Love.

 

An Excellent Call And We Could Also Copy Their Justice System.

 https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2036904/keir-starmer-embrace-brexit-trump-tariffs

Sticking Plaster Solution?

Evangelicals troubled by CoE's same-sex stance urged to consider alternative spiritual oversight.

Staff writer

 

5 Apr, 2025 09:03 BST

 (Photo: Getty/iStock)

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) is encouraging Anglicans distressed by the Church of England's blessings for same-sex couples to consider alternative oversight.

It has released a new video that highlights its alternative spiritual oversight (ASO) scheme for orthodox Anglicans, and the ways in which they are being supported.

ASO has been operating since November 2023 and stems from the division within the Church of England on the issue of sexual ethics.

The conflict has arisen over the introduction of Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples and to allow members of the clergy to enter same-sex marriages.

In the film by the CEEC, members of the Church speak of the unfortunate division this has caused, primarily between the leadership of the Church and those lower down in the hierarchy.

A common theme is bishops supporting the more liberal line on sexual matters that many priests and parishioners believe to be unbiblical.

Those uncomfortable with the changes often speak of their respect for the legal authority of the bishop, but feel they can no longer accept spiritual oversight from someone they feel has strayed from biblical truth.

ASO provides those who feel that way with a method that would allow them to receive spiritual oversight that would not involve them leaving the Church of England altogether.

Rev Canon John Dunnett, National Director, CEEC, wants more struggling Anglicans to consider ASO.

“People from across the country told us that it was becoming impossible for them to receive spiritual oversight from their bishop(s), because they were moving away from a biblical understanding of marriage and sexual ethics.  This has left many, both clergy and laity, feeling increasingly isolated," he said. 

“We facilitated ASO in order to help clergy and parishes receive spiritual oversight without having to look outside of the Church of England. It has been in place for just over a year and we are hearing just how much of a difference it is making to those contending on the ground.

"We would love for more people to be able to draw on this provision and make use of it.” CT.

Birdie.

 

Churchgoing Gen Z?

https://www.christiantoday.com/news/quiet-revival-in-the-uk-as-gen-z-goes-to-church

Lib Dem Shame.

 'Betrayal of Britain’s war heroes' Council sparks fury as it bans VE day parade.

Veterans, families, and local residents in the town have been denied a parade to mark the occasion.

By Lotti OBrien

19:55, Tue, Apr 8, 2025 

Dacorum Borough Council in Hertfordshire will not host a VE day parade (Image: Getty)

A “woke” council was branded “shameful” after rejecting calls for a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day because it is “elitist”. Liberal Democrats denied residents the opportunity for a formal ceremony and instead suggested they host their own street parties. Commemorations across the country on May 8 will mark the end of World War 2 in Europe, including a church service attended by the Royal Family.

But Dacorum Borough Council in Hertfordshire will not honour veterans, families, and local residents with a parade to mark the occasion. Shadow defence minister David Reed, a Royal Marines veteran, said the decision was an “outrageous” attempt to erase British history. “If it makes me elitist to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, freedom over tyranny and bravery over cowardice, then lock me up and throw away the key,” he said.

March 8 marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Image: Getty)

READ MORE: Tributes flood in as 'exceptional' WW2 RAF heroine dies age 102

Asked why there wasn’t going to be a military parade, Lib Dem Councillor Caroline Smith-Wright replied: “We have decided at this point to enable communities to come together and have street parties and I think that is for the community, that is for everyone, that encompasses everybody – it doesn’t just leave the elite and people to just, kind of, parade.

“This is about normal people celebrating in their communities, bringing people together, sharing food, sitting at a table, celebrating and I think that’s a fine way to celebrate VE Day.”

Mr Reed called her statement “gobsmacking”. Drawing on his own experiences, he said: “It is one of the privileges of my life to serve in the Royal Marines before entering Parliament. I know first-hand how important these events for our veterans are.

“That this party was denied for being too ‘elitist’ is gobsmacking. These parades give a moment to celebrate those who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for us. Above all, they are there to bring the whole community together.”

Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, labelled the council's stance as “tone deaf”.

He said: “It’s no surprise that Lib Dem-run Dacorum Council has capitulated to woke ideology by refusing to honour those who fought and died for our country.

“Dismissing patriots who wish to commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice as 'elite' isn’t just tone deaf – it’s a shameful betrayal of Britain’s war heroes. Lib Dems should hang their heads in shame.”

Please Pray.

If the layout of this Prayer Alert Email looks wrong we recommend that you View this email in your browser Dear All Pakistani Christian mother-of-three gang-raped

A Christian mother-of-three was gang-raped after armed robbers discovered that she and her husband were Christians, Christian Daily International-Morning Star News (CDI-MSN) has reported. Adnan Masih, a 34-year-old brick kiln worker in a village in Faisalabad District, said that he and his wife were headed home on a motorcycle on the night of March 25 when two masked gunmen stopped them. ‘They snatched my cell phone and some money at gunpoint and then started threatening me to give them more money,’ Masih told CDI-MSN. ‘When I told them that I was a poor Christian and an ordinary worker at a brick kiln, they started whispering something into each other’s ears. ’ One of them then made a phone call, and a third man soon arrived on a motorcycle, he said. ‘One of them grabbed my wife’s arm and pulled her into a nearby sugarcane field while the other two men loosened the string of my shalwar [baggy pants] and used it to tie me to a tree,’ Masih said. ‘They then followed their accomplice into the field and took turns raping my wife.’ Please pray for this Christian couple as they try to come to terms with the trauma they have suffered. Adnan’s cries for help went unheard, and after the assault the men left the scene hurling threats, he said. ‘I do not have the words to express the helplessness and agony I felt during that time,’ Masih said. ‘After some time, my wife emerged from the field, her clothes torn and tears flowing down her face. She could barely walk due to the assault, but she slowly approached me and untied my hands. Both of us then just sat there together and cried our hearts out, our minds numbed by the trauma and unable to think anything. ’ The assailants had damaged his motorcycle, so the couple had to walk the rest of the way home. When they finally arrived, their three children and other relatives were waiting for them in the courtyard. ‘We did not have the courage to tell them what had happened to us, so we just kept silent and went to our room,’ Masih said, adding that they passed the rest of the night thinking about the effect news of the incident would have on their family. ‘We then decided to pray and seek justice from God, which helped in comforting us and gave us hope,’ said Masih. The next morning, he called the police helpline. ‘The police registered the case but took action only after the news broke on national electronic media the next day,’ he said. ‘Within a day, the police traced and arrested all three accused, as the Punjab chief minister had taken notice of the incident and ordered immediate action. The chief minister also sent the provincial police chief to our home, who promised us that the accused would be dealt with sternly.’ A Christian lawmaker in the Punjab Assembly, Ejaz Augustine, who played a key role in drawing the chief minister’s attention to the crime and monitoring police action, told CDI-MSN: ‘Minority women are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence as the perpetrators think of them as easy targets. Moreover, a majority of Christians living in Punjab are very poor and face several barriers in accessing justice.’   Christian’s killer sentenced The man convicted of the murder of 20-year-old Pakistani Christian Farhan Ul Qamar has been sentenced to death by a judge in Sialkot district, CDI-MSN has reported. On March 27 Saima Riyasat, additional sessions judge of Pasrur, handed the country’s maximum punishment for murder to Muhammad Zubair for killing Farhan in November 2023, said Christian attorney Lazar Allah Rakha. The court imposed a fine of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (£1,400), he said. The attorney lauded the victim’s father, Noor Ul Qamar, for remaining steadfast in the pursuit of justice for his son. ‘The family has faced immense pressure and threats from the convict’s family to reach a settlement, but they have shown exemplary courage and perseverance, and today God has served them with justice,’ Rakha said. Ul Qamar said Zubair’s family had used various tactics repeatedly to intimidate and harass them into reaching a ‘compromise’ with them, which could have resulted in a pardon for the killer. Four policemen remain deployed at the family’s home due to the threats Zubair’s family has issued, he added. Zubair has the right to appeal the sentence, but it may take two to three years before an appeal is set for a hearing before the high court, said Rakha. (Source: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News)   PRAYER   Pray for Adnan Masih and his wife as they try to come to terms with the horrendous events of March 25. Ask God to comfort them and bring healing Thank God that the perpetrators have been caught. Pray that justice would prevail Thank God that Farhan Ul Qamar’s family has received justice. Pray for their ongoing protection and that of the local Christian community; and pray too that the family may now be able fully to grieve the loss of Farhan     Please CLICK on the red button if you prayed.   I prayed!

There Were ...

 ... 71,840 visits to this site in March 2025.

Birdies.

 

Terrific Advice.

 

Save Money? Butter? - Aldi Wins. ( We already knew this in our household.)

 A panel of 67 people was asked to blind taste and rate eight supermarket options alongside Lurpak. Surprisingly, Aldi’s Nordpak Spreadable Slightly Salted secured the top spot for being a perfect match of taste and price.

The survey stated: “The creamy texture was a particular hit with our panel, with the majority of tasters finding the creaminess spot-on.

“People also loved its appealing colour and well-balanced flavour. As one of the cheapest tubs on test, it's a great choice if you're after a budget-friendly buttery spread.” Express.

DT Letter Is Accurate.

Justin Welby after his enthronement as Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013 Credit: Luke MacGregor/Reuters

SIR – The Church of England is in a bad way, and the succession to Justin Welby is a case in point. 

Notwithstanding the increasing numbers of plausible candidates distancing themselves from consideration, in discussing the situation with colleagues, we are all hard-pressed to think of anybody suitable. How the Church and the Anglican Communion resolve this is not clear, but the task for the next Archbishop of Canterbury must be to return to basics. We must become a pastoral and spiritual organisation again, and put the inherited faith of the nation at the centre of what we do. 

It will require someone of stern mettle to achieve this, as the rot has gone deep. 

Rev Simon Douglas Lane

Hampton, Middlesex

Blogger: the only hope is to import a true Christian from GAFCON.

Please Help Believers In Myanmar.

“I felt the tremors and rushed out along with my children in panic. In a few minutes, we saw our house crumbling down.” Thank you so much for your prayers and support for your persecuted family worldwide, which reminds them they are not alone nor forgotten. As you will have seen from the news, Myanmar is reeling from a devastating earthquake that has killed more than 3,000 people and injured thousands more. The disaster has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, including Daw Sun (PICTURED), a widow who is now sleeping on the street with her two children. Right now, you can help Christians like Daw Sun* with emergency aid to survive, as well as long-term support. Give now Even before the earthquake, Myanmar (number 13 on the Open Doors World Watch List) was a very difficult place for followers of Jesus. Tens of thousands of Christians have already been displaced by conflict and persecution, with churches and Christian communities targeted by all sides in the ongoing civil war. Last month’s earthquake has compounded their suffering. Open Doors partners have been supporting believers like Daw Sun for many years. Will you help them continue to support those in need with urgent help, and long-term support as they rebuild their lives? Your gift of £33 could provide a month of emergency aid including water, food, blankets and clothing to three believers in Myanmar. Give now Your support makes all the difference. And earthquake survivors want you to know your prayers have already helped: “We want to thank our brothers and sisters for their prayers and concern,” says one believer. “We feel comforted and not isolated.” Please continue to pray with your brothers and sisters in the country, and thank you for your gift. Every blessing, Henrietta Blyth, CEO, Open Doors UK & Ireland *Name changed for security reasons

Protests.

'Christians fed up with being pushed out': Protests erupt outside school over canceled Easter. CP.

Read more ›

Birdie.

 

Love.

 

A Toast To Georgia.

Georgia becomes 30th state to enact Religious Freedom Restoration Act. CP.

Read more ›

So Very Many of The Hard Left Despise Christianity.

Wheaton alumni single out 'critical race theorist' professor as example of leftist infiltration.

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Monday, April 07, 2025

Wheaton College in suburban Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 11, 2017. | NOVA SAFO/AFP via Getty Images

Alumni of Wheaton College concerned about the school's alleged leftward drift recently singled out a philosophy professor at the school as an example of liberalism seeping into the flagship Evangelical institution.

Nathan Cartagena, Ph.D., who has been an assistant professor of philosophy at Wheaton College since 2018, has repeatedly exhibited "left-wing racial politics laundered through a patina of 'Christianese,'" according to an analysis of his writings posted on the website "For Wheaton."

Educated at Grove City College, Texas A&M University and Baylor University, Cartagena's profile asserts that he specializes in Thomas Aquinas, civil rights activist James Baldwin, Critical Race Theory, military ethics, "Evangélic@ theology," and Christian pedagogy. CP.

Covenant Shooter.

Covenant shooter targeted Christian school for 'instant notoriety,' 'openly identified as lesbian': police. CP.

Read more ›

Differing Dates For Easter. Why?

 https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/whitby-abbey/history-and-stories/easter-and-the-synod-of-whitby/

Another Brexit Reward.

 Brexit dividend saves Britain from worst of Trump’s tariffs.

Donald Trump announced a wave of tariffs on the White House lawn Credit: Getty Images

Key moments

3 April 2025 • 1:52am

10:10pm

Britain will pursue further trade deal, insists minister

10:06pm

Britain’s approach to Trump ‘vindicated’, says No 10

10:01pm

Chart: How the tariffs stack up

9:30pm

UK hit with baseline 10pc, as EU slapped with 20pc

9:09pm

Trump pledges to ‘Make America Wealthy Again’

Donald Trump’s tariffs: Brexit dividend saves Britain Donald Trump has announced tariffs of 10 per cent on Britain as part of a “declaration of economic independence”...

Donald Trump’s tariffs: Brexit dividend saves Britain Donald Trump has announced tariffs of 10 per cent on Britain as part of a “declaration of economic independence”...

Donald Trump’s tariffs: Brexit dividend saves Britain Donald Trump has announced tariffs of 10 per cent on Britain as part of a “declaration of economic independence”...

Donald Trump’s tariffs: Brexit dividend saves Britain Donald Trump has announced tariffs of 10 per cent on Britain as part of a “declaration of economic independence”...

Donald Trump has announced tariffs of 10 per cent on Britain as part of a “declaration of economic independence” by the US.

Britain escaped the worst of the US president’s wrath on Wednesday night as he imposed a sweeping programme of new “reciprocal” taxes on imports from countries around the world.

Mr Trump set the lowest level of levies on the UK. By contrast, China has been hit with tariffs of 34 per cent and imports from the European Union face a 20 per cent levy.

Trump has long hated the EU. Now he’s getting his revenge US president’s latest tariffs will be a major drag on growth across the Continent

DT.

The president also confirmed that previously announced plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all foreign car imports would come into effect at 12am on Thursday.

A Downing Street source said the lower levies for the UK “vindicate our approach” after weeks of intensive diplomacy by Sir Keir Starmer and his cabinet colleagues.

Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, said: “We will always act in the best interests of UK businesses and consumers. That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the Government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship.”