Christian refugee worker concerned as good weather encourages migrants to make dangerous trips

As parts of England could see temperatures top 30 degrees Celsius over the next few days, Ben Bano co-director of Seeking Sanctuary has urged the government to treat the migrants with dignity and respect.

He said: “The answer to this problem is not just about increased surveillance techniques and stopping people from starting their journeys – it is also about addressing the appalling conditions and harassment which they experience in and around Calais that lead them to feel that their only option is to risk their lives making these desperate attempts.

 

Boris Johnson’s warning that migrants would be sent back if they crossed the English Channel to the UK have been branded as “inflammatory” and “misleading” by campaigners.

The Prime Minister’s comments came after a surge in attempts – with nearly 100 people taking to small boats to try to make the crossing from France to the UK in one day.
Bano added: “There is nothing illegal about seeking sanctuary from violence and oppression.

“If these exiles were treated with a degree of humanity and respect, rather than being endlessly harassed in France they are less likely to resort to traffickers and risk death by using unorthodox means to try to reach the UK.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel is to seek talks with her French counterpart, the Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, to address the crisis.

Mr Johnson told…

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‘Once-in-a-lifetime find’ discovered at historic church site

The stone, thought to have been carved about 1,200 years ago, is decorated with a number of Pictish symbols and is said by experts to be of national importance.

It is believed the stone, discovered at an early Christian church site in Dingwall, originally stood at more than two metres high.

 

It now measures around 1.5 metres, having been broken over the years and been reused as a grave marker in the 1790s.

Anne MacInnes, from the North of Scotland Archaeological Society, was the first to recognise the stone while carrying out a survey at the church site.

She said: “I was clearing vegetation when I spotted the carving. I really couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”

NOSAS/PA Wire

North of Scotland Archaeological Society undated handout photo of a Pictish stone, which was discovered at an early Christian church site in Dingwall

 

The find was verified by archaeologists from Highland Council and Historic Environment Scotland, before being safely removed from the site by specialist conservators on Thursday.

It will now be professionally conserved with a view to ultimately putting it on public display at a Highland museum or other suitable venue.

Designs on the stone include several mythical beasts, oxen, an animal-headed warrior with sword and shield, and a double disc and z rod symbol.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood member of the Trinity. Who is he? What does he do? Why does he matter so much in our lives today?

I spent years in Baptist churches with no real introduction to the Holy Spirit. I don’t remember ever hearing a sermon on the subject. We knew to trust in Jesus and worship his Father, but I had no idea how to relate to the Spirit. Or even if I should. I suspect that many of us have a similar story.

We’ll begin with some introductions.

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal neuter, an “it.” He is more than a “presence.” He is not a “ghost,” holy or otherwise (the King James Version notwithstanding).

Rather, the Spirit is a Person who works personally.

He possesses the three distinctive characteristics of personality:

  • knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
  • will (1 Corinthians 12:11)
  • feeling or emotion (Romans 15:30)

He performs acts only a person can perform. He:

  • searches (1 Corinthians. 2:10)
  • speaks (Revelation 2:7)
  • cries (Galatians 4:6)
  • prays (Romans 8:26)
  • testifies (John 15:26)
  • teaches (John. 14:26)
  • leads Christians (Romans 8:24)
  • commands people (Acts 16:6, 7)

He is treated in Scripture as only a person can be treated. He is:

  • grieved and rebelled against (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30)
  • insulted (Hebrews 10:29)
  • blasphemed (Matthew 12:31, 32).

But is he God?

Why is the Spirit “holy”?

Why do we believe the Spirit to be God?

For five reasons.

First, he possesses the four distinctly divine attributes:

  • eternity (Hebrews 9:14)
  • omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10),
  • omniscience (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11)
  • omnipotence (Luke 1:35)

Second, he performs each of the three distinctively divine works:

  • creation (Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30; Genesis 1:1-3),
  • impartation of life (John 6:63; Genesis 2:7)
  • authorship of prophecy (2 Peter 1:21)

Third, Old Testament statements about God are applied to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.

See Exodus 16:7 and Hebrews 3:7-9.

Fourth, the name of the Holy…

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Hillsong worship leader showing ‘incredible results’ after brain aneurysm

Hillsong Creative pastor Cass Langton wrote in an Instagram stories post. “Her results are incredible!

“They revealed minimal vasospasms that were attended to and the doctors are confident there won’t be any more.”

 

Langton even said Chelsea is looking forward to being at church on Sunday although Langton added she’s not “sure if it will be that quick.”

Langton thanked all of Taylor’s supported for “faithfully storming heaven”.

Instagram Stories

 

Taylor, a worship leader Hillsong’s Sydney-based “Hills” campus, was rushed to hospital shortly after leaving the stage. She then underwent nine hours of brain surgery.

An aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel and it can cause sudden agonising headaches, a stiff neck, sickness and pain when looking at light.

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Christian charities join call to end worsening crisis in Myanmar

It’s been two years since families have been forced from their homes by mass atrocities in Myanmar.

Almost one million of the Rohingya people group are struggling for safety in Bangladesh as refugees. Conflict there is escalating and humanitarian access is limited.

 

The charities have urged the Governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar to ensure that any return process be safe, voluntary and dignified, as news of the possible expedited repatriation of 3,450 Rohingya refugees circulated this week.

Since the conflict started, Christian Aid and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have assisted the Government of Bangladesh and UN agencies to provide life-sustaining support to Rohingya living in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

It said these collective efforts have stabilised camp conditions, strengthened monsoon preparedness and helped prevent disease outbreaks. However, Christian Aid said much more needs to be done on both sides of the Myanmar/Bangladesh border.

Deborah Hyams, Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Advisor at the charity said:  “We call on the international community to act now.

“Most urgently, the UK and other governments need to address the funding shortfall – the 2019 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya crisis is only 35 percent funded to date – and to help ensure that no refugees are repatriated to Myanmar against their will.”

She added…

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Amazon fires are destroying hope

Rt Rev Nick Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, said in a statement: “There is a climate emergency which does not know international boundaries. The Amazon is a global resource as well as a national one.

“In the last 36 hours I have been asked to sign a variety of climate related petitions and letters. People are concerned.”

 

He urged politicians to unite to solve the issue.

Bishop Nick added: “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment.

“At the moment there are so many initiatives to plant trees to help carbon capture. It is appalling to see such large areas of rainforest burn.

“They destroy more than the trees. They destroy hope.”

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

Cattle rest under the shadow of a tree, in a patch of land recently burnt near Porto Velho, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019

 

On Saturday, Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro authorised the use of the military to battle the huge blazes sweeping parts of the Amazon while thousands took to the streets to protest his environmental policies.

Brazilian forces will deploy to border areas, indigenous territories and other affected regions in the Amazon to assist in putting out fires for a month, according to a presidential decree authorising use of the army.

The military will “act strongly” to control the wildfires, Mr Bolsonaro promised as he signed the decree.

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Notable Voices and the Week in Review: August 24, 2019

7 Ways To Get Past the Funk of Talking About Money at Church — Carey Nieuwhof

When you talk about money, it’s like you’re setting yourself up to be shot at. You almost always take bullets when you talk about money, even when you speak about it as earnestly, biblically and honestly as you know how. As a result, many pastors avoid the subject and only talk about it if there’s a financial crisis looming for the church. That’s the biggest mistake you can make. Only talking about money when you need money is the best way to set everyone up to lose.


Millennial Christians, Smaller in Number, but Just as Faithful as Older Generations — Facts & Trends

There are fewer millennial Christians than in previous generations, but those young adults who do follow Christ do so just as faithfully as older believers, according to a Barna study. Around 8 in 10 Boomers (80%) and elders (83%) self-identify as Christians. That falls to 73% of Generation X and 64% of millennials.


The Church-Budgeting Book You Didn’t Know You NeedChris Brauns

The business of the church—that is, the responsible stewardship of resources entrusted to a local congregation—is very much a responsibility of God’s people. Hence, local churches must make it a goal to align financial practices with biblical priorities, such that when Christ returns people are thankful for every dollar they entrusted to that congregation.


7 Questions to Ask about the Length of a Worship ServiceChuck Lawless

When I’ve…

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These Leading Companies Are Rooted in Christian Beliefs — and You Never Even Knew It

There are some companies who are well-known to be deeply religious. Chick-fil-A, for example, demonstrates its openly Christian ethos through refusing to open on Sundays.

Other businesses, however, are a little more subtle about their roots in the faith. So what are some of these businesses that have Christ at the center of their operations, and yet you had no idea?

Well, we’ve picked out four great examples:

Photo courtesy: Unsplash/Mike Petrucci

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