Tuesday, June 02, 2026

Ephesians 1 - Redemption and Forgiveness.

 6) ... to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8) that he lavished on us. 

Churches To Help In Fostering Shortage.

 https://www.christiantoday.com/news/churches-urged-to-help-address-uk-fostering-shortage

Birdie.




 

The Rock in Horeb.


 

A New Monthly Record For This Blog.

           586,602 visits to this site in May.

Must We Now Take Lessons From The French?

French Senate rejects assisted dying bill; Christian groups urge lawmakers to uphold decision.

CD.

Where in Mexico Is Missing Missionary?

 https://www.christiantoday.com/news/calls-for-investigation-into-disappearance-of-protestant-missionary-in-southern-mexico

The Verminous Beeb. THE LICENCE FEE MUST GO!

Daniel Johnson

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
According to a forthcoming biography by Lord Ashcroft, the Reform UK leader will never be invited to appear on the show Credit: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images
One of the few remaining jewels in the BBC’s tarnished crown is Desert Island Discs. One reason why the show is still running after 84 years is its uniquely broad range of guests, from every field and across the political spectrum.
IRONY?
DT.

Monday, June 01, 2026

Gotta Admit That The Flock Do Not Look All That Rampant To Me! - (Just a tad sheepish because of all the embarrassment.)

Town calls in shepherd to tackle rampant sheep.

Flocks freed by quad bikers tearing down fences cause havoc on roads and in gardens.

A group of sheep roaming in Blaenavon after quad bikers tore down fences on the hills, allowing them to escaped

Ephesians 5. NIV. No To Crudity.

  Ephesians 5.

New International Version.

1) Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4) Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7) Therefore do not be partners with them.

Well Done, Iraq.

Iraqi court rules in favour of Christian woman challenging Muslim religion status.

Baghdad, IraqBaghdad, Iraq. (Photo: Getty/iStock)

A court in Iraq has delivered a favourable ruling for a young Christian woman seeking to change her officially registered religion from Islam to Christianity.

The decision has been hailed by religious freedom advocates as a potentially significant step for minority rights in the country.

The woman had been legally classified as Muslim in Iraq’s government records while still a child, even though she grew up in a Christian family.

According to legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, which supported the woman’s legal case, the designation stemmed from Iraq’s National Card Law, which states that children must adopt Islam if one parent converts to the religion. 

After the woman’s mother remarried a Muslim man following a separation from her biological father, she and her sisters were automatically recorded as Muslims under the law.

After reaching adulthood, the woman launched legal proceedings in January 2025 seeking to have her official records amended to accurately represent her Christian faith. 

The court has now approved the request, affirming her right to choose her religion and have that identity accurately recognised in state records.

ADF International says the case could have implications for other Christians and religious minorities facing similar restrictions across Iraq and the wider region.

Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International, Kelsey Zorzi said: “Everyone has the fundamental right to choose and live according to their religion.”

She added that no government “should have the power to permanently” impose a religious identity on an individual because of decisions made during childhood or through state policy.

Under Iraqi legal procedures, the ruling is expected to be reviewed by the Federal Court of Cassation, the country’s highest court for personal status matters. 

ADF International says a favourable appeal decision could strengthen legal protections for others attempting to challenge state-imposed religious classifications.

The woman’s younger sisters reportedly remain classified as Muslims, although similar legal challenges expect to be mounted when they become adults.

The case has drawn renewed attention to the issue of “state-assigned religion” across parts of the Middle East and Asia such as Iraq, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt, where governments maintain official religious classifications in identity systems and databases.

ADF International says such classifications can affect access to marriage rights, inheritance, education, family law proceedings and the religious status of future children, while also potentially placing non-Muslims under the authority of Sharia courts in certain legal matters. 

In some situations, families reportedly avoid listing a parent’s name on official birth records altogether in order to stop an inaccurate religious designation from automatically being transferred to their children, often resulting in further legal and administrative complications.

Across a number of states, among them Iraq, individuals are unable to amend these records even when they no longer reflect their personal beliefs.

ADF International argued that the case has drawn renewed attention to Article 26(2) of Iraq’s National Card Law, with campaigners questioning whether the provision is consistent with constitutional safeguards for religious freedom and international human rights obligations, including protections of the freedom of religion and belief contained in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The organisation said it will continue supporting efforts aimed at strengthening religious liberty protections in Iraq and across the region. CT.

Our Elected Representatives.

 https://www.christiantoday.com/news/lets-encourage-our-churches-to-support-and-pray-for-their-elected-representatives

Filled With The Spirit.


 

I like these guys.


 

Eritrea.

 https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christians-urge-un-to-keep-human-rights-spotlight-on-eritrea

Why Wealth Taxes Simply Cannot Work.

 Wealth taxes frequently fail because they are notoriously difficult to administer, incentivize capital flight, and often yield disappointing revenues. While conceptually intended to reduce wealth inequality, practical implementation is hindered by four core economic and logistical problems. 

1. Valuation Nightmares
Assessing the value of all assets—such as private businesses, real estate, and art—every single year requires an immense and costly administrative apparatus. Illiquid assets often have no objective market price until they are sold, making consistent taxation arbitrary or subjective. 
2. The Liquidity Trap
Most large fortunes are not held as cash, but as ownership stakes in operating companies and physical assets. A wealth tax can force business owners to extract capital or sell portions of their companies to pay the tax bill. This discourages entrepreneurship, reduces long-term investment, and can ultimately lead to job losses. 
3. Capital Flight
Because the world's wealth is highly mobile, wealth taxes can incentivize high-net-worth individuals to relocate their assets and primary residences to jurisdictions with more favorable tax codes. This capital flight reduces the tax base entirely, leading to lower, not higher, overall tax revenues. 
4. Narrowed Tax Bases and Avoidance.
As seen in the historical implementation of wealth taxes in Europe, governments inevitably cave to pressure to add exemptions (e.g., for primary residences, art, or pension assets). These loopholes allow individuals to shield vast amounts of wealth, rendering the tax ineffective. 
Due to these economic consequences and complexities, many countries that experimented with wealth taxes in the 1990s have repealed them. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), only a handful of nations (such as Norway, Spain, and Switzerland) still maintain broad-based net wealth taxes. You can read more about the economic debates and global trends in Cato Institute's Analysis on Wealth Taxes or the Institute for Government's Explainer
  • A wealth tax would be a poor substitute for properly ... - IFS
    8 Jul 2025 — Contents. There is growing speculation about whether taxes will go up in the Autumn Budget and – if so – which ones. One idea that...

    IFS | Institute for Fiscal Studies
  • Wealth taxes | Institute for Government
    18 Sept 2025 — A one-off wealth tax – if it were unexpected (so people were not incentivised to change their behaviour to avoid it) and credibly ...

    Institute for Government
  • The High Cost of Wealth Taxes - Tax Foundation
    26 Jun 2024 — Wealth taxes disincentivize entrepreneurship, leading to less innovation and less long-term growth. A wealth tax reduces wages, de...


    Tax Foundation

Ephesians 5. New International Version.

 Ephesians 5.

New International Version.


1) Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4) Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7) Therefore do not be partners with them.

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Ephesians 4. NIV.

 29) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The Joy of Living.


 

Backhanders?


 

Camilla Uses Unassailable Evidence Against Labour.

CAMILLA TOMINEY.

The Left still refuses to admit the truth about 

mass migration.

Immigration is not the sole cause of our youth 
unemployment crisis, but figures suggest it has 
had a huge impact

Former Labour minister Alan Milburn has led a government review into worklessness 
Camilla TomineyAssociate Editor
Camilla Tominey is an Associate Editor of The
 Telegraph and co-presenter of the Daily T podcast
 with Tim Stanley. She also hosts a Sunday
 morning politics show on GB News. During her
 25-year career, she has covered major news events
 including 9/11, seven general elections and Brexit
 alongside being one of the world's leading Royal
 commentators. Her exclusive story breaking the
 news of Prince Harry’s relationship with Meghan
 Markle was nominated for Scoop of the Year at
 the 2016 British Press Awards.
See more 
Published 29 May 2026 4:23pm BST
While Alan Milburn was busy insisting that Britain’s youth worklessness crisis has nothing to do with immigration, a think tank quietly published figures that told a very different story.
According to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), which was set up by former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, 27 young non-EU migrants have been hired for every one young British worker since 2020.
In other words, while the number of non-EU under-25s on UK payrolls has risen by 290,000 since the start of the decade, the number of young Britons employed increased by just 11,000 over the same period. Meanwhile, young people classified as Neet (not in education, employment or training) rose by almost 200,000.
How can anyone seriously argue there is no correlation here? Of course, immigration is not the sole cause of youth worklessness. But to pretend mass migration has had no impact whatsoever on the youth labour market shows a wilful kind of blindness.
Milburn’s headline findings are alarming enough. An interim report by the former Blairite minister has warned that the number of Neets is on course to soar by nearly a third over the next five years. That would mean more than 1.25 million young people effectively cut adrift. That would amount to one in six under-25s being classed as economically inactive, compared with roughly one in eight today.
Mr Milburn described the situation as a “whole-system failure”, blaming outdated education, welfare and healthcare structures that were no longer capable of preparing young people for adult life. There is undoubtedly truth in that diagnosis.
Britain’s institutions have failed many young people, particularly since the pandemic. Some schools aren’t fit for purpose, mental health services are overwhelmed and welfare systems that were once a safety net have become a trap.
Yet, when Mr Milburn was asked whether immigration might also have played a role, he flatly denied any link. “There’s no evidence,” he insisted. “It’s a blame game issue. We just sort of blame immigration as the problem – it’s not really, it isn’t.”

Imported labour

That response epitomises the modern political class’s refusal to engage honestly with the issue. Any attempt to discuss the relationship between mass migration and employment is instantly dismissed as bigoted.
I experienced exactly that during an episode of the Daily T podcast last week with former RMT union boss Mick Lynch. When I asked whether mass migration may have affected job availability or depressed wages for British workers, his response was to imply that the question itself was somehow racist.
Yet, as the CSJ has shown, the facts increasingly speak for themselves. Further, according to the CSJ’s analysis of HMRC payroll data, the number of non-EU workers aged under 25 has risen by an extraordinary 355 per cent since 2020. By comparison, the young British workforce has grown by just 0.3 per cent. These are the Government’s own numbers, spelling it out in black and white. Yet much of Westminster continues to avert its gaze.
The broader immigration picture has also played a part. Between January 2021 and June 2024, an estimated 3.9 million people arrived in Britain during the so-called “Boriswave”, when visas were handed out like confetti. Net migration reached a record 944,000 in the year ending March 2023.
Conservative ministers repeatedly insisted that these migrants were overwhelmingly “high-skilled workers” needed to plug labour shortages. But that argument no longer withstands scrutiny, since we now know the Home Office classified workers earning as little as £25,600 as “skilled”.The reality is that many sectors have become increasingly dependent on a constant flow of cheaper imported labour. Nowhere was this more evident than in the social care visa scheme, arguably one of the most reckless immigration policies introduced in modern times.It allowed employers to recruit large numbers of low-paid overseas workers with no meaningful age cap. Dependents could accompany them in large numbers, and little thought appeared to have been given to the long-term fiscal implications. Many of those workers did not remain confined to the care sector. Increasingly, migrants recruited under such schemes moved into retail, hospitality and service industries – precisely the sort of entry-level jobs that once provided British youngsters with their first foot on the career ladder.Walk down almost any British high street and the transformation is obvious. This is not about attacking migrants themselves, who are only trying to pursue a better life for themselves and their families. The responsibility lies with an immigration system that has been designed with little regard for the long-term consequences for domestic workers.
What is undeniable is that many of the jobs once traditionally filled by British youngsters – supermarket shelf stacking, café work and bar shifts – are no longer functioning as reliable gateways into employment. And those jobs matter far more than many politicians seem willing to admit.

More than one million Neets

16-24 year olds not in employment, education or training (Neets) by quarter
Oct-Dec 2001Apr-Jun 2008Oct-Dec 2014Apr-Jun 20210.600.700.800.901.001.101.201.30m
Source: ONS
They may be menial, but for generations, these low-level roles served as the foundation upon which young people built the self-confidence required for a future career. Working behind a till, serving pints in a pub or handling customers in a busy shop teaches lessons no classroom can replicate.These roles don’t just develop resilience. They teach punctuality, communication, negotiation and responsibility. Young people learn how to deal with pressure, solve practical problems and interact with people from all walks of life. These are not trivial skills. They are essential building blocks for adulthood. Employment teaches what the national curriculum can’t.When young people are excluded from the workforce at the beginning of their adult lives, the consequences often last decades. Economic inactivity becomes entrenchedThe biggest irony of all? We now have a post-Covid generation that is suffering from unprecedented mental health problems and record unemployment – when work would actually be the best medicine.The betrayal is two-fold: young people have not only been abandoned by the very institutions meant to prepare them for adulthood but also misled about the forces that helped shut them out in the first place. 
                                                                                                             DT.

Ephesians 1 - Redemption and Forgiveness.

  6) ...  to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.   7)  In him we have redemption  through hi...