn the money needed, and then pay for his own protection.

Nobody can or should object to Choudary, or others like him, following the religion of their choice, which is, after all, what Freedom of Religion is all about. I recognise that this hate-filled character has stated that he does not believe in freedom, but this is an instance where he practises freedom of expression whilst declaring his opposition to freedom. Is this the action of a sane man? I hardly think so.

Well, Home Secretary, it's over to you. I wonder whether you would recommend such action to the Prime Minister or condone it by doing nothing.

Haiti Earthquake: Please help

This photograph of the terrible disaster in Haiti came in an email to me from David Servant, Director of the Christian charity 'I Was Hungry', part of the Heaven's Family group of charities. The Voice Christian News & Views magazine has supported Heaven's Family for several years and its Director, David Servant, is counted amongst my friends. The following is the report that accompanied the picture, together with a plea for help in fund-raising in order to give as much aid as possible.
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Massive amounts of aid are now beginning to pour into Haiti. The immediate needs are, of course, for the rescue of trapped survivors, water, food, and medical help for the injured. Right now everything is a mass of confusion in Port-au-Prince.

We have not received any word from either our primary contact in Haiti (with whom I spoke by phone just a few days before the earthquake), or from either of our two orphanage directors. Like tens of thousands of other Americans and Canadians who have loved ones in Haiti, we wait with hope. The cell phone of our primary contact sounds as if it is ringing when I call him, but there is no answer. I am facing up to the possibility that Preval Meritil, a dear friend of thirty years and a true Haitian saint, is in heaven.

Our area representative, James Jones of the Dominican Republic, found the Dominican/Haiti border tightly closed in both directions at two locations that he tried. Thankfully, because James is a former army medic, he has been assigned by the Dominican Civil Defense and Secretary of Health to a MASH team, and he will be on the ground in Port-au-Prince on Saturday. His job will be triage, primary rescue, stabilization of the injured, and transfers. James is taking $5,000 worth of bottled water, food, and medical supplies from Heaven's Family, thanks to all of you.

HF International Director Chuck King is flying to the Dominican Republic tomorrow to personally entrust James Jones with 100 Sawyer Water Filters. James will take them with him to Port-au-Prince where they are so greatly needed right now.

There were massive needs in Haiti before the earthquake, and there will be massive needs for months and years to come there. We intend to do all that the Lord enables us to do to meet immediate and long-term needs.

To contribute securely by credit card from anywhere in the world, click here, or call our office during regular business hours (8:30AM - 5PM EST) at (412) 833-5826.

To contribute by check in the U.S. or from any country other than the U.K., please write "Disaster Relief" in the memo line and mail it to Heaven's Family, P.O. Box 12854, Pittsburgh, PA, 15241, USA.

To contribute by cheque in the U.K., please write "Disaster Relief" in the memo line and mail it to Heaven's Family, P.O. Box 3736, Ascot, Berkshire, SL57WR.

Please send whatever you can in order to help maximise the Relief Aid that Heaven's Family can give.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Islam4UK: Finally, the Home Secretary bans this racist group of Islamic Bigots

So the group of Islamic Fundamentalist traitors who scream their bucolic hatred whenever the opportunity arises have been given a slap on the wrist, although it obviously was not hard enough for them to feel it judging by their show of contempt for the authorities and the Justice system of the nation that lets them thrive.

Outside the court where they had been given conditional discharges for their hate-filled diatribe against the Anglian Regiment when they marched through Luton, this group of dangerous thugs stood in front of a banner which proclaimed that 'Islam will dominate the world' and underpinned with the terrorist-styled epithet that 'Freedom can go to hell.'

Later, in a TV interview, their leader, Anjelm Choudary, reiterated that they do not believe in Democracy nor in Freedom. This has to prompt the question as to what on earth they are doing in this country which, despite its many shortcomings and failings, is still a nation which does believe firmly in both of these things. It is exactly why Choudary and his peddlers of hate were given conditional discharges for behaviour that would almost certainly have carried a death sentence in an Islamic nation under Sharia Law.

Of course, the most ironic aspect of all of this is that these racial bigots are funded by the taxpayers of the nation which they seek to overthrow, both in their normal living benefits and the court appearance costs. Their fines will also, via the benefit system, be paid by the UK Taxpayer.

Because I believe in freedom of expression then I think that I can safely promote the idea that these men, and all like them, be deported to an Islamic nation where their views may be welcomed.

One of the saddest aspects of their hatred is that it goes against the thousands of peace-loving Muslims who are in this country and who disagree with their hate-filled diatribe. It's important for people to understand that they are the rotten apples at the bottom of the barrel --- the few not the many.

What a contrast they represent to Christianity! Islamic Fundamentalism is a religion of hatred that seeks to remove personal freedom from everyone and dictate that everyone must follow Islam or else die. Christianity is a religion based upon LOVE.

The following comes from Barnabus Fund:

The People’s Majlis (Parliament) of the Maldives have been debating a bill to ban non-Muslim places of worship. According to Maldivian sources the bill, proposed by Ibrahim Muttalib MP, would make it illegal to build non-Muslim places of worship or to practise non-Muslim faiths in public, although foreigners would be allowed to worship in the privacy of their homes. Punishment would be a jail term of three to five years or a fine of between US$2,800 and US$4,700.

Muttalib’s rationale

When presenting the bill, Muttalib said that its purpose was to maintain Islamic principles in the country and to prevent the spread of non-Muslim faiths. He also said that the government had received enquiries about establishing places of worship and there was nothing yet in the law or constitution to prevent this. He mentioned too the phenomenon of “wedding tourism” and said that this would “indirectly set up churches in this country”.

Muttalib has explained that he proposed the bill because at present there is no legal barrier to the establishing of non-Muslim places of worship. He referred to Article 19 of the 2008 Maldivian constitution, which states that “No control or restraint may be exercised against any person unless it is expressly authorised by law.” His argument was that a law was therefore needed explicitly prohibiting non-Muslim places of worship.

Muttalib’s assumption that having non-Muslim places of worship would be unacceptable reflects the strongly Islamic nature of Maldivian society. His concern is how to safeguard against this happening.

What next?

The bill has now been sent to committee.

President Mohamed Nasheed has said that, before ratifying the bill, he will seek advice from Islamic religious scholars about what sharia (Islamic law) teaches on allowing non-Muslims to worship in an Islamic society.

According to sharia, Jews and Christians are allowed to keep their existing places of worship in an Islamic state but not to build new ones. “Pagans”, such as Hindus, are not even allowed to keep existing places of worship.

The higher percentage of Muslims in any Nation then the greater the demand to convert that Nation to Islam, and the more determined the fanatics like Choudary become.

It is high time that the UK government acted against this threat to the stability and peace of the nation as a whole. Get rid of the canker in our midst that seeks to destroy all that true members of the United Kingdom have fought for over the decades.

Be warned. If you do nothing then these evil men with their warped beliefs will ultimately succeed in taking over this nation. If you do nothing then you will be as much to blame as anyone else. Lobby your MP to take this matter up in Parliament as a matter of urgency, and keep on lobbying until something is done.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

The Voice Christian News & Views: A great FREE Christian magazine

The latest issue of The Voice Christian News & Views is now available, and you can get it posted to you absolutely FREE of charge simply by registering on-line to receive it by clicking here.

Filled with great articles, cartoons and photos, the current issue heralds the latest news about Flame Radio, back on air on the Medium Waveband. Regular columnists Andrew Strom, Lindsey Cox, David Clarke and Mike Ward are joined by Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, David Silver, D Ben Rees and David Servant.

Special features in this issue are on the work of Victory Outreach UK, Samaritan's Purse and Gospel for Asia.

All in all this is a great magazine with 40 pages packed with things to interest you, so why not register today to get it sent to your mailbox every two months; and don't forget --- it's absolutely FREE thanks to the donations sent in to keep it that way.

The New ABC

New Alphabet
A is for apple, and B is for boat,
That used to be right, but now it won't float!
Age before beauty is what we once said,
But let's be a bit more realistic instead.

Now
The Alphabet:

A's for arthritis;
B's
the bad back,
C's
the chest pains,

Perhaps car-d-iac?


D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight, can't read that top line!
F is for fissures and fluid retention
G is for gas which I'd rather not mention.

H High blood pressure--I'd rather it low

I for incisions with scars you can show.
J
is for joints, out of socket, won't mend,
K is for knees that crack when they bend.
L for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory, I forget what comes next.
N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low
O is for osteo, bones that don't grow!

P for prescriptions, I have quite a few,
Just give me a pill, I'll be good as new!
Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?
R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears,
T is for Tinnitus, bells in my ears!
U is for urinary, troubles with flow;
V for vertigo, that's 'dizzy', you know.

W for worry, NOW what's going 'round?
X is for x-ray, and what might be found.
Y for another year I'm left here behind,
Z is for zest I still have-- in my mind.

I've survived all the symptoms, my body's deployed,
And I'm keeping twenty-six doctors fully employed!!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Jennifer Douglas : 'Love Away the Hate' CD

Jennifer Douglas has just released her debut CD single with Sheer Joy Music. Titled Love Away the Hate the song has lyrics by Colin Gordon-Farleigh and music composed by Robert B Beaton, whose album January Jade was released recently by the same label.

Both CDs are available from the Sheer Joy Music online shop.

Love Away the Hate

There’s so much in the world today
that’s tearing me apart;
it sometimes seems our universe
has got a broken heart.
Jesus come back to our world
before it’s all too late:
and love away the brokenness
and love away the hate.
Yes, love away the brokenness
and love away the hate.
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Instead of living as You taught,
our lives are full of greed.
We’re chasing after the things we want,
and missing what we need.
Each day moves us closer still
to brokenness and hate,
so Jesus come back to our world,
before it’s all too late.
Yes, Jesus come back to our world,
and love away the hate.
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Only You, only You,
can bring a peace of mind
to the world where we are,
and spread Your loving kind.

We’ll live again when You return ,
Refreshed, renewed, revived.
We’ll lift our hands in praise to You
And cast our hate aside.
You’ll love away the brokenness
and love away the pain;
and we will all Your people be,
renewed to life again.
Yes, we will all Your people be,
Renewed to life again.
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Instead of living as You taught,
our lives are full of greed.
We’re chasing after the things we want,
and missing what we need.
Each day moves us closer still
to brokenness and hate,
so Jesus come back to our world,
before it’s all too late.
Yes, Jesus come back to our world,
and love away the hate.

© Copyright 2008 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh

Meditation from Joanne Lowe

OUR SHEPHERD OF LOVE

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
Isaiah 40: 11 (King James Version)

Just as a shepherd gathers the lambs when they go astray so our Shepherd of love gathers us when we go astray. Jesus leads us through all the dangerous, rough and rocky obstacles that satan puts in our lives. Jesus loves us so much and is very protective of us. Not only is Jesus our Saviour and friend, He is also our Shepherd of love.

When we become overwhelmed with the crises in our lives and feel like we can’t take another step or give another smile, He picks us up and carries us. He is always with us. He never leaves us, not even for one minute. We sometimes leave Him but He remains faithful to us. O that you and I would be as faithful to Him as He is to us.

There are times when we do things the way we want to do them and do things that we want to do rather than doing things His way and doing the things that He wants to do. If you have strayed off the path He has put you on, allow Him to gently lead you back on the right path, the path that He has set for you. His way is always the best way.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, our Shepherd of love. May we be as faithful to Him as He is to us. We pray that You would please keep us from straying off the path You have set for us. May we die to our own selfish wants and desires and do the things that make Jesus happy. We love You, Heavenly Father, and we appreciate You.
Amen.
Joanne Lowe
joannelowe8@cox.net
www.joanne-ourprecioussaviour.blogspot.com

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Trailer for 'THE THIRD JIHAD'

Still wondering what all the fuss is about over radical Islam? Watch this trailer to 'The Third Jihad' and you'll find out for yourself.


Bill Gates: '11 Things you won't learn at school.'


Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world doesn't care about your
self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6 : If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault , so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now.. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Does TREASON not matter any more, Alan Johnson?

Islam4UK plan to march in Wootton Bassett
What sort of toothless Government do we have when it fails to act against a self-proclaimed Islamic activist promotes an act of racially motivated hatred as part of his plans to destabilise the United Kingdom and attempt, by a series of such destabilising actions, to replace the governement of this once great nation with a hard-line Islamic State?

For assuredly, this is exactly what the Islamic fundamentalist cleric Anjem Choudary plans through his organisation which now goes under the name of Islam4UK. This is nothing less, of course, than his banned extremist organisation al-Muhajiroun under a different name.

This dangerous fanatic is the same man who has hailed the perpetrators of the 9/ll bombing atrocity as martyrs. Why is he allowed to remain in the United Kingdom at all, and certainly free to promulgate his brand of religious and racial hatred, something that he openly does without, it appears, any concern for the authorities.

His plans to parade '500 hard-line members of the group Islam4UK' through Wootten Bassett is an outrage against common decency, the people of the United Kingdom and the UK Government, not that any of that will phase this atrocious bigot. That such a parade will certainly create an atmosphere of violent reprisal is seen by him as encouragement to continue with his plans to usurp the rule of law in the UK.

If there was an alternative religious group who planned a similar march of power-demonstration in an Islamic nation then you can guarantee that they would be dispatched in a bloody manner with great haste, and the main leaders would be summarily executed in a very public manner. Fortunately for Choudary and his ilk, nations such as the UK do not practise such barbarism in order to religiously subjugate their population, but we should at least despatch Choudary and his ardent followers to a nation more appreciative of their warped beliefs.

For far too long the United Kingdom has granted sanctuary and given nurture to these fanatics who seek one aim --- to destroy the centuries-old form of government based upon Christian beliefs and impose the draconian Islamic system that is promoted in particular by the Wahabi dynasty.

The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, has allegedly said that he would have no hesitation in banning this march if requested to do so by Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire County Council. What sort of Home Secretary is he if he cannot ban it as being against the National Interest? If it is allowed to go ahead then it will be an affront to the entire nation, including those Muslims who do not support the extremes of Islamic fanatacism.

Dear Mr Johnson,
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I challenge you to do the following, in the interest of public safety and National Security:
  • Ban this march outright
  • Outlaw the organisation, Isla4Uk
  • Either incarcerate or deport Choudary and all other Islamic extremists as being a threat to the nation and its security.
Will you do it? I have my doubts, judging by the general attitude of the government over the past decade. Could you do it? Of course you could. Not only that, but it would be a vote-winner as well, which appears to be the prime consideration for most government decisions.

Poem for Today: '9/11 Remembered'

9/11 Remembered
Close your eyes and try to keep out the dust;
Close your ears and try to keep out the sounds;
Close your mind and try to keep out the pain.

What now? Now that the years are passing,
and the ground no longer blossoms red?

What now? Now that the cloying dust has turned
into a vast bouquet of concrete roses?

What now? Now that the mind, in relaxed moments,
recalls the awful sounds of people screaming,
people crying,
--- of people dying?
What now?

Are all the lessons learned?
Has hatred turned to love?

Or is the world the same, despite the rhetoric
that it was changed for ever on that day?

So many questions. So many questions.

Yet still no answers from the growing shroud
that covers all the mounting dead.

Still no answers from the bleating throng
who find their solace in the world instead.

Still no peace exists 'tween man and man,
nor ever will as long as hate exists.

So on this day, when we recall the horror
of that day when life was changed,
let us make a stand for peace,
a stand for love,
a stand for Christ;

and in His name, pray to our God above
that our world will change again.
Yet let this change be one that turns on love.
© Copyright 2009 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Une Méditation pour la Nouvelle année. . .

Cela a été demandé une fois à Karl Barth, discutablement un des plus grands théologiens qui ont jamais vécu, qui la perspicacité théologique la plus profonde qui il avait jamais su était. Après que quelques délibération des moments qu'il a dit simplement, ‘Jésus m'aime, ce que je sais, car la Bible me dit donc. '
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Je suis sûr que nous apprécions tous une bonne histoire de l'amour, et d'enfance tôt nous sommes élevés sur ‘fins Heureuses '. À ce temps de l'année il y a mime être exécuté à foison autour du pays, et beaucoup des histoires de base qui se trouvent derrière eux sont des histoires de l'amour. Par exemple, prenez Cendrillon qui est une histoire de l'amour classique au sujet de put pauvre sur Cendrillon qui tombe amoureux de Prince Charmer.
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Mais il y a une histoire de l'amour qui est éternelle et interminable, et c'est l'histoire de l'amour de Dieu pour les gens. Bien sûr nous savons que Dieu a toujours aimé des gens du même commencement, bien qu'Il ait été de temps en temps fâché avec eux. Après tout, ne faites pas tout de nous qui sont les parents disent à un moment ou un autre que nous aimons toujours nos enfants bien que nous ne puissions pas les aimer quelquefois.
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Il y a juste sur deux mille années quelque chose de miraculeux s'est produit, le même de qui n'avait jamais été vu auparavant et ne s'est jamais passé depuis; Dieu est venu réaliste de vivre parmi Ses gens sur cette nuit quand Jésus est né dans l'écurie à Bethléem. Il n'est pas venu purement pour une visite, mais avec un but, et ce but était mettre dans opération Son plan pour le salut d'espèce humaine.
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Le monde était alors une place coupable, de même que c'est maintenant. La Bible nous dit que pas seul fait entièrement Dieu péché de la haine, mais qu'Il demande le châtiment pour lui par mort pour le pécheur. Encore Dieu aime aussi Ses gens avec tel amour terrible. Comment est-ce qu'Il pourrait exiger le paiement pour péché ―le résultat de lequel exilerait Ses gens de Lui pour éternité cependant encore trouve un moyen les pardonner et les réconcilier encore une fois à Lui-même?
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C'était cette énigme qui a résulté si il y a longtemps en la naissance de Jésus sur cette nuit. Né dans le plus humble de circonstances, Il est né pour un but, et ce but prendrait trente-trois années être accompli.
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Ce n'est pas dur pour n'importe qui qui est un parent pour imaginer la scène dans cette écurie. Dans ces jours les maisons étaient ce que nous nous reporterions maintenant à comme habitations polyvalentes. Les animaux vivaient sur le whilst égal inférieur que la famille habitait au-dessus dans les pièces. L'écurie aurait adjoint les pièces de famille. C'est très probablement cette Mary a donné la naissance en une des pièces dans les bâtiments d'habitation mais a déplacé après dans l'écurie à cause de pénurie d'espace, en mettant tendrement son bébé nouveau-né dans la crèche qui avait été remplie de paille fraîche. Vous pouvez les imaginer regarder l'enfant minuscule avec un mélange d'inquiétude et amour intense, seulement le même comme tout nouveau parent veuillez.
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Le plus grand miracle d'au sujet de l'événement de Jésus la naissance ' est que c'était le point où Dieu et humanité ont rencontré dans un très vrai chemin. C'était le moment quand le Divin et l'être humain est arrivé à la plus grande intersection de vie être joint ensemble à jamais. La naissance de Jésus était beaucoup plus que juste la naissance d'un nouveau bébé, c'était la démonstration physique d'amour des Dieux pour Ses gens, amour qui a dépendu seulement de la personne qui aimait, amour qui était désintéressé et librement donné, même à ceux qui iraient le nier et refuser de l'accepter.
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Une des plus grandes tragédies dans ce monde est pour quelqu'un pour sentir qu'ils sont privés d'affection et non désirés. À cause de l'événement qui a eu lieu dans l'écurie qui nuit à Bethléem qui nuit de miracles, ce besoin n'est jamais le cas. Karl Barth a choisi le cantique ' Jésus m'aime ' pour citer de. Peut-être je peux illustrer mon point avec le titre d'un autre grand cantique favori, ‘cela qui un ami que nous avons dans Jésus '.
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Le miracle de la naissance de Le Christ à Bethléem a été suivi par beaucoup d'autres miracles comme l'enfant a grandi dans un homme, en culminant avec le plus grand miracle de tout quand Jésus est devenu l'Agneau de Dieu sacrificatoire et est mort sur la croix à Calvaire comme l'une fois pour tout le paiement pour les péchés d'espèce humaine. Le prix de péché qui Dieu a demandé a été payé dans plein pour tout le monde qui choisit de réclamer Jésus Christ comme leur Rédempteur et le reconnaître Seigneur.
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Le cantique écrivain nous dit que ‘Dieu est Amour ', et les débuts de l'histoire de l'amour pour nous à Bethléem dans cette écurie, continue à la croix à Calvaire, et sur dans une éternité dépensée avec Le Christ notre Rédempteur. C'est une histoire de l'amour qu'embrasse tout et nous assure que rien ne peut nous séparer jamais de l'amour de Dieu dans Le Christ Jesus, notre Seigneur et Rédempteur.
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J'ai commencé en citant les mots du cantique, ‘Jésus m'aime ', et maintenant je conclurai avec une ligne d'un autre cantique célèbre par Samuel Medley (1738-1799):
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Je sais que mes vies du Rédempteur!
Quelle joie que l'assurance du bienheureux donne!
Il vit, Il vit, qui était mort une fois;
Il vit, ma Tête éternelle!
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Il vit, me bénir avec Son amour;
Il vit pour m'implorer au-dessus;
Il vit, mon âme affamée nourrir;
Il vit, aider à temps de besoin.
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Quel amour étonnant! Et c'est là pour tout de nous partager dans, simplement pour le demander.

Eine Meditation für das Neue Jahr. . .

Karl Barth, wohl einer von den größten Theologen, die je gelebt haben, wurde einmal gefragt was der tiefgründigste theologische Einblick war, den er je gewußt hatte. Nach einiger Momente-Überlegung sagte er einfach, ‘Jesus liebt mich, dieses, das ich weiß, denn die Bibel sagt mir damit. '
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Ich bin sicher, daß wir alle eine gute Liebesgeschichte schätzen, und von früher Kindheit werden wir auf ‘-Happy-Ends ' gehoben. Zu dieser Zeit vom Jahr dort sind Pantomimen, die in Hülle und Fülle um das Land aufgeführt werden, und viele von den grundlegenden Geschichten, die hinter ihnen liegen, sind Liebesgeschichten. Zum Beispiel, nehmen Sie Aschenputtel, das eine klassische Liebesgeschichte über armes gesetztes auf Aschenputtel ist, das sich in Prinz Charming verliebt.
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Aber es gibt man Liebesgeschichte, die zeitlos und endlos ist, und das ist die Geschichte von Gottes Liebe für Leute. Natürlich wissen wir, daß Gott immer Leute vom genauen Anfang an geliebt hat, obwohl Er bisweilen bös auf ihnen gewesen ist. Doch, machen Sie nicht alles von uns, wer einmal Eltern-Meinung oder noch ein sind, daß wir immer unsere Kinder lieben, obwohl wir sie manchmal nicht mögen könnten.
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Nur über vor zwei tausend Jahren etwas wunderbare kam vor, das Ähnliche von dem nie vorher gesehen worden war und nie seit es passiert ist; Gott kam zur Erde, um an dieser Nacht, als Jesus im Stall bei Bethlehem getragen wurde, unter Seinen Leuten zu leben. Er kam nicht rein für einen Besuch, aber mit einem Zweck, und dieser Zweck war Plan für die Rettung der Menschheit in Operation His zu setzen.
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Die Welt war dann eine sündhafte Stelle, ebenso wie es jetzt ist. Die Bibel sagt uns, daß Gott nicht nur Sünde insgesamt haßt, aber daß Er Vergeltung dafür als der Tod für den Sünder fordert. Doch liebt Gott auch His Leute mit solcher gewaltiger Liebe. Wie konnte er der Zahlung für Sünde ―das Ergebnis fordern von dem für Ewigkeit seine Leute von ihm verbannen würde, doch immer noch ein Mittel finden, ihnen zu vergeben und sie einmal mehr zu sich zu versöhnen?
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Es war dieses Rätsel, das so vor langer Zeit in die Geburt von Jesus an dieser Nacht resultierte. In den demütigsten von Umständen geboren wurde Er für einen Zweck geboren, und dieser Zweck würde dreiunddreißig Jahre dauern, die erfüllt werden sollten.
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Es ist schwierig für niemanden, der Elternteil ist, um sich die Szene in diesem Stall vorzustellen. Damals waren die Häuser das, auf das wir uns jetzt als Multizweck-Wohnungen beziehen würden. Die Tiere lebten auf dem niedrigeren Niveau, während die Familie oben in Zimmern wohnte. Der Stall hätte aneinandergegrenzt, die Familie wohnt. Es ist höchst wahrscheinlich, daß Mary Geburt in einem der Zimmer im lebenden Quartier gab, aber wegen Mangels an Raum danach in den Stall zog und ihr neugeborenes Baby zärtlich in die Krippe legte, die mit frischem Stroh gefüllt worden war. Sie können sie sich den winzigen Säugling mit einer Mischung von Sorge und intensiver Liebe ansehen vorstellen, nur das Gleiche als irgendein neuer Elternteil würde.
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Das großartigste Wunder von überall um dem Ereignis von Jesus ' Geburt ist, daß es der Punkt war, wo sich Gott und die Menschheit auf eine sehr wirkliche Weise trafen. Dies war der Moment, als der Theologe und der Mensch bei der größten Kreuzung von Leben ankamen, die ewig zusammen verbunden werden sollte. Die Geburt von Jesus war viel mehr als nur die Geburt eines neuen Babys, es war die physische Demonstration der Götter-Liebe für Seine Leute, lieben Sie das auf nur der Person abhing, die liebte, lieben Sie das selbstlos und frei gegeben war, zu sogar jenen, die vor sich gingen, es zu bestreiten und abzulehnen, es anzunehmen.
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Eine der großartigsten Tragödien in dieser Welt ist für jemanden, um sich zu fühlen, daß sie ungeliebt und unerwünscht sind. Wegen des Ereignisses, das im Stall stattfand, der Nacht in Bethlehem, diese Nacht von Wundern, dieses Bedürfnis ist nie der Fall. Karl Barth wählte, daß die Hymne ' Jesus mir ' liebt, davon zu zitieren. Vielleicht kann ich meinen Punkt mit dem Titel einer weiteren großen Favoritenhymne illustrieren, ‘was für ein Freund, den wir in Jesus ' haben.
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Das Wunder von der Geburt von Christus in Bethlehem wurde von vielen anderen Wundern gefolgt, als das Kind in einen Mann wuchs, und gipfelte mit dem großartigsten Wunder von allem, als Jesus das aufopferungsvolle Lamm von Gott wurde und auf dem Kreuz bei Kalvarienberg als es starb, das einmal für alle Zahlung für die Sünden der Menschheit. Der Preis von Sünde, die Gott forderte, ist vollständig für jeden gezahlt worden, der wählt, Jesus Christus als ihr Erlöser zu behaupten und Ihm Herrn anzuerkennen.
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Der Hymnenschriftsteller sagt uns, daß dieser ‘Gott Love ' ist, und die Liebesgeschichte beginnt für uns bei Bethlehem in diesem Stall, setzt zum Kreuz bei Kalvarienberg fort, und auf in eine Ewigkeit gab unseren Erlöser mit Christus aus. Es ist eine Liebesgeschichte, die alles umarmt und uns versichert, daß uns von der Liebe von Gott nichts je in Christus Jesus, unserem Herrn und unserem Erlöser trennen kann.
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Ich begann, indem ich die Wörter der Hymne zitierte, ‘Jesus liebt mir ', und jetzt werde ich mit einer Linie von einer weiteren wohlbekannten Hymne von Samuel Medley (1738-1799) schließen:
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Ich weiß, daß mein Erlöser lebt!
Welche Freude, die die blest-Zusicherung gibt!
Er lebt, Er lebt, der einmal tot war,;
Er lebt, mein ewiger Head!
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Er lebt, mich mit Seiner Liebe zu segnen;
Er lebt, oben für mich zu plädieren;
Er lebt, meine hungrige Seele, um sich zu ernähren,;
Er lebt, in Zeit des Bedürfnisses zu helfen.
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Das was das Erstaunen von Liebe! Und es ist für alles von uns dort, darin zu teilen, einfach für das Fragen.

Mi Nuevo Mensaje del Año para Meditar en. . .

Karl Barth, discutiblemente uno de los más grandes teólogos que han vivido alguna vez, se preguntó eso una vez que la visión teológica más profunda que él había sabido alguna vez era. Después de que unos deliberación de los momentos que él simplemente dijo, ‘Jesús me ama, esto que yo sé, porque la Biblia me dice para que. '
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Yo estoy seguro que todos nosotros apreciamos una historia de amor buena, y de la niñez temprana nosotros nos levantamos en ‘los fines Felices '. En este momento del año hay pantomimas que se realizan abundantemente alrededor del país, y muchas de las historias básicas que quedan detrás de ellos son las historias de amor. Por ejemplo, tome Cenicienta que es una historia de amor clásica sobre el pobres poner-en Cenicienta que se enamora del Príncipe Encantar.
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Pero hay una historia de amor que es eterna e interminable, y ésa es la historia del amor de Dios para las personas. Claro nosotros sabemos que Dios siempre ha amado a las personas del mismo principio, aunque Él de vez en cuando ha estado enfadado con ellos. Después de todos, no haga todos nosotros quién es los padres dicen alguna vez que nosotros siempre amamos a nuestros niños aunque no podrían gustarnos a veces ellos.
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Hace simplemente encima de dos mil años algo milagroso ocurrió, el gusta de que nunca se había visto antes y nunca ha pasado subsecuentemente; Dios se redujo a la tierra para vivir entre Sus personas en esa noche cuando Jesús estuvo en el establo en Belén. Él no vino puramente para una visita, pero con un propósito, y ese propósito era poner en el funcionamiento Su plan para la salvación de humanidad.
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El mundo era entonces un lugar pecador, así como es ahora. La Biblia nos dice que no sólo hace Dios en total el pecado de odio, pero que Él exige la retribución por la vía de para él la muerte para el pecador. Todavía Dios también ama a Sus personas con el tal tremendo amor. ¿Cómo Él podría exigir el pago para el pecado ―el resultado de qué desterraría todavía todavía a Sus personas de Él para la eternidad encuentre un medios para perdonarlos y reconciliarselos más una vez a Él?
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Era este rompecabezas que producía el nacimiento de Jesús tan hace tiempo en esa noche. Nacido en el más humilde de circunstancias, Él nació para un propósito, y ese propósito tomaría treinta y tres años ser cumplido.
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No es duro para cualquiera que es un padre para imaginar la escena en ese establo. Por esos días las casas eran lo que nosotros nos referiríamos ahora a como las moradas para uso múltiple. Los animales se mantuvieron en el más bajo nivel aunque la familia vivió anteriormente en los cuartos. El establo habría estado uniendo los cuartos familiares. El más probablemente es esa Mary dio el nacimiento en uno de los cuartos en los cuartos vivientes pero pasó después al establo debido a la escasez de espacio, mientras poniendo a su bebé recién nacido tiernamente en el pesebre que había estado lleno con la paja fresca. Usted puede imaginarlos mirando al infante diminuto con una mezcla de preocupación y el intenso amor, sólo igual que cualquier nuevo padre habría.
El más gran milagro de por todas partes el evento de Jesús el nacimiento de ' está que era el punto dónde Dios y humanidad se encontraron de una manera muy real. Éste era el momento cuando el Divino y el humano llegó a la más gran intersección de vida a unirse juntos para siempre. El nacimiento de Jesús era mucho más de sólo el nacimiento de un nuevo bebé, era la demostración física de amor de los Dioses para Sus personas, amor que sólo dependía de la persona que amó, amor que era generoso y libremente dado, incluso a aquéllos que seguirían negarlo y negarse a aceptarlo.
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Una de las más grandes tragedias en este mundo es para alguien sentirse que ellos son los unloved y no deseado. Debido al evento que tuvo lugar en el establo que nocturno en Belén que noche de milagros, esta necesidad nunca es el caso. Karl Barth escogió el himno que ' Jesús me ama ' para citar de. Quizás yo puedo ilustrar mi punto con el título de otro gran himno favorito, ‘eso que un amigo que nosotros tenemos en Jesús '.
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El milagro del nacimiento de Cristo en Belén se siguió por muchos otros milagros como el niño creció en un hombre, mientras culminando con el más gran milagro de todos cuando Jesús se volvió el Cordero de Dios sacrificatorio y se murió en la cruz en el Calvario como el una vez-para-todos el pago para los pecados de humanidad. El precio de pecado que Dios exigió ha estado totalmente pagado para todos que escogemos exigir a Jesús Christ como su Redentor y reconocerlo Señor.
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El himno-escritor nos dice que ‘Dios es el Amor ', y las salidas de historia de amor para nosotros en Belén en ese establo, continúa a la cruz en el Calvario, y en en una eternidad gastada con Cristo nuestro Redentor. Es una historia de amor que abraza todo y nos asegura que nada puede separarnos en la vida del amor de Dios en Cristo Jesus, nuestro Señor y Redentor.
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Yo empecé citando las palabras del himno, ‘Jesús me ama ', y ahora yo concluiré con una línea de otro himno muy conocido por la Samuel Medley (1738-1799):
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¡Yo sé que mis vidas del Redentor!
¡Qué alegría que la convicción del blest da!
Él vive, Él vive, quién una vez estaba muerto;
¡Él vive, mi Cabeza eterna!
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Él vive, para bendecirme con Su amor;
Él vive para suplicar para mí sobre;
Él vive, mi alma hambrienta a alimente;
Él vive, para ayudar a tiempo de necesidad.
¡. Qué amor asombroso! Y está allí para todos nosotros compartir en, simplemente por el preguntar.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Poem for Today: The Birth and Adoration of Christ


I
The angel comes to bring the news
Of the Christ child’s virgin birth;
Poor shepherds in the starlit fields
Are the first to hear on Earth.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


Though at first they gaze in fear
It quickly turns to joy,
They marvel at the angelic choir
And leave to find the boy.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


‘In David’s town’, the angel said,
that’s where the Christ child lay,
You’ll find Him wrapped in cloths,
In a manger filled with hay.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


To Bethlehem they went,
To the stable rough and bare,
And on their knees they worshipped
The Saviour lying there.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


They told the wondrous story
Of all they’d seen that night,
Of the choir of heavenly angels,
Of the glory of God’s light.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


All who heard them wondered
At the words the shepherds spoke.
Mary smiled at the infant Christ,
Now cradled in her cloak.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


The shepherds homeward sped,
Returning to their sheep,
Praising Almighty God,
Whilst the infant child did sleep.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


II
Scripture had foretold the birth
Of a ruler, who would bring
Peace on Earth to all men;
Of Christ, the shepherd king.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


Then Herod, with a secret plan,
Sent the Magi on their way:
He bid them go and find the place
Where the infant king did lay
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Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


Having listened to the king,
They travelled on their journey far,
To find where the child lay
They followed the shining star.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


The star stopped, shining bright
Above the house with the infant boy,
And when the Magi saw it
They praised with exceeding joy.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


Inside the house they saw Him
As in Mary’s arms he lay:
Their gifts they placed before Him,
Then left for their homeward way.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


God had warned them in a dream
To say nothing to the king,
So they returned a different way
And told him not a thing.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!


Then an angel appeared to Joseph
Saying to Egypt they all must run,
Fulfilling the words of the prophet,
‘Out of Egypt did I call My Son.

Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

© Colin Gordon-Farleigh, December 2005