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The west is being ‘out-spent, out-manoeuvred and out-strategised’ by violent Islamic extremism, Tony Blair has warned. He said there had been a failure to challenge the narrative that Islam was oppressed by the west which was fuelling extremism around the world. Too many people accepted the extremists' analysis that military actions taken by the west after the 9/11 attacks were directed at countries because they were Muslim and that it supported Israel because Israelis were Jews while Palestinians were Muslims. Speaking in New York to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Blair said it was impossible to defeat extremism ‘without defeating the narrative that nurtures it’. Moderate Muslims who believed in coexistence and tolerance were, he said, being undermined by the unwillingness of the west to take on the extremists' arguments. ‘Examine the education systems that succour it. And then measure, over the years, the paucity of our counter-attack in the name of peaceful coexistence.’ Pray: for strong leadership in all Christian nations to counter false Islamic arguments. (Jn 8:44) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/06/tony-blair-islamic-extremism-west
Elderly people who are lonely because they do not see friends or family regularly are almost 50 per cent more likely to die before their time than those who do, a stark new study shows. British researchers found that social isolation could dramatically increase the risk of mortality in both men and women, even after underlying health problems are taken into account. They concluded that simply enabling people to get out and about more often would not only make feel them less lonely but actively increase their life expectancy. It follows a series of studies showing higher instances of conditions such as heart disease and dementia among those who live in isolation. There have also been studies linking the emotional effects of loneliness with high blood pressure and stress-induced conditions. But the latest study goes further than previous research to establish a link between isolation and early death.
Pray: for the lonely and for us all to do more to bring older people into the heart of our communities (Ps.25:16)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9953019/Toll-of-loneliness-isolation-increases-risk-of-death-study-finds.html
Teachers have branded more than 20,000 primary school children racist or homophobic following spats in the playground, figures have disclosed. Even some toddlers in nursery schools have been reported to local authorities for so-called hate speech. Critics have hit out at local authorities saying they are overreacting about playground squabbles. Under the 2000 Race Relations Act schools are obliged to report all ‘hate speech’ incidents to local authorities. Adrian Hart, of the Manifesto Club, called for the Government to ditch the policy of ‘hate speech’ reporting in schools. He said: ‘Children need space to play and to learn the meaning of words, without being reported to the local education authority. These policies are an inappropriate intervention into playground life, and undermine teachers’ ability to set a moral example to children and to teach them right from wrong. There is a world of difference between racist abuse and primary school playground spats.’
Pray: for a more moderate, sensible approach to managing ‘playground’ behaviour. (Ps.32:8)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/toddlers-among-thousands-of-children-branded-racist/
Responses to a public consultation on cosmetic surgery have shown strong support for a ban on cut-price deals and aggressive selling. A summary of responses from patients, the public and industry has been published as part of the review set up after the PIP breast implant scandal. Cosmetic surgeons said procedures should not be sold as 'a commodity'. GP Dr Rosemary Leonard, the BBC Breakfast doctor and review committee member, said patients should always talk to a doctor first. 'It is wrong that the first consultation is with a sales person rather than a medical professional,' she said. 'Surgery - indeed any cosmetic intervention - is a serious step, and a patient must be told about the immediate side effects after surgery as well as any potential long term effects on their health.' A final report, by Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS medical director leading the English review, is due in March 2013.
Pray: for a greater acceptance of one's own body and that poor practice in cosmetic surgery be eliminated. (Php.2:3-4)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20850284
The Russian Orthodox Church has threatened to withdraw from dialogue with Anglicans because of the ‘liberalism and relativism’ of some Anglican Churches, and the development of women bishops in the Church of England. In a speech at Lambeth Palace a week ago, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk attacked the Anglican Church for what he described as ‘betraying our common witness by departing from traditional Christian values and replacing them by contemporary secular standards’. He urged the Archbishop of Canterbury to resist pressure from liberal Anglicans. His prolonged attack on liberalism in the Anglican Church stunned Dr Williams, onlookers said. He said ‘The abyss that exists today divides not so much the Orthodox from the Catholics or the Catholics from the Protestants as it does the ‘traditionalists’ from the ‘liberals’. Pray: that fundamental reconciliation between the two churches may be reached to promote the Kingdom. (Mt 5:24)
Last weekend thousands of people marched in Glasgow protesting against government cuts and calling for a just UK-wide economic policy. The People First rally brought together politicians from a range of parties, trade unionists and faith groups campaigning to protect those hardest hit by service and benefits cuts across Britain. The march included a range of fringe events in places of worship, student unions and hotels across the city. The aim was to send a clear message to the coalition Government of the need for a Plan B to avoid recession, rising poverty and damaging cuts in services.
Pray: for Chancellor George Osborne and the coalition as they develop strategies to close the economic gap between rich and poor. (1Sa.2:8)
The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court admits Service Personnel, many of them recovering from injuries sustained whilst deployed on operations. The aim of rehabilitation is to restore a patient’s lost function and maximize their capacity and independence. DMRC Headley Court has extensive gardens and orchards and a large greenhouse. A Christian physiotherapist Major has obtained permission to use a small part of this area for horticultural therapy. The Headley Walled Garden project seeks to broaden and diversify the rehabilitation already on offer, creating a space where physical, psychological, cognitive and neurological rehabilitation can occur in synchrony.
Pray: for courage and energy for the patients as they work to return to ‘normal’ life; for their families as they adjust to life with a severely disabled family member; that through the gift of creation and growth, God’s message of hope will speak out to the patients involved in the Walled Garden project. (Is.40:31)
More: http://britisharmy.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/reality-check/
A think tank has criticised the Government’s record on supporting marriage and the family. The Centre for Social Justice gave the Government a score of just two out of 10 for its efforts to reverse high and damaging levels of family breakdown. Its new report has been published to coincide with the first anniversary of the formation of the Coalition. It says that pre-election promises by Prime Minister David Cameron to reinstate a tax break for marriage have ‘moved off the radar’ as a result of deals done with the Liberal Democrats. ‘Some of the vital measures committed to by the Conservative Party in opposition appear to have been watered down during Coalition negotiations,’ the report says. The report describes as ‘paltry’ the £7.5 million committed to relationship support, in spite of the evidence linking marriage and positive child development.
Pray: that the government would reconsider its strength of support for marriage and family. (Jer.29:6)
A leading independent think tank has claimed that the Government is failing to sufficiently support marriage and the family. The Centre for Social Justice, set up by Iain Duncan Smith, has published a report detailing the Governments progress in family-related policies. The report gives the Government only four out of ten for its family policy, stating that, ‘There is still no solid commitment to actively prevent family breakdown or recognition of the important contribution of marriage to stability.’ The report suggests, ‘strong, stable families are central to improving outcomes for our children – and what children want most is to live with both their parents if possible. Strengthening families requires supporting marriage, helping people build strong relationships and providing coordinated help for our most chaotic families. Changing the culture so that family stability is valued by society requires strong governmental leadership and bold decision-making.’
Pray: for the hundreds of Christian initiatives supporting parenting and families and similar proposed government initiatives to make a positive impact on our nations values.(Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/think-tank-claims-government-is-failing-families
Members of the UK's biggest Bible translation organisation, Wycliffe Bible Translators, hiked Mount Kilimanjaro last month on a 'Prayer Climb' for the 800 African languages still awaiting the Bible. Nearly 2,000 language groups in the world are without a single verse of the Bible in their heart language - meaning over 200 million people cannot access Scripture in their own tongue. Karen Floor, Wycliffe South Africa Director, started the hike up Mount Kilimanjaro on 14 September alongside two Wycliffe supporters. During the hike, they carried a prayer banner with the collective prayers of God's people for the Lord to bless the spreading of his word through Bible translation. After completing the hike, Karen explained how the physical challenge of the Kilimanjaro climb acted as a metaphor for the wider challenge of Bible translation. She explained: ‘It was through grappling with the difficulty of communicating the immense challenge of bringing God's Word to millions of people through Bible translation that we began to use the mountain metaphor.’
Pray: that the prayers of the Wycliffe supporters and the work of the translators will be blessed. (Ps.88:2)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/theres.a.mountain.to.climb.in.bible.translation/34318.htm