What price a miracle?

A little girl went 

to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. 

She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three 

times, even The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. 

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she 

slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with 

the big red Indian Chief sign above the door. 

She waited patiently for 

the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. 

Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat 

with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good Finally she took a 

quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! 

'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of 

voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he 

said without waiting for a reply to his question. 

'Well, I want to talk 

to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's 

really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle.' 

'I beg your pardon?' 

said the pharmacist. 

'His name is Andrew and he has something bad 

growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now So how 

much does a miracle cost?' 

'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. 

I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little. 

'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get 

the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.' 

The pharmacist's brother was 

a well dressed man He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a 

miracle does your brother need?' 

' I don't know,' Tess replied with her 

eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an 

operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.' 

'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago 

'One dollar 

and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audibly. 

'And it's all the money 

I have, but I can get some more if I need to.' 

'Well, what a 

coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a 

miracle for little brothers. ' 

He took her money in one hand and with 

the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want 

to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you 

need.' 

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, 

specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it 

wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well. 

Mom and Dad were 

happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. 

'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how 

much it would have cost?' 

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a 

miracle cost..one dollar and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child. 

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need. 

A 

miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law. 

I know you'll keep the ball moving! 

Here it goes. Throw it back to 

someone who means something to you!

A ball is a circle, no beginning, no 

end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends. But the treasure inside 

for you to see is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me. 

Today 

I pass the friendship ball to you. 

Pass it on to someone who is a friend 

to you.

MY OATH TO YOU... 

When you are sad.....I will dry your 

tears. 

When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears. 

When 

you are worried.....I will give you hope. 

When you are confused......I 

will help you cope. 

And when you are lost...And can't see the light, I 

shall be your beacon....Shining ever so bright. 

This is my oath.....I 

pledge till the end. 

Why you may ask?....Because you're my friend. 

Signed: GOD 

Meow Try to find me

9 Tips to a Healthier You--in 10 Minutes Or Less

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Read 9 Tips to a Healthier You--in 10 Minutes Or Less.

A Dad's Story

On July 22nd I was in route to Washington , DC for a business trip.

It was all so very ordinary, until we landed in Denver for a plane change.
As I collected my belongings from the overhead bin, an announcement was made for Mr. Lloyd Glenn to see the United Customer Service Representative immediately.

I thought nothing of it until I reached the door to leave the plane and I heard a gentleman asking every male if he were Mr. Glenn. At this point I knew something was wrong and my heart sunk.

When I got off the plane a solemn-faced young man came toward me and said, 'Mr. Glenn, there is an emergency at your home. I do not know what the emergency is, or who is involved, but I will take you to the phone so you can call the hospital.'

My heart was now pounding, but the will to be calm took over. Woodenly, I followed this stranger to the distant telephone where I called the number he gave me for the Mission Hospital. My call was put through to the trauma centre where I learned that my three-year-old son had been trapped underneath the automatic garage door for several minutes, and that when my wife had found him he was dead. CPR had been performed by a neighbour, who is a doctor, and the paramedics had continued the treatment as Brian was transported to the hospital.

By the time of my call, Brian was revived and they believed he would live, but they did not know how much damage had been done to his brain, nor to his heart. They explained that the door had completely closed on his little sternum right over his heart. He had been severely crushed. After speaking with the medical staff, my wife sounded worried but not hysterical, and I took comfort in her calmness.

The return flight seemed to last forever, but finally I arrived at the hospital six hours after the garage door had come down. When I walked into the intensive care unit, nothing could have prepared me to see my little son laying so still on a great big bed with tubes and monitors everywhere. He was on a respirator. I glanced at my wife who stood and tried to give me a reassuring smile. It all seemed like a terrible dream. I was filled-in with the details and given a guarded prognosis. Brian was going to live, and the preliminary tests indicated that his heart was OK, two miracles in and of themselves. But only time would tell if his brain
received any damage.

Throughout the seemingly endless hours, my wife was calm. She felt that Brian would eventually be all right. I hung on to her words and faith like a lifeline. All that night and the next day Brian remained unconscious. It seemed like forever since I had left for my business trip the day before.

Finally at two o'clock that afternoon, our son regained consciousness and sat up uttering the most beautiful words I have ever heard spoken. He said, 'Daddy hold me' and he reached for me with his little arms.

[TEAR BREAK...smile]

By the next day he was pronounced as having no neurological or physical deficits, and the story of his miraculous survival spread throughout the hospital. You cannot imagine, we took Brian home, we felt a unique reverence for the life and love of our Heavenly Father that comes to those who brush death so closely.

In the days that followed there was a special spirit about our home. Our two older children were much closer to their little brother. My wife and I were much closer to each other, and all of us were very close as a whole family. Life took on a less stressful pace. Perspective seemed to be more focused, and balance much easier to gain and maintain. We felt deeply blessed. Our gratitude was truly profound.

The story is not over (smile)!

Almost a month later to the day of the accident, Brian awoke from his afternoon nap and said, 'Sit down Mommy.. I have something to tell you.' At this time in his life, Brian usually spoke in small phrases, so to say a large sentence surprised my wife. She sat down with him on his bed, and he began his sacred and remarkable story.

'Do you remember when I got stuck under the garage door? Well, it was so heavy and it hurt really bad.. I called to you, but you couldn't hear me.. I started to cry, but then it hurt too bad. And then the 'birdies' came.'

'The birdies?' my wife asked puzzled.

'Yes,' he replied. 'The birdies made a whooshing sound and flew into the
garage. They took care of me.'

'They did?'

'Yes,' he said. 'One of the birdies came and got you. She came to tell you 'I got stuck under the door.' A sweet reverent feeling filled the room. The spirit was so strong and yet lighter than air. My wife realized that a three-year-old had no concept of death and spirits, so he was referring to the beings who came to him from beyond as 'birdies' because they were up in the air like birds that fly... 'What did the birdies look like?' she asked.

Brian answered, 'They were so beautiful. They were dressed in white, all white. Some of them had green and white. But some of them had on just white.'

'Did they say anything?'

'Yes,' he answered. 'They told me the baby would be all right.'

'The baby?' my wife asked confused.

Brian answered. 'The baby laying on the garage floor.' He went on, 'You came out and opened the garage door and ran to the baby. You told the baby to stay and not leave.'

My wife nearly collapsed upon hearing this, for she had indeed gone and knelt beside Brian's body and seeing his crushed chest whispered, 'Don't leave us Brian, please stay if you can.' As she listened to Brian telling her the words she had spoken, she realised that the spirit had left His body and was looking down from above on this little lifeless form.. 'Then what happened?' she asked.

'We went on a trip,' he said, 'far, far away.' He grew agitated trying to say the things he didn't seem to have the words for. My wife tried to calm and comfort him, and let him know it would be okay. He struggled with wanting to tell something that obviously was very important to him, but finding the words was difficult.

'We flew so fast up in the air. They're so pretty Mommy,' he added. 'And there are lots and lots of birdies.' My wife was stunned. Into her mind the sweet comforting spirit enveloped her more soundly, but with an urgency she had never before known. Brian went on to tell her that the 'birdies' had told him that he had to come back and tell everyone about the 'birdies..' He said they brought him back to the house and that a big fire truck, and an ambulance were there. A man was bringing the baby out on a white bed and he tried to tell the man that the baby would be okay.
The story went on for an hour..

He taught us that 'birdies' were always with us, but we don't see them because we look with our eyes and we don't hear them because we listen with our ears. But they are always there, you can only see them in here (he put his hand over his heart). They whisper the things to help us to do what is right because they love us so much. Brian continued, stating, 'I have a plan, Mommy. You have a plan.. Daddy has a plan. Everyone has a plan. We must all live our plan and keep our promises. The birdies help us to do that cause they love us so much.'

In the weeks that followed, he often came to us and told all, or part of it, again and again. Always the story remained the same. The details were never changed or out of order.. A few times he added further bits of information and clarified the message he had already delivered. It never ceased to amaze us how he could tell such detail and speak beyond his ability when he talked about his birdies.

Everywhere he went, he told strangers about the 'birdies.' Surprisingly, no one ever looked at him strangely when he did this. Rather, they always got a softened look on their face and smiled. Needless to say, we have not been the same ever since that day, and I pray we never will be.

You have just been sent an Angel to watch over you. Some people come into our lives and quickly go...Some people become friends and stay a while....leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts .. and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present! Live and savor every moment...this is not a dress rehearsal! THIS IS A SPECIAL GUARDIAN ANGEL...

YOU MUST PASS THIS ON TO 5 PEOPLE WITHIN THE HOUR OF RECEIVING HER...IF
YOU HAVE PASSED HER ON, SHE'LL WATCH OVER YOU FOREVER.....

Now don't delete this message, because it comes from a very special Angel.

I passed this on, not because it says to, but because I hope everyone I
send it to, will be as blessed by reading it, as I was.

Greenbelt, ‘gay evangelicalism’ and CMS: Summer 2009

The articles published by Dr Lisa S Noland, Vinay Samuel & Chris Sugden are brought together to help those who want to follow the thread. The articles are from http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/

July 11th, 2009 Lisa Posted in Bisexuality, Children/Family, Culture, From Lisa's Lookout, Gay Marriage, Homosexuality, Marriage, Proselytization, Take Action! Comments Off

According to its website, ‘Greenbelt is an independent Christian charity working to express love, creativity and justice in the arts and contemporary culture in the light of the Christian gospel.’ It is the largest Christian festival in the UK, almost 20,000 strong, with a fascinating line-up of speakers, subjects, genres and modalities. It also appears strongly pro-gay. Gene Robinson, gay bishop poster boy (although oddly, that was not mentioned) and Giles Fraser, head of Inclusive Church (that was also not included) are on the rostrum, along with gay rights advocates Robert Beckford and Paula Gooder. Gay worship groups, OuterSpace and Journey, will be leading in worship. Read here and here, also here

This is rather worrying: it is called the gayification of the church. Almost more insidious is that it exists, cheek by jowl, with other worthwhile, important and solidly orthodox aspects, lulling those who might otherwise get upset into a false complacency that ‘things are not really that bad!’ I guess it all depends on what ‘bad’ means. That the Gay Pride flag was flown over London’s historic St Martin-in-the-Fields to celebrate Gay Pride days ago and that the Archbishop of Canterbury just met with a leading US LGBT group, although, oddly, there was no time to meet with the orthodox hounded out of their churches (which they have paid for and maintained) or those from ex/post-gay groups — two of the most recent examples — should speak volumes!

At some point we as a church will have to face the music. We have tacitly, incrementally forfeited an agreed-upon Christian sexual ethic (no sex outside heterosexual marriage) which had held for the past millennia. Now, in effect, we accept and some promote the ethic that as long as sexual ‘relationships’ are ‘loving’, ‘committed’ and ‘faithful’, they are blessed by God and if those in them wish to marry, they should be allowed to do so. Is this not so? Acclimatization moves on to acceptance. Acceptance moves on to normalization.

Neither we nor our churches talk up a clear alternative. By contrast, those promoting non-traditional views are constantly, energetically and often winsomely advancing their Brave New World. Perhaps the most recent example is TEC’s Chicago Consultation, Christian Holiness and Human Sexuality, Chapter 4. Also championing this view are individuals like Dr William Slayton (in more conservative moments), who is associated with the Indaba Listening Process. Read/listen here. In 2004, Changing Attitude published the report, Sexual Ethics, and recently claimed that it upheld a solid Christian sexual ethic. Please peruse pp 9 through 17 in the document and see if you can agree! Compare the blog enrry for 10 June 2009, ‘The answer to Lisa Noland [sic] is a categorical yes – Changing Attitude advocates lifelong fidelity’ for yet another view. Where are the responses?

Essentially, I believe we are dealing with two competing philosophic paradigms, aided by significant conceptual and linguistic slippage and some overlap: traditional marriage versus ’relationships’. Though its practitioners interpret the relationship paradigm in various ways, it is unstable, subjective and self-referencing. For instance, what externally observable behaviour constitutes ‘commitment’ and ‘faithfulness’? Those in ‘open’ relationships insist theirs are committed and faithful; they just happen to have what for them is an added bonus of being sexually non-exclusive (or promiscuous). The relationship ethic also mandates the legitimization of non-binary (three or more) plural ‘committed’ relationships of a bisexual, gay or heterosexual nature. I have had close bisexual friends whose domestic situations include male and female lovers at the same time. Such situations, known as ‘V’s in polyamory-speak, are common in the literature. Liberal Democrat, Simon Hughes, is perhaps the best known British bisexual today, with his admission that his sexual history involved ‘both homosexual and heterosexual relationships’.

If people are more ‘traditional’ and binary, their relationship might mimic aspects of and even masquerade as marriage but at heart it is post-marital. It is really all about the needs, desires, aspirations and fantasies of the individual and her/his ‘partner/s’: they determine the rules of engagement. Anthony Giddens’ The Transformation of Intimacy has proved prophetic. The relationship ethic is thus post-orthodox, and not just post-evangelical (I had forgotten to mention post-evangelical Dave Tomlinson, another important gay advocate who is also speaking at Greenbelt). As Charles Raven observed, ’The score may still be there, but many of the orchestra are making it up as they go along’.

Is this satisfactory? I do not believe it is. I am even more concerned because highly respected Christian organizations like Church Mission Society are sponsors of Greenbelt. Unless it means very little to be a sponsor, surely CMS must be deeply embarrassed at this situation. Please do contact:

Bishop Paul Butler, Chair of CMS: paul.butler@bpsotonoffice.clara.co.uk and

Tim Dakin, General Secretary of CMS: tim.dakin@cms-uk.org with your concerns.

Finally, perhaps most galling is the deeply discriminatory nature of the programme, which presents itself as the antithesis of discrimination. Given the resources and people which such recent events as Sex and the City, The Big Question, and the Moral Maze, showcased, there is no reason why Greenbelt should only push one ideological agenda and only grind one axe, unless it is wanting to slant the argument and deprive its audience of expert opinion on the other side. What about equal air time for it? What about poster boys or girls for the ex/post-gay movement being handed the microphone, instead of just Gene Robinson (again), with his sadly amaturish biblical hermeneutic? Given that Greenbelt has invited so many people who strongly promote a different sexual ethic to that of a traditional Christan sexual ethic, the least they could do is allow equal air time for traditional sexual views.

L S Nolland

CMS response on Greenbelt and Gene Robinson

July 14th, 2009 Posted in News | Comments Off

An article has appeared on Anglican Mainstream which may concern some. To allay any confusion, CMS offers a few points of clarification.

* For CMS, the proper place for mission is being in the marketplace. CMS has had a venue at the Greenbelt Festival for many years and it is a brilliant platform from which to offer hospitality and share the gospel.
* GB is not a confessional event but primarily a ’space’ for Christians to engage with the arts and cultural trends. There are multiple events, a great range of participants and many thousands of visitors. Many are seekers.
* We are not “sponsors” as has been stated, but “associates” and as such CMS is not involved in the particular decisions under debate.
* While we understand the reasons why Greenbelt has invited Gene Robinson, we are unhappy about it, particularly at this time in the life of the Anglican Communion. CMS supports the Lambeth Conference resolution 1.10 (see our Ethos Statement)

http://www.cms-uk.org/Whoweare/tabid/156/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

* CMS requirements for people in mission are unequivocal and long-standing because of the gospel and our gospel partnership with Churches in Africa and Asia many of which were planted by CMS.
* CMS this week received a clear bill of health from the Charity Commission having been subject to a Public Benefit Assessment. The Commission made no recommendations for change to the Trustees of CMS. It is a clear affirmation that Evangelistic Mission conveys public benefit.

John Martin
Head of Communications

Greenbelt: Mission in market places

July 15th, 2009 Posted in News | Comments Off

Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden

The problem people face is that Greenbelt has become a market place. To attract younger people in today’s western pick and mix society you have to offer a market place. In a market place all kinds of stalls are set up. So Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered organizations have eight stalls at Greenbelt.

We write as those who attended and also spoke at Greenbelt in the seventies and eighties. The platform and preaching was orthodox as it sought to demonstrate the depth and scope of the biblical gospel of the Kingdom of God for all of life.

Greenbelt has now become a marketplace. In all sorts of organizations, people for marketing reasons realized that you cannot be a confessional platform if you want to be inclusive and have an inclusive range of ideas. But, inclusiveness has its limits. When an organization sets up a market place it is not totally value free. They use a set of values to discriminate. In the case of Greenbelt, inclusiveness is not likely to extend to an organization which promotes religious or racial hatred.

It is perfectly proper for an organization to decide to participate in a market place, if the organisation is clear about where it itself stands. But it should think very carefully about being a “partner or associate” of a market place which presents itself as Christian: “Greenbelt is an independent Christian charity working to express love, creativity and justice through the arts and contemporary culture in the light of the Christian gospel.” If the market place is supposed to represent this, then those who are partners and associates have a duty to assure themselves that the market place is consistent with what they themselves understand the Christian gospel to be.

There is a concerted agenda by gay lobbies to bring gay understanding into the evangelical world and by so doing, change the basis upon which orthodox Christian sexual ethics has been established over the millennia. Evangelicalism is seen as a field to conquer. When the gay lobbies become aggressive – they begin to separate the orthodox. There are orthodox who are not taken in by the request to listen until they change their mind. There are orthodox who do not want to be seen as unloving and oppressive. They want to take a reasonable approach. Which approach is likely to be most effective in promoting the aims of the orthodox agenda?

For the sake of the thousands of young people and young families who come to Greenbelt we are asking

a) That in the market place a fair opportunity be given for those who present a biblically orthodox position on issues of sexuality to have equal airtime and opportunity. Since Gene Robinson is speaking, then why not invite Jeffrey Satinover or Robert Gagnon? And as there are at least three other publicly-known champions of and advocates for the LGBT agenda, there should be at least three other orthodox ones. Will Greenbelt allow a platform speaker to say that same-sex sexual practice is wrong?

b) That where Lesbian and Gay organizations are leading worship or exhibiting, similar opportunities should be given to organizations of those who are so called “ex- or post-gays”. These people exist and are willing to speak as was evidenced on BBC 1’s The Big Question on Sunday July 4th.

We are suggesting that orthodox mission associations who intend to be present with integrity in such a market place where there is a clear gayification agenda should ensure that they put the claims of Jesus and his mission before young people by making their confessional position clear, their position on issues of human sexuality clear, and by making books and other resources available that represent orthodox biblical and pastoral approaches available.

A mission organization claiming to be orthodox may take part in any market place. But it has to make sure that its confessional stance is visible and clear, more particularly because it is a mission organization. Such a stance cannot be taken for granted.

Entering a market place does not alter the nature of a mission organization – it is confessional whether it is in a market place or not. To be dictated to by the market-place and hide or mute a confessional stance in a market place full of those aggressively promoting the gay agenda is not an option for a confessional organization. Mission organizations do not hide. To coin a phrase, they ‘stand and stay’.

Greenbelt and the gayification of evangelicalism II

July 17th, 2009 Posted in Bisexuality, Children/Family, Culture, From Lisa's Lookout, Gay Marriage, Homosexuality, Marriage | Comments Off

Why am I returning to this dreary topic, which has caused considerable furore on blogs in cyberworld and elsewhere? Well, Greenbelt (GB) has not repied to me — no luck by either phone or email — and I am left with my original concerns. I am not merely thinking of GB’s invitation to Gene Robinson, but their invitations to articulate, influential, focused advocates of the dominant LGBT agenda within the church — Paula Gooder, Robert Beckford, Giles Fraser (these three are public figures in Inclusive church) and post-evangelical Dave Tomlinson. GB has also invited two gay worship groups (information on Journey found on a hard-copy GB brochure) to lead in worship and is viewing the gay-affirmative film, Priest. And this compilation may be but a partial, incomplete one at that.

I believe this state of affairs is deeply problematic on at least three fronts. First, if those with this LGBT agenda are going to be handed the microphone, why is the other side not granted equal access, visibility and air time? The ex/post-gay voice with its own often-painful and complex narrative deserves as much a hearing as that of the gay one, and expert, authoritative orthodox responses to challenging post-orthodox theology and ethics deserve the same. The decks have been stacked and no one is as disadvantaged as the audience, which at least ought to hear both sides sans prejudice before making up its mind.

Secondly, in broader terms, the goal posts have radically shifted. Have you noticed? Over the millennia the Judaeo-Christian sexual ethic had insisted that sex remain within the context of mutually loving and giving, exclusive, until-death heterosexual marriage. It had done so for the benefit of women, men and children, for the welfare of individuals, families and society. Orthodox religious groups have held on to this — just. (Divorce is the one possible exception; here I simply say that in the Bible a. God hates divorce but allowed for it because of people’s ‘hardness of heart’; b. God himself divorced Israel for her unfaithfulness and c. Jesus and Paul allowed it under very proscribed circumstances). We need to protect the family, and that includes encouraging mothers and fathers to invest in each other and in their children, who as the most vulnerable members of society, long for the committed love of the two people who created them. That is one of the core values of marriage — and that is what is tacitly being undermined in the name of sexual liberation, authenticity, exploration and autonomy of which this LGBT agenda is a part.

Do Christian LGBT groups insist that their members keep all sexual relating within the perimeters of civil partnerships or gay ‘marriage’ (in countries where SSM is legal)? Do they insist that if one is not in such a relationship, then one must remain sexually chaste? Though there is something of a range of responses — see here, here, and here for instance — the dominant impression given by this LGBT agenda is not one of sexual restraint, is it? I have not come across any who maintain a ‘no gay sex until you are in a civil partnership’ view. Have you? And note, this is not the same as the far more widespread question of ‘Are gay partnerships just as committed and loving — and thus morally acceptable — as marriage?’ (to which the politically correct reply must be, ‘Of course!’)

As I have argued elsewhere, LGBT culture sets the trends and we all are profoundly influenced by them, whether we realise it or not. How that specifically ties in here is that the framework in which these LGBT groups present their ethics is one that merges LGBT personal/sexual identity with LGBT sexual ‘relationships’ and lifestyles. The former now automatically entails the latter. So, ‘I am gay’ essentially means that ‘I "do" gay’ — and ditto for those who are ’straight’. What happened to the ’no-sex-until-you-are-married-and-then-only-with your-spouse’? It is rapidly being put out to pasture or going the way of the classic car, fine for a few, but essentially and alarmingly irrelevant for most.

Finally, I believe that the LGBT agenda as articulated by such groups as Inclusive Church is either dissimulative or woefully ignorant and naive. According to Inclusive Church’s (IC) site: To that end, we call on our Church to live out the promise of the Gospel; to celebrate the diverse gifts of all members of the body of Christ; and in the ordering of our common life to open the ministries of deacon, priest and bishop to those so called to serve by God, regardless of their sex, race or sexual orientation

IC is claiming the principled high ground: all are wanted, all are valued, all are included. What could sound better? However, IC may have bitten off more than it can chew. Given that ’sexual orientations’ include their corresponding sexual lifestyles in today’s culture, does IC understand the full spectrum of what it is embracing and endorsing? There are various ‘orientations’ in existence which are still in their closets because the public is not ready to move beyond the comforting and respectable notion of the adult/human/binary. However, for such as openly bisexual Blue singer, Duncan James, and politician, Simon Hughes, ’two won’t do’ and both admit to having sexual relationships with women and men. This is not earth-shattering news, for many of us know individuals like these two. Further afield however are such ‘orientations’ as polyamory (plural loves), SMBD (sadomasochsim, bondage and domination), zoophilia (emotional bonding with mammals, basically) and paedophilia — and for the record, this last group claim it as their ’orientation’. Will individuals with these identities and corresponding lifestyles be encouraged to come out of their closets by a warm, welcoming and affirming IC?

Dr Lisa Severine Nolland

Greenbelt and the gayification of evangelicalism III

July 17th, 2009 Posted in News | Comments Off

And now, finally, I would like to finish this off with a final question and then a request for action to be taken.

We have various Christian organizations — Christian Aid, Church Urban Fund, YMCA etc. — which are publicly identifed as associates with Greenbelt (GB). Their logos are on GB’s site. I have argued that GB is advancing a distinct, and, in my opinion, dreadfully one-sided and post-orthodox LGBT agenda. And what is so worrying is that it is being done in tandem with other facets which are either neutral or thoroughly commendable, important and congruent with biblical orthodoxy. The end result will lead to ambivalence, confusion, or actual conversion to a gay ‘gospel’, will it not? How could this not be the case?

May I ask whether those organizations would be willing to share this marvellous public space if GB were to allow the BNP, say, the same space, publicity and advocacy as it has granted to LGBT advocacy? Jesus mixed ‘out there’ — well, the BNP is ‘out there’ too but some would believe that is a step too far. People judge one by the company one keeps, do they not? Would the Church Times, say, be happy to be associated with an event which had as one of its associates the BNP? Each group must answer that question for themselves, I guess. Some would insist that if the BNP had a significant place on the platform and in the marketplace, then in good conscience they could not be an associate. Some would argue the same for orthodox Christian groups. Simply being there in an official capacity sends out all the wrong signals. At some essential level, it signals that things are okay — and they are not.

If in fact these organizations are present, I believe they need to make crystal clear their commitment to biblical sexual orthodoxy. If you agree, may I encourage you to contact them, alerting them of the situation and your desire that they take what will be a profoundly unpopular and uncomfortable stand. They will be accused of being ‘homophobic’ and ‘anti-gay’ (nothing new there) and will need to be able to defend what they are both for and what they are against. Will they do so?

Christian Aid: kdshedshorov@christian-aid.org

Church Army: info@churcharmy.org.uk

Church Times: editor@churchtimes.co.uk

Church Urban Fund: enquiries@cuf.org.uk

CMS: info@cms-uk.org

YMCA: 020 7343 1 844

And you could try to connect directly with Greenbelt — Info@greenbelt.org.uk I received no reply but perhaps you will!

Dr Lisa Severine Nolland

The articles are from http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/ and brought together for ease for those who want tofollow the argument.

Will all those who read the articles please contact Christian Aid, Church Army, Church Times, Church Urban Fund, CMS, & YMCA and explaintheseriousness of what is to take place at Greenbelt this year. Thank you.

Blessings.

Las Ratnayake

Two Choices

Think harder about choices... Two Choices What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway.. My question is: Would you have made the same choice? At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.' Then he told the following story: Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay' Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team 'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day! AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process? A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them. You now have two choices: 1. Delete 2. Forward May your day, be a Shay Day. Check me out! "Our truest LIFE is when we are in our dreams AWAKE." -- Henry David Thoreau

90 DAY PRAYER GUIDE (30 Days x 3)

http://www.globaldayofprayer.com/90days.php (for more info and prayers)

PRAY AT SIGNIFICANT AND NEGLECTED PLACES

DAY 1

Pray the Blessing: Gen 1:9-12 And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and of all created things. I believe that He is upholding all things with the power of his hand (Acts 17:24; Heb 1:3)

Pray on foot: Pray at the dirtiest place in your community or city, e.g. the garbage dump and demonstrate your care for creation by picking up the garbage in your own street.

DAY 2

Pray the Blessing: Gen 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that God made mankind in His image and His likeness to have dominion over all the earth (Gen 1:26)

Pray on foot: Pray at the new-natal ward at your local hospital for the new-born babies.

DAY 3

Pray the Blessing: Luke 7:22-23 And he [Jesus] answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ shows no partiality to anyone and that he regards all people as equal before him, irrespective of race, status or caste (James 2:1-8).

Pray on foot: Pray for the outcasts in your community, e.g. at the squatter camps, for the untouchables, for those in an asylum, and demonstrate the love of God practically to them.

DAY 4

Pray the Blessing: Isaiah 53:2-5 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ heals the sick today through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt 10:8; James 5:14).

Pray on foot: Visit a hospital and pray for those who are sick with the faith that God can heal them.

DAY 5

Pray the Blessing: Deut 28:1-6 "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus Christ and that there will be no end to His Government (Matt 28:18; Isaiah 9:7).

Pray on foot: Pray at the highest authority in your city or nation, e.g. Parliament, Palace, High Court or Presidential office.

DAY 6

Pray the Blessing: John 16:24-33 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the light of the world, and that the light will overcome the darkness (John 1:4-5).

Pray on foot: Pray outside pagan temples, sites dedicated to other gods, mosques or ancient sites of pagan worship.

DAY 7

Pray the Blessing: Mark 9:36-37 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that God loves children and wants to bless them (Matt 19:13).

Pray on foot: Visit an orphanage, children’s home or street children and share the love of God with the children by playing with them or helping with their needs or even taking a child home for the weekend.

DAY 8

Pray the Blessing: Joel 2:12-14 "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that God is merciful and compassionate towards all people (Ps 103:13).

Pray on foot: Pray at sites of disasters e.g. earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, asking God to be merciful and compassionate towards the victims. Demonstrate God’s compassion in loving acts to them.

DAY 9

Pray the Blessing: Deut 28:7-10 "The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.

Declare your faith: I confess and believe that faith in God will help me to overcome all fears, because God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and self-control (Heb 11:6; 2 Tim 1:7)

Pray on foot: Pray at sites that cause your nation to fear, e.g. crime, violence, war, poverty, injustice, etc., or at sites of bloodshed, battlefields or accidents.

DAY 10

Pray the Blessing: Ps 113:1-3 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, that He will build the Church and that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Col 1:18; Matt 16:18)

Pray on foot: Prayer-walk your community and pray at all the churches for unity, perseverance, growth and for the power of the Holy Spirit to manifest through their members. Make an appointment with the bishop, moderator, cardinal, priest or senior church officials and pray for those leading the flock.

DAY 11

Pray the Blessing: Pro 11:11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Word of God and that the implanted Word brings salvation (John 1:1; James 1:21).

Pray on foot: Pray at the newspaper’s office that the words of the upright will exalt the city and that the mouth of the wicked will be stopped.

DAY 12

Pray the Blessing: Phil 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus..

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus if faithful and just and that He will supply all our needs (2 Tim 2:13; Phil 4:19)

Pray on foot: Pray at refugee camps or places where displaced people stay e.g. night shelters. Demonstrate the love and care of God to them visibly by helping them to build shelters or giving towards their needs.

DAY 13

Pray the Blessing: Ps 92:12-15 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter sent by Jesus to be our helper (John 14:16-18)

Pray on foot: Pray for and perform a kind deed for an old person today or visit an old-age home to pray for the people.

DAY 14

Pray the Blessing: Matt 25:31-40 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ came set the captives free and that by his death on the cross He broke the hold of sin over our lives (Luke 4:18).

Pray on foot: Visit a prison today and pray for the prisoners, their families and their needs.

DAY 15

Pray the Blessing: Deut 28:11-14 And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Declare your faith: I confess and believe that the God of heaven and earth can open the windows of heaven and supply in all the needs of my nation (Mal 3:10; 2 Cor 9:7-10)

Pray on foot: Pray at the economic headquarters of your nation, e.g. stock exchange, reserve bank, financial institutions, banks, etc.

DAY 16

Pray the Blessing: Luke 6:27-35 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that through Jesus Christ, I was reconciled to God and that I received the ministry of reconciliation so that through doing good evil will be overcome

(2 Cor 5:19; 1 Pet 3:9; Rom 12:21)

Pray on foot: Pray for anyone who you believe to be your enemy and bless him/her today by doing a good deed

DAY 17

Pray the Blessing: Ps 33:10-19 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ does not want anyone to perish but all people to come to the saving knowledge of Him as the Son of God (2 Pet 3:9; John 3:16)

Pray on foot: Share the gospel today with at least one unbeliever and pray for those nations and people groups who have not yet heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.

DAY 18

Pray the Blessing: Ps 119:1-8 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus is a righteous judge and that his kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness (Rev 9:11; Isa 9:7).

Pray on foot: Pray at your magistrate office or town council that those who make decisions on behalf of the city will do it in accordance with God’s standards of righteousness.

DAY 19

Pray the Blessing: John 4:6-14 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the giver of the water of life, and that He has given us everything to live a godly life (Rev 21:6; 2 Pet 1:3).

Pray on foot: Pray at the water source of your town or city, e.g. well, oasis, fountain, storage tank, and ask for a release of the living water in your community.

DAY 20

Pray the Blessing: 1 Thess 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Declare your faith: I confess and believe that God sent the Holy Spirit so empower the Church to fulfill the purposes of God on this earth in my generation (Acts 1:8; 2 Tim 1:9)

Pray on foot: Pray at the place where the gospel entered into your city or nation, or at a site where you can declare that God’s purpose for your nation is to know Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Saviour of the world.

DAY 21

Pray the Blessing: Isaiah 58:5-10 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that our Father in heaven knows the need of every person on earth and wants to provide for them (Luke 12:22-31).

Pray on foot: Find a beggar and pray for him/her. Demonstrate the provision of God for him/her according to James 2:14-16.

DAY 22

Pray the Blessing: Ps 119:169-176 Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that in Him is fullness of life (John 14:6; Ps 16:11).

Pray on foot: Pray at a rehabilitation centre for drug or substance abuse for people to be set free and to live a life of thanksgiving to God.

DAY 23

Pray the Blessing: Matt 5:4-11 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and that He alone gives the peace that surpasses all understanding (Isa 9:6; Phil 4:7).

Pray on foot: Pray at your police station or at the army barracks for police, armed forces or peace-keeping forces.

DAY 24

Pray the Blessing: The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it).(AMP)

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that God wants to bless all people through Jesus Christ with grace, mercy and forgiveness (John 20:29-31).

Pray on foot: Pray for anyone who serves in your city, e.g. civil servants, bank officials, bus or taxi drivers that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will be with them.

DAY 25

Pray the Blessing: Ps 32:1,2 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that forgiveness is available for every sin in my nation through the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph 1:7; Luke 24:46-47).

Pray on foot: Visit sites of sin, e.g. brothels, night-clubs or gambling halls, and pray for those caught in the vices of sin.

DAY 26

Pray the Blessing: Ps 24:1-6 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and that He is the ruler of all nations (Acts 14:15-16; Rev 1:5; Rev 19:15)

Pray on foot: Pray at foreign embassies for the nations to seek righteousness and salvation through the name of Jesus Christ.

DAY 27

Pray the Blessing: Ps 119:113-120 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that God is love, that He loves all mankind and that He demonstrated His love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for all people (1 John 4:8,10; John 3:16).

Pray on foot: Pray for anyone that are of a different race than you and prayer-walk in their community, e.g. Chinatown, ghetto’s, townships, etc.

DAY 28

Pray the Blessing: Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Declare your faith: I believe and confess that all nations on earth will become the inheritance of Jesus Christ (Ps 2:8; Dan 7:14).

Pray on foot: Go to a tourist site and pray for the salvation of tourists. Pray also that your city or town will be filled with the manifest glory of the Lord so that nations will come to meet with Him rather than to see tourist attractions.

DAY 29

Pray the Blessing: Eph 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Declare your faith: I confess and believe that the name of Jesus Christ is the name above all names and that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:9-11)

Pray on foot: Pray at the highest point in your city (e.g. mountain, hill, tower) or at the centre of your town and city. Kneel down and confess your faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. Ask Him to enter your city with his life-transforming power and blessing.

DAY 30

Pray the Blessing: Num 6:24-26 The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Declare your faith: I believe that God is good and that He has chosen me to be a vessel of righteousness that He can use to bless the nations (Luke 18:19; 3 John 1:11)

Pray on foot: Find as many people as you can today, whether believers or unbelievers and pray the blessing of Num 6 over them.

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