A new 'Hymn for Today' : "Walking in the Footsteps"

Walking in the Footsteps 76 76
TUNE: CaraWe’re walking in the footsteps
Where our dear Lord once trod;
We’re marching ever onward
To glory and to God.

The saving grace of Jesus,
Is something you must know,
To take the Gospel message
To every place you go.

The Saviour offers freedom
To all who know His name;
The offer of salvation
Is waiting to be claimed.

The message is so simple,
It speaks of God above;
Of how He sent us Jesus,
To save us by His love.

It tells of grace and mercy,
Of freedom from earth’s strife;
And points us ever onward
To everlasting life.
© 2011 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh

Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel

April 7-8 marks Yom Hashoah or Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel. Yom Hashoah was established in Israel in 1953 by David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, as a day to commemorate the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. According to the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the American Jewish Yearbook placed the total Jewish population of Europe at about 9.5 million in 1933. This number represented more than 60 percent of the world’s Jewish population, which was estimated at 15.3 million. Most European Jews resided in eastern Europe, with about 5 1/2 million Jews living in Poland and the Soviet Union. Before the Nazi takeover of power in 1933, Europe had a dynamic and highly developed Jewish culture. In little more than a decade, most of Europe would be conquered, occupied, or annexed by Nazi Germany and most European Jews–two out of every three–would be dead. A large segment Israel’s population are the survivors of the Holocaust or children of survivors.

Yom Hashoah is a solemn day in Israel which is inaugurated the evening before the actual day, since the Jewish calendar follows the moon rather than the sun. Yom Hashoah begins with a special ceremony at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, where the Israeli flag is lowered to half-mast, the Prime Minister gives a speech, and Holocaust survivors light torches symbolizing the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. Yad Vashem is Israel’s national Holocaust Museum and a common destination for foreign visitors upon arrival in Israel. It is one of the most comprehensive Holocaust museums in the entire world.

On the eve of Yom Hashoah, places of entertainment, such as theaters, pubs, and cinemas, are shut down. Additionally, throughout Yom Hashoah, documentaries and films about the Holocaust are shown on Israeli television. Sad solemn songs are usually plaid on the radio. One won’t hear people blasting lively music on this day in Israel. The news media will also discuss the Holocaust and remind readers and viewers of that dark chapter in Jewish history.

At 10am the following morning, sirens are heard throughout Israel for two minutes. Israelis every where stop what they are doing and stand up out of respect. It does not matter if one is driving ones car, taking a train or bus, walking to the grocery store, working, studying, sleeping, etc. Every one drops what they are doing in order to commemorate the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust within Israel and show their respect to the Holocaust victims and survivors.

After that, ceremonies are usually held at schools, military bases, and by various organizations within Israel. Ben-Gurion University, for example, usually invites a Holocaust survivor to come in and speak in front of the students, as the studying ceases for about an hour to remember the fate of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. The President of Ben-Gurion University, Rivka Carmi, also usually speaks on this occasion and students who are descended from Holocaust survivors are called up to light torches. Poetry related to the Holocaust is also recited and the ceremony concludes with the singing of Hatikva, Israel’s national anthem. Other ceremonies held throughout the country are quite similar to that at Ben-Gurion University. Indeed, it is a powerful experience to commemorate Yom Ha-Shoah within the Holy Land.

To view a video of the Holocaust Memorial Day siren in Israel, see below!

By Rachel Avraham

Christian Art to use in your magazine.

 Here are a few pieces of art for you to use in your Church bulletin or magazine.

A new 'Hymn for Today' : Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy    LM

TUNE: Church Triumphant

We stand in awe of Your great pow’r,

Bathed in the vastness of Your love;

Then ’Holy, holy, holy,’ sing,

To send our praise to heaven above.

Then, as we sing, angelic choirs

Will echo loud our song of praise,

As, standing in celestial light,

Our hands and voices to You raise.

Looking up to highest heaven,

Now we will all, with one accord,

Commit our lives to You once more,

Sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy,’ Lord.

© 2006 :  Colin Gordon-Farleigh

I hope that you will enjoy singing this hymn in your worship services and School Assemblies. Feel free to copy and paste it or share it on your Facebook page. All I ask of you is that you report its use in services to CCLI.

A new 'Hymn for Today' : "Restore Us Lord!"

Restore Us Lord!    CM

TUNE: Abergele

Renew us Lord, without delay,

As in those early days;

Remind us of the vows we made

To follow in Your ways.

Then we, with laughter, will be filled,

We’ll sing with joyful heart;

Acknowledge each amazing thing,

Done for us from the start.

As streams of living waters flow,

And life to deserts bring;

So we will give ourselves to You,

And worship You, our King!

What everlasting joy we’ll know,

When at Your feet we bow;

To know that we have served You Lord,

For You’ve restored us now.

© 2006 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh

Beautiful places for Great Escapes

This canal cottage in Holland would be a perfect choice for your great escape.

 Perhaps you like the thought of somewhere more remote like this clifftop retreat in Meteora, Greece.

Now this is back-to-nature. This rondavel can be found in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The Serengeti is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Africa, and is renowned for its large population of lions. It's considered one of the best places to observe prides of lions in their natural environment.  

This Roatan Island hideaway is the perfect getaway for you if you long for the tranquility of the sea.

Great Christian Quotes for today

"If the Lord tarries, there may yet be a grass-roots awakening that will overflow all sectarian barriers. There are a host of good people... who long for a visitation from heaven in old-time power. The kindling wood is scattered all round in all the churches. May God help us to rake off the ashes, uncover the live coals and may He blow upon us with the breath of His Spirit!"
-Vance Havner

"I would say without any hesitation that the most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching."
-Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones

"When a preacher is called from God, his sermon will be like a baptism of truth."
-Howard Spring

"The evangelist who preaches for eternity is never great on numbers.He is not apt to count hundreds of converts where there is no restitution, no confession..."
-E.M. Bounds.

"When the Gospel was preached in these first ages of the Church, it was revealed to the hearts and consciences of sinners with great power. They deferred not their repentance one day."
-Thomas Reade

"Destitute of the Fire of God, nothing else counts; possessing Fire, nothing else matters."
-Samuel Chadwick

Juliana Pasha sings "It's All About You"

A Hymn for Easter : 'Bells Are Ringing!'

Bells are Ringing!   878 10

Bells are ringing, people singing,

Glorious news on Easter day!

Jesus Christ, our blessed Saviour,

Is the life, is the Life, the Truth, the Way.

Bells are ringing, people singing,

Telling of Christ’s victory.

How He brings us true forgiveness;

How He comes, how He comes to set us free.

Bells are ringing, people singing,

Loudly now their voices raise.

Telling of this great salvation;

Singing out, singing out their songs of praise.

Bells are ringing, people singing,

Hear with joy the things they say;

Jesus Christ, our blessed Saviour,

Is alive, is  alive this Easter day!

© 2007 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh

Christ is Risen, Hallelujah!

CHRIST IS RISEN, HALLELUJAH!

.

Because Jesus Christ overcame death and the grave I, and the billions more who have accepted Him as their Saviour and Lord down through the ages since that black day al those centuries ago, have the hope of eternal life spent in His presence, according to His word.

The promise that Jesus made to return for the believers is firm and true because we know that God, and hence Christ, cannot lie.

.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The perfect hideaway for the Easter holiday!

 Looking for the perfect hideaway to take the one you love this Easter. Well, here's a few suggestions for you!

Happy Easter, 2013

 May God bless every one of you this Easter as you celebrate the resurrection of the first fruit of heaven.

Dallas CAIR leader proclaims: “We are above the law of the land”

WND EXCLUSIVE

'WE ARE ABOVE THE LAW OF THE LAND'

Muslim leader's stunning claim at Texas rally for Islam

by JOHN GRIFFING

Muslims living in America should not be bound by U.S. law, according to a leader of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who delivered the controversial message to a crowd at a Muslim rally in Austin, Texas.

“If we are practicing Muslims, we are above the law of the land,” said Mustafa Carroll, executive director of the Dallas-Fort Worth CAIR branch.

The rally in Austin was part of a nationwide effort to hold “Muslim Capitol Day” events.

According to the event website, Muslims from around Texas went to the capitol to “promote civic and political activism throughout the wider Muslim community.”

The organizers said one major issue discussed “was the recent House and Senate bill proposals involving the implementation of ‘anti-Shariah’ legislation, where the First Amendment rights and freedoms of Muslims would ultimately be hindered.”

Critics argue Shariah prohibits other faiths from free exercise of religion when enforced, giving freedom only to Muslims.

Carroll’s statement was similar to a statement allegedly made by CAIR co-founder and former chairman Omar M. Ahmad. He was paraphrased by a reporter saying, “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant” and the Quran “should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.”

Carroll began joking about the widespread concern about Shariah, the religious code that governs Muslim civil and political life.

“We tried to downplay Shariah, because we didn’t want to give the other side any excitement for being here,” he said.

He dismissed critics who express concern about Shariah, calling them “anti-foreign.”

“When you even say the word Shariah, people get nervous. We are not advocating for Shariah. We are not trying to make Shariah the law of the land,” he said.

Carroll claimed Muslims only want the “right to practice our faith.”

But he also said, “If you understand Shariah, the foundation of our faith … how we treat our neighbor, how we treat our parents … how we participate in society, all of that is part of Shariah.”

Carroll is on record defending Hamas, classified by the U.S. as a terrorist group.

“I think you can only blame Hamas for so long. It takes two to tango. And I think, you know, that what we’ve heard for a number of years is this terrorist, terrorist, terrorist, terrorist, Hamas, Hamas, Hamas, was not just Hamas,” he’s said.

At CAIR’s Dallas banquet in 2007, Carroll denied the Quran is the source of terrorism.

“Look at the true cause of the terrorism. It’s not somebody is reading a book, reading a Quran, and then go out and say, ‘Well, the Quran told me to blow this up. I’m gonna blow it up.’ The cause, the root cause of terrorism is oppression. The root cause of terrorism is oppression.”


Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/we-are-above-the-law-of-the-land/#7QLzhvWduD4lHW6I.99

A New Hymn for Today: "Alleluia!"

Here is my choice of hymn for today. I hope you enjoy singing it. Please feel free to share it with your friends, download it for use in your worship service or just sing along at home. Use in your service needs to be reported to CCLI, and you may copy it and print off as many copies as you need.

Alleluia! 8787
TUNE: All for Jesus 

Alleluia! Praise and glory,
Give to Jesus Christ the Lord.
His the everlasting story,
Saviour in a dying world.

He has come to show God’s mercy,
To an unbelieving world;
He has come to grant forgiveness,
He is Jesus Christ, the Lord.

He will guide you on life’s pathway,
Keep you on the narrow way;
He is ever walking with you,
Leading you both night and day.

Alleluia! Sing His praises!
Worship Him, the Saviour King.
Give Him glory, for He’s worthy,
To His feet your tributes bring!
© 2006 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh

Poem: "On Snow"

On Snow
Snow is falling softly o'er the ground,
covering the world for miles around.
There's a quiet peace in the air
as it drifts from up above us,
like a great white mantle;
spreading over field and roof
majestically superior, and aloof.
Tomorrow, maybe, we'll see the hollow
print of man and beast,
and more to follow;
after the midday feast there'll be
yet another covering
over every tree.
So stealthily it comes
when darkness falls.
Last year it covered all our walls;
and yet, like a dream, it fades away,
only to come another day,
just like a memory in our minds.
© Colin Gordon-Farleigh

I woke up to find that it was still snowing, and the snow cleared away yesterday has been replaced with yet more. When I was a child I saw the fun in it all, and wanted to go out and play in it, making snowmen and throwing snowballs; riding on a home-made sledge and getting warm from the sheer exuberance of all the exercise and enjoyment. Now that I am older I look at it, see the beauty of the undisturbed scenery, then worry that I shall fall if I go out in it.
How age changes your perceptions!
The above poem comes from my very first published collection of poetry, 'Memories' which was published in 1966, although it is now long out of print.

God is Never Blind to Your Tears

Pearls of wisdom to hold close to your heart, but also to share with your friends.

An Easter Worship Song

Here is a worship song for Easter with a great tune, easily learned. Why not use it in your forthcoming Easter Worship Services. Download it, copy it, project it --- just report its use to CCLI in the usual way.

Have You Heard? 8787
.
Have you heard the news of Jesus,
How He came the lost to save;
Dying on the tree of vict’ry,
Overcoming death and grave?

Now we celebrate that victory
On this glorious Easter Day!
Praising Christ, the blessed Saviour,
He’s the Truth, the Life, the Way.

Praise Him now, in celebration
Of His vict’ry over sin;
He has overcome the darkness,
Letting light come flooding in.

Lift your voices now in worship
On this sacred Day of Days:
Glorify our blesséd Saviour,
Sing in everlasting praise!
© 2007 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh

FREE SPEECH Resolution

Visit our News page Freedom of Speech Day Free Speech Resolution September 25, 2013, is the 224th anniversary of the passage of the Bill  of Rights by Congress. On that day, ACT! for America is going to remind America and the world  that free speech is something we cherish and will defend. We’ve declared September 25, 2013, to be “Freedom of Speech Day.”  It’s part of our “Americans United to Defend Free Speech” campaign. YOU can be part of “Freedom of Speech Day” by hosting a “Freedom of  Speech Day” event that day. To find out how you can be part of this  historic event click on the image below.  When a poll finds that six in ten Muslims in America believe criticism   of Islam should be banned…  …when American Muslim leaders pressure our Department of Justice  to find a way to criminalize speech critical of Islam… …when our State Department is assisting the Organization of Islamic   Cooperation (OIC) in its goal to criminalize free speech… …We need to stand up NOW and wake up America!!! Please also sign our open letter to Congress and the 50 state legislatures,  urging them to introduce and pass resolutions opposing implementation  of UN Resolution 16/18.  The OIC’s goal is to use UN Resolution 16/18 to pressure countries to   criminalize speech deemed “offensive” to Islam. (See this article in  the Saudi Gazette.)  Ten days ago legislation we supported in South Dakota, the Free  Speech Defense Act, was signed into law. As you can see, we’re making progress!! Now is the time to ACT! Let’s send a loud and clear message to our  friends and neighbors, to elected officials, and to Muslim organizations   intent on destroying our freedom of speech, that we will not stand by  and let this happen!  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Make sure you receive all of your messages from ACT for America. Add actforamerica@donationnet.net to your address book as an approved email sender. If you found this message in your "Bulk" or "Spam" folder, please click the "Not Spam" button to notify your provider that these are emails you want to receive. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACT for America P.O. Box 12765 Pensacola, FL 32591 www.actforamerica.org ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam.

Happy St Patrick's Day

I wish all of my Irish readers a very happy St Patrick's Day today!

Shariah Law in American Courts?

Did you know that in the past several years there have been over 50 court cases in America where sharia law was applied?

Most Americans don’t know this—including those in politics, the media and academia.

Consider the words of Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America, exhorting his followers to be politically active:

We must not forget that Allah’s rules must be established  in all lands, and all our efforts should lead to that direction.  (Pakistan Link, 10/18/1996)

Or the words of CAIR co-founder Omar Ahmad:
	Islam isn’t in America to be equal to  any other faith, but to become dominant. The Qur’an should be the highest  authority in America. (San Ramon Valley Herald, 7/4/1998)

Wouldn’t you agree that we should take Muslim leaders like Siddiqi and Ahmad at their word? That we should take this threat seriously?