Prayer and bell ringing to kick off Olympics
Churches across the UK are being called to pray and ring their bells on the first day of the Olympics. The London Organising Committee (LOCOG) is asking people to ring bells for three minutes, starting at 8:12am on 27 July. LOCOG is encouraging ‘any bell, anyone, anytime’. More Than Gold, the group spearheading church outreach during the 2012 Games, is asking churches everywhere to ring their bells and pray ‘for God’s Kingdom to come and for a turning to come in our nations’. It will also be an opportunity to celebrate the end of More Than Gold's 70-day prayer relay, which accompanied the Olympic torch relay. Batons containing prayers have been handed over from community to community and as the torch and the prayer relay have travelled through each area, individuals and churches have taken time to pray for the Games and those involved, as well as for their own communities.
Pray: that all the prayers offered will lead to God’s blessing for all those involved over the Games. (Gen.12:2)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/prayer.and.bell.ringing.to.kick.off.olympics/30287.htm
Christian recovers from gunshot wounds to make Olympic team
The bullet wounds in his legs weren't more than an hour old when USC sprinter Bryshon Nellum asked doctors the only question that mattered to him at that momen:. 'Do you know if I'm going to be able to run again?' On Oct 31, 2008, a man Nellum didn't recognize jumped out of the passenger seat of a car, approached him and fired a shotgun as the sophomore walked home. Metal pellets ripped through both of Nellum's legs. Limping to the sidewalk he crumpled to the ground as the gunman and an accomplice sped away. The doctors told me, 'You'll be able to walk again but we don't think you'll ever have the world-class speed you had before.' Once I knew I was going to be able to walk, I told myself I was going to do whatever it takes. It took 44 months and three surgeries, but Nellum fulfilled that vow. He earned a spot on the US Olympic team with a stunning third-place finish in the finals of the 400 meters at the US Olympic trials.
Pray: that God will be glorified in Nellums life showing forth His miraculous healing power. (Ps.119:133)
More: http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d7Zhm?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=olympics
UK hotel replaces bedside Bibles with 'Fifty Shades of Grey'
One British hotel manager has decided to chuck the Gideon Bibles traditionally stocked in guest rooms for copies of the racy novel ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ by British author E L James. Wayne Bartholomew, General Manager of Damson Dene Hotel, in Cumbria, says he got the idea to swap copies of the Holy Book for the otherwise unholy one after a discussion with fans on Facebook. ‘Fifty Shades of Grey' is all that people are talking about at the moment, but I know that some are too shy to buy it for themselves. I thought it would be a special treat for our guests to find it in their bedside cabinet and that includes the men. Some of the more than 3,200 followers on the Damson Dene Hotel's official Facebook page expressed disagreement with the change.
Pray: that this initiative will not be repeated by others and that those in disagreement would increase. (Ps.119: 37)
David Cameron - Not Ashamed of the Cross?
Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs on Wednesday that he believes that Christians should have the right to wear a cross at work. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsCTjGTLY20&feature=player_embedded He also promised to change the law to allow this, if necessary. Yet the Government has intervened against the two Christians whose cases are before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over the right to wear a cross. The Government has told the ECHR that their employers had every right to discipline them. As well as the 'cross' cases, two other cases, relating to freedom of conscience, will also be heard by the ECHR on 4 September, including that of Christian Legal Centre client Gary McFarlane who was sacked after he expressed a possible conscientious objection to giving direct sex therapy to two homosexual men. Why is the Prime Minister saying one thing but his Government is doing another?
Pray: that the Government will give a clear message in supporting the cross. (1Cor.1:18)
