Some significant anniversaries in 2005
Joy Horn
Date posted: 1 Jan 2005
Thomas Tallis was born in 1505. One of the first composers of English Protestant church music, his music is still much performed and recorded.
1555 was the peak year for the burning of Protestants under Queen Mary Tudor, some of whom are mentioned individually below. In all, about 290 died this excruciating death - men, women and even young people, and preponderantly working-class - and thereby ensured that Mary's attempt to re-establish Roman Catholicism died with her.
The Third Degree
Jonathan Carswell
Date posted: 1 Feb 2005
For Christian students who are a part of the 2.7 million in Further Education (FE) colleges, CU life can be a hard slog.
The group is almost always small in number, they are less well-resourced than school or university CUs, and colleges are often deeply secular environments not used to the concept of a CU. However, as we have seen in recent years the labour is producing fruit, even if progress is slow.
Caught in the tsunami
On Boxing Day, the great tsunami hit the coasts of countries around the Indian Ocean, bringing devastation and death. Here we carry reports from some Christians in the area.
Jacqui Hoole, who is acting principal of Baldaeus Theological College in Trincomalee in north-east Sri Lanka, writes:
Distorted cross
Ben Cooper
Date posted: 1 Feb 2005
Book Review
RECOVERING THE SCANDAL OF THE CROSS
Atonement in New Testament and Contemporary Contexts
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Would Paul have used PowerPoint?
Richard Lacey
Date posted: 1 Jan 2005
As the final chord of the hymn dies away the congregation sits and, to everyone's surprise, the lights go out.
The voice of Buddy Holly singing 'That'll be the day' comes through the PA. The front projector screen lights up and starts scrolling through photo after photo of famous faces, each dead, with the date they died displayed underneath. Albert Einstein, April 18 1955; Elvis Presley, August 16 1977; Princess Diana, August 31 1997; Jill Dando, April 16 1999.
Meetings for better understanding
Mike Taylor
Date posted: 1 Jan 2005
Recently I had an opportunity to put a question to Imam Mumtaz, the Imam of Streatham mosque, regarding the Muslim view of the sinlessness of the prophets. The Imam seemed to admit that, from an absolute standpoint, everyone is a sinner. This was the first time I had had an opportunity to speak face-to-face with a South London Imam.
Unfortunately, confrontation is a frequent feature of Christian-Muslim encounter. Therefore, opportunities for such discussion in a friendly atmosphere are rare. Real communication often just does not happen.
'...from darkness to light...'
Gerard Chrispin
Date posted: 1 Nov 2004
Gerard Chrispin reports on the launch of the new DAYLIGHT Christian Prison Trust, seeking to bring the gospel to those behind bars...
A helpful missionary vision emphasis in recent years is the concentration on the needs of people groups, in addition to focusing on geographical areas.
China: leaders distance themselves from 'the heavenly man'
While the Lord has indeed brought millions of people to Christ in China over recent years, the character and some of the claims of ‘Brother Yun’ — whose story is told in the book The Heavenly Man — are being called into question by indigenous Chinese house church leaders.
Samuel Lamb (Lin Xiangao) has strongly attacked the ‘heavenly man’ (Brother Yun) in a pamphlet issued in August. The two most respected house church leaders in Beijing, Moses Xie and Allen Yuan, have also come out strongly against him and Peter Xu. Allen Yuan, who is himself from a Pentecostal background, has said that they are ‘black sheep disturbing the church’.
My story
Selwyn Hughes
Date posted: 1 Dec 2004
I have no hesitation in saying that the greatest and most momentous decision I have ever made in my life was the decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
Prior to my conversion I had always felt, to some degree at least, that there was a longing within my heart to know God in the way my parents seemed to know him, but I was afraid to pursue it in case I might be disappointed. Many times God had tapped at the window-pane of my soul. Like times just before bedtime when I would kneel to pray - something I had been taught as a child - and the feeling would come over me that I needed to take spiritual realities more seriously. Even in my most rebellious times, I would never slip under the blankets without saying a prayer. It was a simple and short prayer recited very quickly:
Music
Christmas stocking
Richard Simpkin
Date posted: 1 Dec 2004
Christmas stocking
This article is going to be a bit like a Christmas stocking - a few things chucked in, some of them boring but useful; some interesting but useless; or a combination of the above.
Last revival
Ray Porter
Date posted: 1 Oct 2004
Book Review
SOUNDS FROM HEAVEN
The revival on the Isle of Lewis 1949-1952
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Serve one another
William Philip
Date posted: 1 Sep 2004
The world we inhabit today is both larger and smaller than ever before. In our global village, events in one hemisphere hit the airwaves instantly to affect millions on the other side of the world.
Yet most people in the West live a more privatised, isolated and self-preoccupied existence than at any time in history. Vast horizons coexist alongside incredible insularity.
The Grace of Giving
John Stott
Date posted: 1 Nov 2004
A new booklet is published this month on giving. John Stott takes ten principles set out by the Apostle Paul, and applies them to us now. Here we look at four of those principles...
When we become Christians, our giving has a new impetus. We are called to give generously, and with joy, as a fruit of the Spirit's life within us.
A bridge over troubled people
Deann Alford
Date posted: 1 Sep 2004
Lugging backpacks and hefty bags on Sunday at sunrise, they trickle in to the expanse of dirt and gravel under Interstate 35.
Littering this city block between 4th and 5th streets in Waco, Texas, are taillight shards and pigeon feathers. The men sit mostly in solitude at the base of support columns, waiting for something to happen.
New name, new opportunities!
Colin Tamplin
Date posted: 1 Sep 2004
In 1988 a group of Christians in the south of Birmingham were amazed at the turnout to a small Sunday gathering at which just a few families had been expected.
The meeting had been arranged in a local home to provide ministry for some who had been travelling long distances for systematic Bible teaching. The fact that over 30 people appeared highlighted a real desire for this kind of ministry in the area, and out of that South Birmingham Evangelical Church was soon formed.
The Third Degree
UCCF
Date posted: 1 Oct 2004
Eleven new CU Staff Workers joined UCCF this summer. They play a vital role in co-ordinating the support of Christian Unions, as well as encouraging, advising, teaching and training students. Please pray for them as they begin this new stage of ministry.
Naomi Pilgrem (London) comes from France, and chose to study at King's College, London, because she had heard of CUs, and wanted to be part of one. After a year on Relay she moves to the east end of London to support smaller CUs in postmodern and multicultural universities.
Back to the future for elderly care
Louise Morse
Date posted: 1 Oct 2004
When the Ruth Cowell care home for elderly Christians closed down, it was not a story that would interest the national press.
There were no protests from residents or staff, only an acceptance of the need to close and an assurance that God would take care of them.
