Value people more than money and materials - bishop
The Bishop of Hereford has asked people to think about who and what they value most in the light of recent headlines. Responding to the abduction of April Jones and reports of abuse by Jimmy Savile, Bishop Anthony Priddis said the terrible headlines underlined the need for people to love and care for each other, particularly the young. ‘So often we can give the impression that money or material things or fame come first, rather than people,’ he said. ‘Few of us really believe that, but we can easily live as though that appears to be the case.’ He urged people to put others first and do everything they can to let them know how valued and loved they are. ‘This is the responsibility and joy for all of us as parents and grandparents, but it needs us also to care for those not just in our own families but among our friends and wider community,’ the bishop said.
Pray: for the Bishop’s words to be heeded and that we will all more openly practice such values in our daily lives. (Mtt.6:19)
21 Days of Prayer for the Silk Road
We are doing 21 Days of Focused Prayer for the Silk Road--Oct 1-21. If you know those who might join, please let me know. Each day's prayer focus will be posted on the Facebook page Silkroad Prayer in English and Russian. We are also sending these out by email every day.
Rules of Engagement for our servicemen and women
Following the news of the five Royal Marines being charged for murder of a Taliban insurgent. Let us reflect on the stressful circumstances and difficulties that face our Servicemen and women in Afghanistan. Please pray that our Service personnel will hold fast to the Rules of Engagement regardless of tiredness, workload, the stress and trauma of seeing their comrades being killed and injured, and the adrenaline produced by fear of danger especially in close combat. Please pray that every soldier is able to make the right split second decision in the heat of the moment. Please also pray for justice for the five Marines and care and support for their families.
Abortion is 27 percent of deaths in England and Wales
Disturbing reports coming from England and Wales as national statistics show that more than a quarter of all deaths in the countries are caused by abortions. The numbers were released by the Office for National Statistics of the UK and offers a complete accounting of the mortality statistics for all deaths that occurred in 2010. The report listed a total of 493,242 deaths in England and Wales from ‘all causes’ in 2010. This number includes 224 babies who died ‘before, during or after birth.’ However, the 224 babies who died were not represented in the 189,574 human deaths from abortion in England and Wales in 2010. Adding the total number of pre-born babies who died as a result of abortion in 2010 to the total number of human deaths in England and Wales for that same year produces an overall total of 682,816 deaths. This leads to 27 percent or 189,574 of the 682,816 deaths being caused by abortion.
Pray: that as these staggering statistics become public that moves will be made by the authorities to change legislation to protect life. (Jn.17:15)
