Weekly News Review

Here is another podcast from Revival

Livin Life

Here is our new podcast at Revival

www.livinlife.co.uk

Todd Bentley

Found this on www.saffronplanet.net - excellent comment!

"After all it would be good to know, wouldn’t it? No other recent event has split the Christian world as the “Florida Outpouring” under Todd Bentley, followed by the brummie offshoot, the “Dudley Outpouring”. Resplendent with motto (Come and get some), slogans, (Let the Fire Fall) catchphrases (Bam!!) and desktop wallpaper, we appear to have a real 21st Century media-propagated (courtesy of God TV) phenomenon.

While the secular media, at least in the UK, has remained silent and unaware, the Christian world is split in two over the activities of the Illustrated Man in Lakeland, Florida, USA. Revival or deception? The jury is out.

Of course, from my cynical tone you are expecting a hatchet job, but I feel that would do a disservice to an issue that has already generated megabytes of polemical views. I have read much from both sides of the argument. On the one hand there has been evidence of healings and miracles, both at Lakeland (and in Dudley) and in homes worldwide, imparted through digital images by satellite or web. On the other hand there have been accusations of deception, either through innocent enthusiasm or even the implication of demonic influences, concentrating on the track record of the personalities involved. I am not going to add fuel to the fire, but rather make an obvious observation, the one made by the Rabbi Gamaliel.

For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:38-39)

Yes, let’s wait and see what comes out of it. Let us judge it by its fruit. Let us, first, imagine …

150,000 people becoming Christians within six months, enough to make a real difference in society. Pubs in the area having to close down, magistrates courts being empty through a lack of crimes committed. The work-shy becoming enthusiastic in their occupations and swear-boxes being committed to the trash cans. The open public singing of hymns. People paying their bills at the first asking, paying back all they have borrowed.

Unrealistic, perhaps, but it did happen, as a result of the Welsh revival at the start of the 20th Century, an “Outpouring” that changed a whole nation. Yet, in a sermon given on May 10th by Jerame Nelson, one of the leaders of the Revival Fires ministry at Dudley, the current revival was going to be released to a National level and, in fulfillment of a prophecy given in the last Century by Smith Wrigglesworth, is going to be the biggest move of God the UK has ever seen!

The Welsh Revival changed a nation for the better. The Methodist revival, led by the Wesley brothers and Charles Whitfield, changed the World. The Dudley revival is going to have to make major inroads into our society to live up to its billing. Nelson remarked, “God has chosen this region as an epicenter of His glory – it must hit the streets!”

So, let’s give it a chance, after all it has been packing the Church since early May, bringing in thousands of Christians from all over the UK, each eager to grab the impartation and take it back to their home Churches.

It is too early to expect the “Dudley Outpouring” to have comparable effects on our Nation as earlier revivals, so let’s look at the streets of Dudley. There is a local paper the Dudley News, that publishes local news stories on the web. Today I read of a Tom Jones impersonator, two teens killed in a road smash and a controversy involving taxicab signs. Very soon I expect to read of unexpected healings, the increase of religious fervour and the singing of hymns at the local football stadium. When and only when that starts to happen, even in a small way, the jury remains out.

But, if the situation remains the same six months down the line then I would fully expect those at the centre of these “Outpourings” to admit that they were wrong and explain why they were wrong, to the thousands of Christians who believed that we were at the edge of a major revival in this country.

On the other hand, if our nation has truly been touched by the “Dudley Outpouring” then we can all rejoice and cynical old hacks like me can cheerfully eat their words."

Florida "outpouring" - Todd Bentley

I'd like to get some views UK on the current so called "Florida Outpouring" in the US. A preacher by the name of Todd Bentley is holding forth every night and miraculous healings are being claimed. Is this of God? I'm not sure. I don't want to quench the Holy Spirit or stand in the way of what an Almighty God might do, but i have not yet seen much that convinces me about this.

Unfortunately have not yet come across a "balanced" critique of what's going on. On the one hand are the keen enthusisasts, and on the other the rampant opposition.

My idea of a revival is when whole communities are transformed permanently by the presence of God. When non-Christians come along and are convicted of their need of salvation. What I see in this Florida thing is Christians coming along to get "blessed" and healed.

I find Todd Bentley's style very hard to take. He seems hyperactive, shouting repeadly, going "bang bang bang!" and causing people to fall down by one touch. But what happens when they get up again? Are they changed? If people are being healed then lets have medical verification and coverage in the secular press. They would lap it up!

I am not averse to moves of the Spirit. I personally was blessed by "Toronto" and on the whole I think it was a move of God - but I reckon there was a lot of the "flesh" in it as well.

So whats' this new thing? God, or nor?!!

Back from Malawi

So, back from Malawi and better from a gastric flu virus, plus had a tooth out! Thankfully these ailments occurred after I got back from Africa, and not while I was out there!

Malawi is a beautiful country, but suffers from the combined effects of mismanagement, corruption, AIDS, lack of investment, poor climate etc etc. The problems of Africa run very deep indeed. But we had a good trip.

Malawi could do really well out of tourism if it had the infrastructure to support it

Off to Malawi

On Tuesday I am travelling to Malawi, one of the poorest countries in africa. I am leading a team of 5 people, including a nurse, doctor, photographer and a colleage who is a computer expert. We will be visiting projects including an orphanage, a Christian work which includes a school, a Bible school, prison work and support for widows. It's my first time in Africa and its a bit daunting, but we are looking forward to the trip! More info at www.revivalmedia.org

"Risk and Reward -The Challenges and Triumphs of UK Commercial Radio"

My 2006 MA Dissertation entitled "Risk and Reward -The Challenges and Triumphs of UK Commercial Radio" is now on the web at

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/patrick.home/dissertation.pdf

What are we here for?

Taken from the Westminster Catechism

What is the chief end of man? (In other words, what is life all about, what are we here for?)

"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever."

Methodist Prayer

Wonderful Methodist prayer - the language may be archaic but the sentiment behind it is great. (Thanks to Wikipedia for locating this!

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

(as used in the Book of Offices of the British Methodist Church, 1936)

Support for marriage

Interesting article in The Times. It seems the message that marriage is the best way to bring up children - which Christians have known for generations - is finally getting through to Government and wider society.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1466737.ece

racist nonsense

All the recent fuss about Big Brother and alleged racist comments about the Indian actress. Racism of course is bad, but we do seem to make it out to be the worst possible thing in the world. You can call someone stupid, or incompetent, or talentless - or worse insults, with no response at all, but call them a "Paki" (or similar) and you have the wrath of half the country on your back. Why? Why is it worse to insult people by reference to their skin colour or ethnic origin? I'm half Irish, if people call me "paddy" thats fine. The Aussies call us Poms, and thats OK, we call them Aussies, and that's Ok. But colour-related insults are an abomination, for some reason. I'm not advocating racism and i do not practice it, but it seems a strange set of double standards we live by. Really any kind of insulting or abusive behaviour or language is wrong, but why get so hung up on racism? I think its the least harmful aspect of BB!

Halloween - hate it!

I hate halloween! Apart from being a goulish fascination with nasty things, the "trick or treat" is a real pest and should be banned. Kids use it as an excuse to throw eggs at houses and be generally anti social. Its become such a big thing in the UK, and we have America to thank for that! Apparently the biggest commercial event after christmas and easter. But why, oh why, do kids want to dress up in black, cover themselves in blood and gory stuff? Its horrible and should be abolished!

Abroad thoughts from Home

Just come back from 2 weeks in India, visiting an orphanage, a training centre and a tv production charity. What's amazing about India (among many other things) is the way people are open to spiritual things. Because "religion" is so much a part of life there, people are very happy to talk about personal belief, and want to know more about Christianity. What a contrast to the Uk where people will cross the street to avoid someone preaching or giving out leaflets! So refreshing!

Israel/Lebanon

What a mess! We're all surely appalled at the personal cost of the conflict to both Lebanese and Israeli. It's always the innocent who suufer most in war and our prayers go out to them. But - and its a big "but", there is a terrorist organisation, Hizbollah, firing missiles into Israel from residential areas of Lebanon. What is Israel to do? These attacks and incursions by hizbollah have been going on for ages, and Israel cannot simply sit back and let them do it. Let's face it, if the Scottish started picking off English people in Berwick on Tweed (I think that's England!), while saying that England should not really exist, I think the English would be fighting back too! War is terrible, but its not always wrong. It wasn't wrong to confront Hitler in the 1940's, and its not wrong to combat world terrorism now. Blair and Bush were right to go into Iraq, and Israel is right to go into Lebanon. If we don't stand up against terrorists, the threat to the world is very real.

Controversial - I'd love to get some comments on this one!

Pretensious pronounciation

Have you noticed how some journalists - and other rather pretensious people (have I spelt that right?- meaning people who put on airs & graces) tend to try and pronounce foreign place names in a "foreign" way?? So instead of the English "Baghdad" (Bagdad) they say "Bugdad". And "Bassra" instead of the English Bazra. And "Bungladay-ish" instead of "Bangladesh." There was a tragic earthquake a couple of years ago in a place called Bam, and people insisted on pronouncning it "Barm". What's wrong with English?? (OK, I say Ma-Yor-ka, not "Ma-Jor-ka" so I suppose I'm as bad!

Graduation

Yesterday - 14th July 2006 - I graduated with an MA In Mass Communications from Leicester University. It was a great occasion, lots of pomp and ceremony. But it does make you ask, with all these people - thousands over several days - getting degrees, and the same thing going on at every Uni in the country, doesn't it devalue the degree, especially 1st degrees? If pretty well anyone can get one, it does seem to! Anyway, I am very pleased with my achievement!

Where has E gone?

Notice how people often don't pronounce the "e" in words? Seems to be a modern phenomenon. So "weather" becomes "wather", and "terrorist" becomes "tarrorist" They do it with all kinds of e-words. "Banefit", "walcome", "tallyvision" Its amazing! Next time you listen to the news or weather, especially on ITV or commercial radio, see if you notice as wall!

Lost art of communica8ing

Its all about image these days. A lot of the media, esp yoof media, doesn't reallly communicate anything meaningful! Just fast miving images to create a "feel", or radio promos that you ca't reallu hear or understand - they just make a noise which attempts to communicate "cool". And yet proper voices that talk to you are what people want. Poeple want to relate to people, not be sold an image.

people called Daz

There seem to be a lot of guys called Daz these days. First there was Daz Sampson on Eurovision, then I heard a guy called Daz phone into Chris Evans, then there was someone called Daz on Deal or No Deal (great show!) . What does it mean? Daz used to be a washing powder! (Do they still make it?) Is it short for Dave, or Derek, or Daniel? Wierd!

So this is my blog

I'm just trying out this blog idea. Will anyone read it? Will I be bothered to keep it up to date? Is this really the future of communication? All sorts of questions, no real answers, so what happens next?