Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Chris Kelly To UKIP?

Image for Tories 'Genuinely' Worried MP Chris Kelly Will Defect To Ukip

ISIS - The Purest of Evil.


Irony Upon Irony.

"Are there kingdoms of emotion where logic is taboo, dare not show its face, zones where reason is too intimidated to speak?" Richard Dawkins.

EU Progress.

TTIP - Sheffield Response.

TTIP is a government con to convince the general public that the trade agreement between USA and the EU is good for all. They don’t mention that it could involve privatisation of the N.H.S. and gives big American businesses the right to sue our government. UKIP opposes TTIP. A government roadshow is coming to Sheffield on Wed 1st Oct at the Nabarro Building by the canal basin from 8-00a.m.  38 Degrees are planning a demonstration to set the story straight. can all UKIP members  please try to attend. Its a wonderful opportunity to get some publicity and to scotch trade union claims that we want to destroy the NHS. After Saturday at Doncaster, 30 busloads will do nicely! Mike.

Parlez-Vous Anglais? - Jonathan Arnott MEP North East.


Quite the opposite, in fact! If these things were highlighted, debated and dealt with then maybe the public wouldn't have such little confidence in the European Union. I'm anti-EU not because I don't want reform but because the European Union is structurally unreformable.
But this week got me thinking about language. In the full Parliament, there are 24 languages. I make that 552 different combinations (24 x 23) of languages that may require instantaneous translation. Not only is it expensive, there are frequent misunderstandings. Last week in Strasbourg, an MEP (I believe, a German eurosceptic) complained that she received dozens of pages of important documents at 8pm the day before the vote. They were available only in English, a language that she doesn't speak.
I found myself at a restaurant the other day with a British MEP and a French-speaking Belgian national. We didn't speak much French, and he spoke very little English. After a while it transpired we had Spanish as a common language, so I ended up translating for my colleague. The experience reminded me that translation is a funny thing. Idiom and colloquialism doesn't translate easily. For example, some years ago I was asked to translate the Spanish phrase 'El mono, aunque se vista de seda, mono se queda'. Literally, even if a monkey dresses itself in silk it remains a monkey. But a direct translation loses the richness of language and idiom. A well-known Spanish proverb becomes little more than a simple collection of words. So I might translate it as 'a leopard can't change its spots'. The literal meaning is lost, but using an English proverb instead captures the essence of the language much better.
Meaning can be lost or gained so easily. The apocryphal story in the European Parliament is that a French MEP once claimed that a matter could only be solved through the wisdom of the traditional Normans - and that he couldn't understand why the chamber erupted in laughter when he said that only Norman Wisdom could solve the problem. I believe that we should focus on the teaching of languages in our schools - despite the constant jibes of the Left of British politics (who frequently prefer throwing insults and accusations such as 'xenophobia' to actual debate), I think communication with our neighbours is vital. In learning a foreign language I gained important skills that go beyond the fare opportunities I get to use it.
The English language is the most spoken language worldwide. It is the obvious language to teach in France, Spain, Germany and Italy. It's useful for communicating not just with people from the UK, but often it's easier - as I've noticed many times - for people from Holland and Spain to communicate in English. This gives the UK a unique advantage in some respects; we're fluent in what is arguably the most important language in the world. But it can also lead to laziness. How many tourists take the time to learn even a few simple phrases in the language of the country they're visiting? 'It's okay, they'll all speak English anyway'. It's not just the English that propagate this either - in the south of Spain for example, I've found a real reluctance to speak their own language. Once they've worked out you're a British tourist, responses will invariably be in English.
People often ask why those on the Right of British politics argue that mass immigration has more impact on the UK than other countries. Why do so many people want to come to our overcrowded island? The caricature answer - the benefits system - doesn't tell the whole story. I think a large part of it is that people already speak the language. If you were a potential immigrant who spoke English but not French, wouldn't you be likely to come to the UK not France if you were planning on living abroad?
It follows fairly naturally that the UK needs a different immigration policy to that of France, and that the current unlimited immigration from the other 27 countries of the EU is a bad thing. Free movement of workers from country A to country B doesn't work where that movement is vastly asymmetric. But we see migratory patterns within the EU from countries with low wages (for example, Bulgaria with a minimum wage around 80p per hour) to those with relatively high wages (for example, the UK and Germany). We see migratory patterns within the EU to countries that speak English (only the UK).
Unlimited immigration from the EU is not a good thing. Immigration is, according to the polling, the second most important issue in British politics today - behind only the economy. In his Conference speech Labour's Ed Miliband, the man hoping to be our next Prime Minister, 'forgot' to mention both the economy and immigration. Understandable perhaps, given Labour's record on both issues when they were in government. Huff Post.

Not Our Flag.


Populist - A GOOD Word - Except To The Anti-Democratic Left.


LibLabCon Elite Terrified By UKIP!

http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/leo-mckinstry/516469/Leo-McKinstry-Britain-s-political-establishment-is-terrified-of-Ukip

Defecting Tories?

Tories ‘in panic' amid rumours even more MPs will defect to Ukip. Express.

Boris - Get Lost!


I used to be a Conservative but they ALWAYS let you down, Boris!

Monday, September 29, 2014

Smirk, Smirk, Smirk.

I could campaign to leave the EU, warns David Cameron.

The Prime Minister has indicated that he is prepared to campaign for Britain to leave the European Union if he is unable to successfully renegotiate powers. Telegraph.

So he CONTINUES to pretend that acquis commaunitaire does not prevent the repatriation of any power already grabbed. He hopes that he will be permitted to define what is 'successful' and what is not. NEWS, Mr C,  UKIP will not allow you to get away with your duplicity!

No Public Conveniencies?

So. If you are taken short and go behind a bush - are you risking a false conviction for indecent exposure?  What about genuine 'flashers' - aren't they all going to claim that 'they needed to spend a penny' and consequently may attempt to avoid a rightful conviction?

Liars All!

I have trawled through the Internet and have found the usual suspects trotting out their anti-UKIP bile and poison.
They make so many statements against my party that I cannot even recognise what or who they are describing. Apparently:-
We 'love millionaires'.
Despise the workers.
Are fascist.
We are racist.
We hate immigrants.
We love big business.
We are 'little englanders'.
We threaten the NHS.
We are 'far right'.
We hate Europe.
We are isolationist. (To name just a few of the many wicked LIES!)
EVERY single one of them should be forced to watch EVERY minute of footage of the 2014 Conference. They would HAVE to eat their, slimy, mendacious words. Indeed, just watching the first morning would do the trick - but, ah then, I suppose they would manage to convince themselves that what was clearly said and stated was concealing the party's real motivations! There are none so blind as .....

Abortion Dangers.


Studies indicate abortion increases risk of breast cancer by 5 times.



A Most Powerful Question.


Questions are powerful. Questions lead you to truth and closer relationships. I think one of the most powerful questions you can ask someone is, simply: “How are you?” Ask this question to a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or stranger. Then, listen. Really listen. Most people would love to have a safe and caring person/place/community where they can share how they’re really doing. Most people rarely get to share what’s really going on because 1) they’re rarely asked and/or 2) most people don’t listen, but instead simply take turns waiting to talk.                 Good listening is a byproduct of understanding grace and how the human heart works. As I’ve written before: grace creates safety (which includes an environment of listening), which creates change.                                                                               How are you? It’s a great question be asked, and it’s a great question to ask. Justin Buzzard - Christian Post.

Celibacy.

This Blog is a firm opponent of celibacy in the Roman Church. Priests, bishops and - yes popes - should be permitted to marry. The negative side of sexual tensions created by this policy within the priesthood has been there to see over very many years.

God Is ...

More Tory Defectors.

Superb though it be for defecting Tory MPs to head towards UKIP, there are no reports of imminent defections by Labour MPs. For sure, UKIP has attracted Labour councillors but I fear that too many MPs crossing over from the Conservatives would mean that voters in Labour areas might start to see UKIP as a stomping ground for Tory thinkers only. That is neither the reality, nor is it desirable.

Our Caring God.

A Boxing Travesty.


Paul Smith defeated by WBO judges in his world title encounter in favour of Arthur Abraham this weekend

A DISGRACE. SACK ALL THREE JUDGES!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/11126278/Paul-Smith-robbed-in-fight-against-Arthur-Abraham-in-Germany-as-Eddie-Hearn-calls-judges-verdicts-a-disgrace.html

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Clacton: Survation Poll Doesn't Give UKIP 44% ...

... it gives them 44% MORE than the tories! 

Selfishness or Happiness - Never Both.

BY JOYCE MEYER , CHRISTIAN POST GUEST COLUMNIST.
September 25, 2014|7:48 am  One of the greatest lessons I've learned is that you can't be both selfish and happy. I know this is true through my own personal experience, but more importantly, the Bible has some things to say about the attitude we should have about "self."
  • Joyce Meyer
    (Courtesy of Joyce Meyer Ministries)
For example, love is not selfish. In the Amplified Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:5 says, "…Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking...." In 1 Corinthians 15:31, the apostle Paul said, "…I die daily [I face death every day and die to self]" (AMP), which basically means he was not self-seeking but instead focused on doing what God called him to do with his life.
There are also scriptures that teach us the importance of having self-control. Galatians 5:23 lists self-control as a fruit of the Spirit, and 2 Timothy 1:7 says that in Christ, we have a spirit "of power and of love and of calm and well-balancedmind and discipline and self-control." If you've lived very long, you realize that not being selfish requires self-control, because we're all born with a human nature that is selfish. Think about how babies act: they are only concerned with what they need and usually cry when they don't get their way. Thankfully, when we experience new life in Christ, we die to sin. Romans 6:11 (AMP) says, "Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus." But even though we die to sin, sin does not die. That's why we have to continually make the decision over and over again to choose to do the right thing on purpose. And we have what it takes, in Christ, to do what's right – whether we feel like it or not.

Louise Bours In Compelling Action.

Marco Polo Discovered America?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11124102/Did-Marco-Polo-discover-America-in-13th-century.html

Hallelujah For A Life Saved!


Milestone birthday for girl doctors advised to abort

Norelle Smith and her daughter
A baby who was born weighing just 1lb 4oz after miraculously surviving an abortion has celebrated her 10th birthday.
Natasha's mother, Norelle Smith, was believed to have a life-threatening condition, and was told by doctors that an abortion would be necessary at 26 weeks or the pregnancy could kill her.
But to the astonishment of doctors, Natasha was delivered alive at the former Queen Mother’s Hospital in Glasgow after her birth was induced at 26 weeks. Christian Concern.

Winston.


31098226111e7f1a439d665d790d1a45_400x400.jpeg

WINSTON MCKENZIE:

 “AFTER THE EU – 

WHAT NEXT? - 

THE COMMONWEALTH.”

Posted on September 26
The combined Commonwealth GDP stands at some $8.4 trillion dollars, and growing. Its projected annual growth is 3.7%, and even higher in African and Asian Nations – 5.0% and 6.5% respectively. The Commonwealth labour force has been forecast to increase by 60%, or 825million by 2050, along with its’ burgeoning Commonwealth middle-class. Last year the UK’s total trade with the Commonwealth was estimated at some £54.9billion pounds. The Commonwealth directly impacts on the UK’s global trade patterns. Great Britain and the Commonwealth have the foundations of a beautiful working relationship.The Commonwealth consistently outperforms European competitors on a significant number of economic world rankings, and Yes, this demonstrates that the choice for the UK to remain solely with the EU is economically arbitrary. This relationship must be altered to reflect a more positive Commonwealth re-balance. Continue reading...

Borderless Britain.

Taxation Policies.

A propos of nothing in particular, the UKIP tax proposals, designed to help the lowest paid, not hammer middle earners and not disincentivise investors are superbly designed.
True, the 'leftist moralists' will insist that this 'rewards millionaires' - but as they cannot see the wood for the trees - they MUST surely be ignored. The left feel that, if damaging society is the price to be exacted in exchange for higher taxation, it is a price well worth the paying. They are blinkered fools.
The trouble here is that the average readers of the Guardian and The Independent are clearly beyond economic redemption.That is as it is. But the real problem is that this is the idea sold to millions by The Mirror - and on a knee jerk level - it seems to have some value when any serious line of thinking will reveal it to contain nothing of the sort.

David Davis Slams Tory Modernisation Criteria.

'Essentially, the modernisers absorbed the view of London’s metropolitan elite, which confuses social conservatism with bigotry, patriotism with xenophobia, or even racism, and equates an admiration for wealth creation with disdain for the poor and even carelessness about the future of the planet. Nonsensical views, but remarkably common in the upper reaches of parts of London society.' David Davis MP.

Why Reckless Quit.

[At the 1922 Committee in June] the next question asked what the PM wanted to renegotiate before his vaunted EU referendum. An answer, came there none. Instead, Mr Cameron told us that if he were to get back anything like all the powers some people wanted, then Britain would become almost like an ‘associate member’ of the EU. 
Worse, he said that as if it were self-evidently a bad thing, rather than what most of his MPs and the country wanted. 
Finally, the penny dropped for us that the PM was not serious about renegotiation. All he aspired to was a few token changes, which he could then present as something more significant, just as Labour premier Harold Wilson did in 1975. Mark Reckless.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2772208/MARK-RECKLESS-Broken-promises-Tory-spin-Cameron-goaded-quit.html#ixzz3Ea24ukis 

Check Your Heart.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Hot News! Mark Reckless MP.

Mark Reckless MP, Rochester & Strood, has, this afternoon, defected to UKIP! Yet another honest man who will call a by-election!

Parliament Channel. 504.

Watch the conference NOW! (Roger Helmer on Energy at this very moment is magnificent.)

No Apologies For Allowing UKIP To Dominate Today's Blog.

GREAT GRANDSON OF LABOUR CO

 FOUNDER STANDS FOR UKIP.

Posted on September 27th. In the Manning Mills district of
 Bradford, some 120 years ago, the great grandfather
 of UKIP Parliamentary Candidate Blair Smillie, stood
 beside Kier Hardie making his famous speech which
 was to launch the Labour Party. History was in the
 making as Kier Hardie would soon become the first
 ever Independent Labour MP and again Robert Smillie
 would be by his side. At the UKIP party conference
 held in the present Labour Leader’s constituency
 Blair Smillie will tell the delegates why he lost faith
 in Labour today and will launch his career as a 
Parliamentary Candidate for the North Wales
 constituency of Alyn and Deeside.
Blair Smillie feels that the country has been mismanaged
 by both major parties with the result that we have a
 national debt in excess of £1.2 trillion and the gap
 between rich and poor is expanding. One reason is
 the lack of ‘work’ experience of many MP’s and the 
difficulty of experienced people to enter politics due 
to time and financial constraints. Continue reading...

UKIP Conference - Exciting Day One.

Nigel Farage speaks to reporters at Doncaster racecourse
Nigel Farage speaks to reporters at Doncaster racecourse before Ukip's annual party conference. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters
The UK Independence party would scrap inheritance tax, slash immigration by almost 80%, allow employers to discriminate in favour of British workers and make sure foreigners have medical insurance, it said as it unveiled the first of its general election policies.
Other proposals floated at the Eurosceptic party’s annual conference included a luxury goods tax, which could see extra tariffs on shoes costing more than £200, handbags more than £1,000 and cars more than £50,000, a move the party believes could raise money from the wealthiest.
The party’s economic spokesman, Patrick O’Flynn, suggested a VAT rate of 25% on such luxury goods.
The conference, which is taking place at the racecourse in Doncaster, home Ed Miliband’s safe seat, is pitching strongly for the blue-collar vote.
The party’s leader, Nigel Farage, is expected to paint Ukip as the party of the working man and criticise Labour for abandoning its traditional heartlands.
Before his speech, a string of Ukip speakers delighted the conference hall with a range of policies designed to appeal to its core vote, with a focus on cutting taxes, tougher immigration controls and stronger British values.
Farage is likely to promise in his speech to cut taxes by £12bn, claiming this could be paid for by leaving the EU and slashing spending on foreign aid.
In his speech, O’Flynn also said the party would create a new middle income tax rate of 35p, thought to be for people earning between £42,000 and £55,000. He said ultimately Ukip wanted a flatter income tax system with a 20p standard, 30p intermediate and 40p higher rate.
Steven Woolfe, Ukip’s migration spokesman, committed the party to bringing down immigration to 50,000 by introducing an Australian-style points system that encourages migrants to have skills. He would also make sure immigrants without ID are turned away at the border by withdrawing from the Dublin treaty.
Amjad Bashir, the party’s communities spokesman, said jailed criminals would be forced to move out of their neighbourhood when they were released, and making nuisance noise would be made a criminal offence.
The audience also cheered Peter Whittle, the culture spokesman, who decried multi-culturalism; Jane Collins, the employment spokesman for saying Ukip would stop employers being sued for discriminating in favour of British workers; and Louise Bours, the health spokesman, as she called for NHS managers to be regulated and foreigners to have medical insurance.
In a more surprising move, Bours also committed the party to working with the Unite union to stopping the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP), a trade deal opening up the NHS to US health providers, although the government has already promised this will not happen.
The conference also focussed on the Rotherham grooming scandal, as several Ukip MEPs attacked Labour, PC attitudes and “liberal leftie” social engineering for turning a blind eye to child abuse.
Collins, a Yorkshire MEP, said local politicians were afraid to speak up about the abuse of white girls by Asian men in case it offended minority voters.
Labour is for the first time fighting back against Ukip’s challenge, portraying Farage as “more Tory than the Tories” and a man leading the party of extreme tax cuts for millionaires and plans to make people pay to see their GP. (PURE LIES - AGAIN!)
Farage will brush off the criticism by saying Ukip would protect the NHS from abuse, keep it free at the point of access and improve the most essential services.
He will hope the conference passes with less drama than last year, when he sacked the then MEP Godfrey Bloom, who had overshadowed the event with a sexist joke.
Some of the colourful fringe events at the conference include meetings about “how to tear chunks out of Labour”, an address by two Christian B&B owners sued for banning a gay couple from staying overnight, and a session on the case for independence in southern Yemen.
The party is growing in strength after topping the European elections and winning a swath of council seats. It is particularly strong in southern coastal areas such as South Thanet, where Farage is standing next year, and Clacton-on-Sea, where the Tory defector Douglas Carswell is expected to win a byelection this month.
There is speculation that Ukip could announce more Conservative defectors at its conference, potentially Chris Kelly or Brian Binley.
Labour insiders are increasingly worried about Ukip’s threat in some northern areas, particularly Heywood and Middleton, where the party has been out in force in recent weeks while Westminster MPs have been concentrating on winning the Scottish referendum. The Guardian.

UKIP 2014 - Nigel Farage Keynote Speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwsqRaCtMdc

Nick Clegg Receives A Lengthy, Warm Round Of Applause At UKIP Conference ...

... for challenging Nigel to the televised debates in March and then allowing all the weaknesses of his case to seep through to the public.

UKIP Racists & Sexists.

UKIP's racist credentials were neatly underlined and underpinned on Day One of the UKIP Conference 2014.
First of all, there was only a percentage of black faces; only a loose handful of Asians and not a huge number of mixed race delegates.
In the morning session, there were only two Asian speakers and one of mixed race - and only two out of the three got full standing ovations. Shameful!
The rampant racism of the 2,000 delegates or so was abundantly clear when only about 90%, well - perhaps a few more - rose to their feet to loudly cheer these hapless, token souls on the platform. (The aged and infirm who did not rise were obviously just making excuses to hide their negative feelings.)
Furthermore, all the platform speakers were supremely crafty - they shamelessly concealed all of their bigotry and throughout the day did not make a single racist remark. Cunning, what? And consider all those delegates you could speak to outside the auditorium who 'desired an integrated society' - they were unabashed in their duplicitous posturing.
In the afternoon there was only the black boxer, Winston Mackenzie who spoke to complete the day. How do UKIP live with themselves?

And as for women! Again, how underhand, devious and cunning UKIP were by putting on so many women speakers of quality on the day. This guile just shows how eager they are to disguise their blatant sexism.

UKIP And A Fairer Tax System.


The UK Independence Party has said it would cut income tax from 40p to 35p for people earning up to £55,000.
At its party conference, UKIP will also promised to raise to £13,500 the amount people can earn before paying any income tax. In a plan to win the "blue-collar vote", Nigel Farage's party pledged to fund the changes by leaving the EU and cutting UK foreign aid by 85%. Mr Farage said he expected UKIP to have "real influence" after the election.He told the BBC it was important that people thinking of voting for UKIP knew what his party would be "fighting for" in the event of a hung Parliament next May.
Mr Farage addressed an estimated 2,000 activists at the conference at Doncaster Racecourse - which is near Labour leader Ed Miliband's constituency. Mr Farage was expected to make a direct appeal to Labour voters, claiming the opposition has failed to stand up for the people it was founded to represent.
Tax cuts
At present the tax-free "personal allowance" applies for income up to £10,000, then a "basic rate" of 20% is paid on earnings up to £41,865.
The 40p rate is payable on income from £41,866 to £150,000, with the "additional rate" of 45% paid on anything over £150,000.Under UKIP's plans, everyone earning between about £44,000 and £55,000 would pay income tax at 35p. Those earning more will pay 40p, with the additional rate scrapped.
By Ross Hawkins, political correspondent
Eight years have passed since David Cameron dubbed UKIP's members fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists. At their conference a man hands out free fruitcake, as a reminder. You could almost believe nothing had changed. Almost. But MEPs mix with defectors from other parties here. Lobbyists buttonhole members. Rumours of another defection swirl.
They discuss the chances of troubling Labour in the coming by-election in Greater Manchester as much as they worry Conservatives in Clacton. Still they style themselves as political outsiders: a powerful pitch to voters fed up with the other parties. Rival politicians don't tend to insult UKIP members any more. But the party that insists it's nothing like the others doesn't want voters to forget their jibes.
Mr Farage said the tax changes would cost £12bn but it could be paid for by the UK leaving the EU, cutting back the foreign aid budget and not going ahead with the HS2 rail link.
"It is a lot of money, I agree," he said. "But there are a range of measures there that would more than cover these tax cuts. We are not promising the earth because it [the policy] is costed.
"We have argued for many years that people on low salaries shouldn't be paying tax because it is a huge disincentive to come off benefits and because their living standards are going down each year because of the increase in prices.
"By pushing for this hard, I would not be surprised if one or more of these parties adopted this line and we helped to shift the agenda."UKIP economy spokesperson Patrick O'Flynn said the party wanted to reform the Barnett formula, which is used to calculate benefits per head given to people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"By reforming the Barnett formula, which so unfairly discriminates against English taxpayers, you can save several billion," Mr O'Flynn said.
Parliament recall
Mr Farage has claimed it is not inconceivable that the party could hold the balance of power in the event of an inconclusive general election result.

ED: Regarding foreign aid, I would have thought that only 15% being considered as being well-targeted seems a tad on the low side. I accept that the majority is ill-employed but ...

Bible In Modern Persian.

Lessons I Learned at Elam Launch of Bible in Modern Persian, by Andrea Williams,  On Monday evening, having not thought much about the event I was to attend, and feeling worn down by the woes of our nation, I went to Elam Ministry’s service of dedication to mark the translation of the whole of the Bible into modern Persian.
Immediately I was captivated and lifted in my spirit. My first impression was the sheer beauty of the Iranian people all dressed as befitted coming before a King, King Jesus! Oh what delight! And what joy in their singing as they praised Jesus!
Then I was awestruck by their stories. Christians in Iran are paying a high price for their faith in Jesus.  They have lost jobs, homes and even custody of children. Some have been physically abused. Hundreds are rejected by friends and family. And some are unjustly detained in Iran’s notorious prison system. There are many martyrs and everyone in that room on Monday knew a martyr. Iranians are killed or imprisoned on false political charges relating to their Christian faith; usually they are convicted of 'undermining national security' through attending or organising house church meetings, or sharing their faith.

Years of acute suffering in Iran have created a deep thirst for truth in the hearts of Iranians. As a result, there is an overwhelming demand for the Word of God in Iran. Wherever the Scriptures reach, people are turning to Christ.
Elam Ministries completed translation of the New Testament into modern Persian in 2003. Since then they have published more than 1,000,000 copies, including 200,000 copies with Psalms and Proverbs.  Iranian Christians have been eagerly awaiting the completion of Elam’s Old Testament translation so they can read and study the entire Bible. Monday evening was a major milestone when the translation was completed after 18 years of work. What vision! What faith!
Being with the people of God in that room I was reminded very dramatically of the power of God’s word. In that room I saw the effect of those who truly believe that the Scriptures are sharper than a double-edged sword that pierce … those who truly believe that the gospel is the power of the God for the salvation of all who believe. 

Armed with this simple confidence, these ‘ordinary' people at huge personal cost have taken great risks to ensure that others encounter that word of God in which lies great power. And the result has been remarkable - against all the odds, great gospel growth.
In 1979, there were fewer than 500 known Christians from a Muslim background in Iran. Today the most conservative estimate is that there are at least 100,000 believers in the nation. Church leaders believe that millions can be added to the church in the next few years - such is the spiritual hunger that exists and the disillusionment with the Islamic regime. Iranian Christians believe that it is possible to see their beloved nation transformed within their lifetime.
The key to the Iranian story
Their simple but costly confidence that the Bible is powerful was the message that really stayed with me - and comes as a huge challenge as I consider the situation in the UK.
We have churches in every town; we have access to as many bibles as we want but we seem to have forgotten the power of the Gospel message, which is more powerful than any political or social plan we might devise.
In sharp contrast to the Iranians who want to know how to live under the Kingship of Christ Jesus and bring everything into alignment with it. As Christians in the UK it is as if we seek to modify the Word of God to conform to our culture when it should be at the forefront of shaping culture.  We have lost confidence that God’s word is good for all; the blueprint for living in every aspect of life; public Truth to be proclaimed in the public square.
As I met the Iranian men and women who, over the last two decades, have been imprisoned for Christ and have risked their lives to translate the Bible in order to help people to live in the light of it I considered my own walk here in the UK. In the last two decades we have not witnessed a growing, vibrant Church willing to die for Christ but rather a timid Church afraid to upset the culture. We have caved in on every major Truth battle (life, marriage and the place of Jesus in public life) and don’t even believe the stories of our own ‘martyrs’ – the ones who lose their jobs for speaking of Jesus. I know we haven’t witnessed killings or imprisonment but we have seen people lose jobs and livelihoods; we’ve seen foster and adopted children taken away from Christian parents because they refuse to conform to an ‘equalities’ agenda; and we have seen increasing monitoring by the State of parents who choose to home school.
What does God require of us? An unflinching belief in the transformative power of His Word.  Recognition of how precious and correct and life-giving His Word is.
What does God require of us? He requires obedience to Him and to His Word. Changed people, change culture. 

‘For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.’ Romans 10

Abortion Double Horror.


Real life story: 'I wanted to end my life after abortion', says mother 

Lora Bishop
A mother has spoken about the mental anguish she suffered for years after she aborted her baby, describing her decision as the "most unimaginable betrayal" that had "brutally stopped" a human life.
Lora Bishop (34), who terminated her pregnancy at 13 weeks, said she was so disturbed by her decision that she attempted to take her own life on what would have been the expected delivery date of her baby.
Christian Concern.

Park Those Tanks!

NIGEL Farage yesterday claimed Ukip are "parking our tanks on the Labour Party lawn" as it seeks to make inroads in northern seats at the next election. Express.

The Universalist Heresy.

Jeffrey John.

The openly gay Dean of St Albans, Jeffrey John, has now been shortlisted to become the next Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

This would be an abomination!

God Is One.

Two And A Half Years?

Burglar jailed for his 190th raid: Career criminal, 25, caught on CCTV stealing antiques from house

Jason Turner
NEW One of Britain’s most prolific burglars has been jailed for his 190th raid. Jason Turner, 25, was sentenced to more than two years for burgling a Cambridge house. Mail.
In my world, he would have got FIFTEEN years!

The Political Left Understands Little.

The ongoing fight against the Jewishness of Jesus. By  Michael Brown , CP Op-Ed Contributor Thursday, December 28, 2023 iStock/Wirestock You...