Dawkins: I'm a cultural Christian

Scientist Richard Dawkins, an atheist known worldwide for arguing against the existence of God, has described himself as a "cultural Christian". He told the BBC's Have Your Say that he did not want to "purge" the UK of its Christian heritage. The comments came after Tory MP Mark Pritchard accused "politically correct" people of undermining Christmas. Professor Dawkins, author of the God Delusion, added that he liked "singing Carols along with everybody else".

On Have Your Say, Mr Pritchard told Prof Dawkins there was an "increasing feeling" that "many of the main Christian festivals are being sidelined and marginalised, sometimes by stealth, sometimes openly". This, he argued, would allow groups such as the British National Party, to utilise Christian imagery for their own ends.

Prof Dawkins, who has frequently spoken out against creationism and religious fundamentalism, replied: "I'm not one of those who wants to stop Christian traditions. This is historically a Christian country. I'm a cultural Christian in the same way many of my friends call themselves cultural Jews or cultural Muslims. So, yes, I like singing carols along with everybody else. I'm not one of those who wants to purge our society of our Christian history. If there's any threat these sorts of things, I think you will find it comes from rival religions and not from atheists."

Last week, Mr Pritchard called a parliamentary debate on "Christianophobia". The MP for The Wrekin, Shropshire, complained that Christian heritage was being undermined by secular officials and public figures. During that debate, community cohesion minister Parmjit Dhanda told MPs that Christianity had had a "significant impact" in securing people's rights and freedoms. He added: "I fully recognise the full historical and cultural significance [of Christianity] in our country.

And the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips, said schools were wrong if they thought celebrating Christmas excluded children who were not Christian. He said: "Christmas and the celebration of Christmas in this country, though it is a religious festival, is one in which people who are of no religion - or other religions - can share."

Rainbow City

Rainbow City

I

There is a land
A beautiful city where peace and harmony
Are at hand.
Glowing colours
Sweet aromas
A tranquil setting.

II

My fears
My tears and sadness too
Are soothed away as I enter
The calmness of
“Rainbow City”

III

The sun shines brightly
The birds sing sweetly
And make melody
Amongst themselves.

IV

How did I come to this place?
Are there others who come here too?
Yes I seem to recognize that face,
Is it a memory or is it you?

V

Anyone can come here
Whoever you are,
I’ll tell you the Way,
Its not very far.

VI

If you go to seek refuge
Comfort and help,
A stillness of body, mind
And soul,
From the busy days looming ahead,
Or the busiest day
That’s just come your way.

VII

To enter Rainbow city,
Just sit and relax
In a favourite room
With only a favourite hot drink.
Do this when there is no-one around
To bug, pester or hound.
Let al cares and thoughts just drift away,
And focus your attention on the joy that will stay,
In your heart for the rest of the day.

VIII

As you see the city and the delights within
Thank the One who made it for you.
His name is Jesus, you know who I mean,
If you look hard enough He is to be seen.
Search for Him in that city of gems
And when you see Him

Face to face,
Its time for you
Not to return to this place
But to stay with the One you has called you
To be with Him
In “Rainbow City”

IX. Throne Room

I try to spend my day
In thoughts
And with prayers to my Father
Often I say

“LORD, canst thou hear me?”

Then in my mind I see Him.
All beauty to behold
His radiance too bright for me,
And holiness so bold.
I see my Father sitting there,
Upon His lofty golden throne,
And angels there surround Him
All righteousness and fair.

Then I see a hole appear through the crystal floor
And shafts of light dart through
Golden and gleaming upon His face.
Then these words do follow –

“LORD, canst thou hear me?”

My Fathers’ heart is love
And He sees the needs from above,
So I see Him send His angels down
Following the shafts of prayer
From the saints
To comfort and to hold me
In my time of need.

Poison or Cure? Religious Belief in the Modern World

Oct 11th, 2007

Georgetown University and Ethics and Public Policy Center - Washington, D.C.

Poison or Cure? Religious Belief in the Modern World

A debate, dialogue, and discussion with Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath.

The Ethics and Public Policy Center and the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University host a debate between writer Christopher Hitchens and Oxford University professor Alister McGrath on the role of religious belief in the modern world.

John Piper on the prosperity gospel

Who Am I Casting Crowns

UPC Conference Church 2006 De Bron, Who Am I - Casting Crowns/ Performed by the Oslo UPC Youth Group. They got in November a new concert at Oslo, Norway.

http://rapidshare.com/files/62741775/Who_Am_I_-_UPCI.avi.html

This is the Truth

Randy Stonehill - Shut De Do

Shut de do, keep out de debbil,
Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night,
Shut de do, keep out de debbil,
|: Light a candle, everything's all right. :|

Oh, when I was a baby child,
(Shut de do, keep out de debbil)
Good and bad, wasjust a game,
(Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night)
But many years and many trials
(Shut de do, keep out de debbil)
They proved to me that they're not the same.
(Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night)

Shut de do, keep out de debbil,
Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night,
Shut de do, keep out de debbil,

Light a candle, everything's all right.

2. Oh, Satan is an evil charmer,
(Shut de do, keep out de debbil)
He's hungry for a soul to hurt,
(Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night)
And without your holy armor,
(Shut de do, keep out de debbil)
He will eat you for dessert.
(Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night)

Shut de do, keep out de debbil,
Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night,
Shut de do, keep out de debbil,

Light a candle, everything's all right.

Say der, hey, hey, hey
Shut de do
Hey, hey, hey
Shut de do
Hey, hey, hey
You better shut it.
Say a prayer he won't be back no more.

3. My mama used to sing this song,
(Shut de do, keep out de debbil)
My papa used to sing it too,
(Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night)
Jesus called and took them home,
(Shut de do, keep out de debbil)
And so I sing this song for you.
(Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night)

Shut de do, keep out de debbil,
Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night,
Shut de do, keep out de debbil,

Light a candle, everything's all right.

(You better)
Shut de do, keep out de debbil,
(You gotta)
Shut de do, keep de debbil in the night,
Shut de do, keep out de debbil,

Light a candle, everything's all right.

Light a candle, everything's all right.

When I Survey

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

[Added by the compilers of Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern]

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.

Words: Isaac Watts
It is set to the celtic tune, and played by Iona.

Graduated at last!

Graduation, originally uploaded by emptybelly.

Graduation 2007
BA Theology (Honours)

For anybody interested in perusing my dissertation, here are two links. If it isnt available on one, it will be on the other. It is in Adobe PDF format only, unless you request another format...:

Is Virtual Church Part of the historical Church - An analysis of the Virtual Church

Is Virtual Church Part of the historical Church - An analysis of the Virtual Church

Living Water...

Rushing..., originally uploaded by emptybelly.

"Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” John 7v37-38

Eritrean Christians tell of torture

Eritrean Christians tell of torture
By Tanya Datta
BBC News, northern Ethiopia

An Eritrean refugee lies contorted on the ground. Balanced on his belly, his hands clutch his feet behind his back, bending his legs back almost double. Paulus is demonstrating a torture technique known colloquially as "the helicopter". It is one he knows well. It was in this excruciating position, he claims, that soldiers left him tied up for 136 hours, in an attempt to force him to recant his faith.

"They kept asking me to sign a document," he recalls, "and agree to not participate in church activities or express my faith in any form. I was told I would be untied and released the minute I agreed to their requests."

Paulus is an evangelical Christian from Eritrea, one of an increasing number fleeing the tiny Red Sea state because of religious persecution. Home these days is Shimelba refugee camp in northern Ethiopia, close to the disputed border with Eritrea. Here, in the Ebenezer Evangelical Church on camp, Paulus is free to worship in a way that is unthinkable back in his homeland.

Jailed

During the past five years, a brutal campaign has been waged in Eritrea against Christian minorities, focusing mainly on the evangelical and Pentecostal movements. Weddings, baptisms, church services and prayer meetings have been raided by security forces. Guests or congregation members have rounded up and detained en masse. According to Compass Direct, a non-governmental organisation reporting on the persecution of Christians around the world, it is estimated that almost 2,000 people are being held in jails across Eritrea because of their religious beliefs.

The crackdown on Eritrea's minority churches followed a government announcement in May 2002 that only its four oldest faiths - Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Islam - would receive official sanction. The rest were invited to register and declare their sources of funding. To date, none has been registered.

Beatings

Evangelical Christians who have been arrested face severe pressure to recant their faith. Some prisoners have been held in metal shipping containers. Accounts of torture, lack of food and terrible conditions are commonplace. Samuel (not his real name) is 24 and university-educated. Along with 19 others, he was arrested in 2005 when he attended the wedding of a friend. For the next 12 months, he was imprisoned and forced to do backbreaking manual labour. He was also regularly beaten.

Patriarch Antonious used to have good relations with the president. On one occasion, Samuel said, he was suspended by his arms from a tree for three days in the form of a crucifixion. He was also constantly pressured to leave his faith. "They asked me if I would like to leave it. They asked every night for four months," he said. Some of his friends did recant after endless beatings.

Samuel, as well as Paulus, were repeatedly asked about their links with the US. Evangelical and Pentecostal churches are widely perceived by the Eritrean authorities as having originated in the States, even though many fund themselves. The US is threatening to declare Eritrea a rogue state for its alleged support of terrorists, and the mood of President Isaias Afwerki and his Marxist-oriented government is now openly anti-American. Yet even official, long-established faiths have not escaped government interference. Patriarch Abune Antonios, the head of the Eritrean Orthodox Church - a faith followed by more than 40% of Eritrea's population - has been under house arrest for almost two years.

'No repression'

Four months ago, the 80-year-old who suffers from diabetes was moved to an undisclosed location. Since then, there has been little information about what happened to him. No official reason has been given for his disappearance. His supporters, however, claim that he was arrested after he objected to the jailing of church leaders from the Medhane Alem, a spiritual renewal movement within the Orthodox church.

In May this year, a new patriarch was installed with the support of some Eritrean bishops. But the new patriarch has not been accepted by the Coptic Church in Alexandria, Egypt. Abba Seraphim is the head of the British Orthodox Church, which is launching an online petition to protest about the plight of the patriarch.

He told me the patriarch was put under house arrest after he refused to do the government's bidding. "The only thing we've heard is that he's being kept in a darkened room. He managed to get a message to someone complaining about this," Mr Seraphim said. But, according to Girma Asmeron, the Eritrean ambassador to Belgium, the disappearance of Patriarch Antonios is far from sinister. The patriarch, he claims, has retired to an isolated monastery and is very much "alive, kicking and praying".

Mr Asmeron denies that there is any repression of religious freedom in Eritrea. He says persecution claims have been made up. And allegations of torture, he says, are stories invented by refugees "simply as a certificate" to enable them to get political asylum. Refugees certainly continue to pour out of Eritrea. In two years, the number of asylum applications by Eritreans to the West has increased by 57%. The UNHCR recently described the exodus as "one of the world's most protracted refugee situations". My last contact with Eritrea's persecuted Christians came in an e-mail sent to me last week.

"The situation in Eritrea is getting worse and worse after the president stated that the US is funding the Pentecostal church in Eritrea," it said.

"Many Christians are suffering in military concentrations [camps] and police stations... Pray for the Christians in Eritrea, and pray for the prisoners and their families."

Click here to listen to the programme.

Michael W Smith - Above All

Verse 1
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began

Verse 2
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders
The world has ever known
Above all wealth
And treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure
What You're worth

CHORUS
Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

CHORUS
Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

The Apostles Creed

Worthy is the Lamb

Performed by LatinLabel
Music By- Third Day
Song- "Agnus Dei" (Worthy is the Lamb)
Written by- Michael W. Smith
From the album Exodus

Alleluia, Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia, Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns

Holy, Holy
Are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are holy
Holy
Are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Amen

Friends - Michael W. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes he's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

CHORUS:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say "Never"
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Amy Grant - El Shaddai

El shaddai, el shaddai,
El-elyon na adonia,
Age to age youre still the same,
By the power of the name.
El shaddai, el shaddai,
Erkamka na adonai,
We will praise and lift you high,
El shaddai.

Through your love and through the ram,
You saved the son of abraham;
Through the power of your hand,
Turned the sea into dry land.
To the outcast on her knees,
You were the God who really sees,
And by your might,
You set your children free.

El shaddai, el shaddai,
El-elyon na adonia,
Age to age youre still the same,
By the power of the name.
El shaddai, el shaddai,
Erkamka na adonai,
We will praise and lift you high,
El shaddai.

Through the years youve made it clear,
That the time of christ was near,
Though the people couldnt see
What messiah ought to be.
Though your word contained the plan,
They just could not understand
Your most awesome work was done
Through the frailty of your son.

El shaddai, el shaddai,
El-elyon na adonai,
Age to age youre still the same,
By the power of the name.
El shaddai, el shaddai,
Erkamka na adonai,
I will praise yo till I die,
El shaddai.

El shaddai, el shaddai,
El-elyon na adonai,
Age to age youre still the same,
By the power of the name.
El shaddai, el shaddai,
Erkamka na adonai,
I will praise you till I die.
El shaddai.

Blinded and deluded...

Anglican Priest Claims to be both Christian and Muslim

Jesus of the Scars

Keith Green - I Can't Wait To Get To Heaven

I Can't Wait to Get to Heaven

Prolog - You know, I look around at the world and I see all the beauty that God made. I see the forest and the trees and all the things. and says in the Bible that he made them is six days and I don't kn
They're a literal six days or not. scientists would say no, some theologians would say yes. but I know that jesus christ has been preparing a home for me and for some of you, for two thousand years. and if the world took six days and that home two thousand years, hey man, this is like living in a garbage can compared to what's going on up there.


Seaside sunset, silver linings round the clouds,
Birds fly, singing, making such a joyful sound.
Thoughts of heaven somehow seem to fill my mind,
But I can't even imagine, what it is I'm gonna find.

I can't wait to get to heaven, when you'll wipe away all my fears.

In six days you created everything,

But you've been working on heaven two thousand years.

Deep green forests, mountains reaching for the sky,
Grasslands and deserts, your creation fills my eye.

Thank you, thank you jesus, though this beauty is just a taste,
Of all your glory I'll see when I pass through those gates.
I can't wait to get to heaven, when you'll wipe away all my fears.

In six days you created everything,
But you've been working on heaven two thousand years.
I can't wait to get to heaven, when you'll wipe away all my fears.

In six days you created all of the world,
But you've been working on heaven,

You've been working on heaven, Holy Spirit,
You've been working on heaven, two thousand years.

Keith Green - Asleep In The Light

Do you see, do you see
All the people sinking down
Dont you care, dont you care
Are you gonna let them drown

How can you be do numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the jobs done

Oh bless me lore, bless me lord
You know its all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts
No one even sheds one tear

But he cries, he weeps, he bleeds
And he cares for you needs
And you just lay back
And keep soaking it in
Oh cant you see its such a sin

cause he brings people to you door
And you turn them away
As you smile and say
God bless you, be at peace
And all heaven just weeps
cause jesus came to you door
Youve left him out on the streets

Open up open up
And give yourself away
You see the need, you hear the cries
So how can you delay

Gods calling and youre the one
But like jonah you run
Hes told you to speak
But you keep holding it in
Of cant you see its such a sin

The world is sleeping in the dark
That the church just cant fight
cause its asleep in the light
How can you be so dead
When youve been so well fed
Jesus rose from the grave
And you, you cant even get out of bed

Oh, jesus rose from the dead
Come on get out of your bed

How can you be so numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the jobs done
You close your eyes
And pretend the jobs done

Dont close your eyes
Dont pretend the jobs done
Come away, come away, come away with me my love
Come away, come away, come away with me my love

Keith Green - Your Love Broke Through

Like a foolish dreamer, trying to build a highway to the sky
All my hopes would come tumbling down, and I never knew just why
Until today, when you pulled away the clouds that hung like curtains on my eyes
Well I've been blind all these wasted years and I thought I was so wise
But then you took me by surprise

Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I've been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love broke through

All my life I've been searching for that crazy missing part
And with one touch, you just rolled away the stone that held my heart
And now I see that the answer was as easy, as just asking you in
And I am so sure I could never doubt your gentle touch again
It's like the power of the wind

Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I've been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love, until your love, broke through

Larry Norman - Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music

I want the people to know
That He saved my soul
But I still like to listen to the radio
They say that rock and roll is wrong, we'll give you more chance
I say I feel so good I gotta get up and dance

I know what's right, I know what's wrong and I don't confuse it
Why should the devil have all the good music
I feel good every day
'Cause Jesus is the Rock and He rolled my blues away

Well now they say to cut my hair
They're driving me insane
I grew it out long to make room for my brain
But sometimes people don't understand
What's a good boy doing in a rock and roll band

There's nothing wrong with playing blues licks
But if you got a reason tell me to my face
Why should the devil have all the good music
There's nothing wrong with what we play
'Cause Jesus is the Rock and He rolled my blues away

Roll 'em away now!

I ain't knocking the hymns
Just give me a song that has a beat
No I ain't knocki8ng the hymns
Give me a song that moves my feet

Jesus told the Truth
Jesus showed the Way
There's one more thing I'd like to say
They nailed Him to a cross
And they laid Him in the ground
But they shoulda known they can't keep a Good Man down

And I feel good every day
I refuse to lose it
All I wanna I know from all of you is
Why should the devil have all the good music
'Cos I been filled I feel okay because Jesus is the Rock and He rolled all my blues
Jesus is the Rock and He rolled all my blues
Jesus is the Rock and He rolled all my blues

Larry Norman- Sweet Sweet Song of Salvation

Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation
Words and Music by Larry Norman

When you know a pretty story
You don't let it go unsaid
You tell it to all of your children
As you tuck them into bed.
When you know a wonderful secret
You gotta tell it to all of your friends
Tell 'em that a lifetime filled with Happiness
Is like a street that never ends.

Sing that sweet, sweet song of salvation
And let your laughter fill the air
Sing that sweet, sweet song of salvation
And tell the people everywhere.
sing that sweet song of salvation
Tell every man in every nation
To sing that sweet, sweet song of salvation
And let the people know that Jesus cares.

Well, look around you
As you're singin'
There are people everywhere
And to those who stop and listen
That sweet song becomes a prayer.
When you know a wonderful secret
You gotta tell it to all of your friends
Tell 'em that a lifetime filled with Jesus
Is like a street that never ends.

Sing that sweet, sweet song of salvation
And let your laughter fill the air
Sing that sweet, sweet song of salvation
And tell the people everywhere
Sing that sweet song of salvation
Tell every man in every nation
To sing that sweet, sweet song of salvation
And let the people know that Jesus cares.

Larry Norman - Why Don't You Look Into Jesus

Larry Norman - Why Don't You Look Into Jesus

Sipping whiskey from a paper cup,
You drown your sorrows till you can't get up,
Take a look at what you've done to yourself,
Why don't you put the bottle back on the shelf,
Yellow fingers from your cigarettes,
Your hands are shaking while your body sweats,
Why don't you look into Jesus, He's got the answer.

Gonorrhea on Valentines Day,
And you're still looking for the perfect lay,
You think rock and roll will set you free,
Honey, You'll be dead before your thirty three,
Shooting junk till your half insane,
Broken needle in your purple vein,
Why don't you look into Jesus, he's got the answer.

You work all night, sleep all day,
You take your money, throw it all away,
You say you're going to be a superstar,
But you've never hung around enough to find out who you really are.

Think back to when you were a child,
Your soul was free, your heart ran wild,
Each day was different, and life was a thrill,
You knew tomorrow would be better still,
Things have changed you're much older now,
If you're unhappy and you don't know how,
Why don't you look into Jesus, He's got the answer.

Larry Norman - I Wish We'd All Been Ready

Life was filled with guns and war,
And everyone got trampled on the floor,
I wish we'd all been ready

Children died, the days grew cold,
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold,
I wish we'd all been ready,

There's no time to change your mind,
The Son has come and you've been left behind.

A man and wife asleep in bed,
She hears a noise and turns her head, he's gone,
I wish we'd all be ready,
Two men walking up a hill,
One disappears and one's left standing still,
I wish we'd all been ready,
There's no time to change your mind,
The Son has come and you've been left behind.

Life was filled with guns and war,
And everyone got trampled on the floor,
I wish we'd all been ready,
Children died, the days grew cold,
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold,
I wish we'd all been ready,
There's no time to change your mind,
How could you have been so blind,
The Father spoke, the demons died,
The Son has come and you've been left behind.

Wipe my nose, please!!

Wipe my nose, please!!, originally uploaded by emptybelly.

Matthew 25:31-46

"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

"Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'

"Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'

"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'

"Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."

Jesus of the Scars

Jesus of the Scars

---

by Edward Shillito

If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.

The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.

If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.

The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

Randy Stonehill - American Fast Food (1990) Christian Rock

American Fast Food
Words and Music by
Randy Stonehill

American fast food, what a
stupid way to die
American fast food, order me the
jumbo fries
Oh, oh, it's easy
It's so easy and it's trouble free
It's quite and disposable, just
like me
If I don't stop eating this greasey
American fast food

Well, we're undernourished, but
we're overfed
And we're munching on the
burger with the whitebread
And we're sucking up the sugar in
a milkshake
Till we slip into depression with a
big headache
And our arteries are crying out,
"give us a break"

American fast food, what a
stupid way to die
American fast food, you kiss your
old age goodbye
Oh, oh, it's easy
It's so easy and it's trouble free
It's quick and disposable, just
like me
If I don't stop eating this greasey
American fast food

You won't have to embalm me
when my life is through
There are so many preservatives
in what I eat
The job's being done right now
for you

"Can I take you order, please?"
"A cheeseburger, fries, and a big
chocolate malted"

It's prefab junk at an exorbitant
price
And it's bound to make you
nauseous if you look at it twice
But they're selling you by telling
you it's food that's fun
When it tastes like cardboard
It chews like sponge
'cause it's really only garbage on
a sesame bun

American fast food, what a
stupid way to die
American fast food, order me the
chili-size
Oh, oh, it's easy
It's so easy and it's trouble free
It's quick and disposable, just
like me
If I don't stop eating this greasey
American
I don't stop eating this greasey
American fast food

Randy Stonehill - Shut De Do' (1990) Christian Rock

Randy Stonehill \ Shut De Do

shut de dó, keep out de debil
shut de dó, keep de debil in de ni-eet
shut de dó, keep out de debil
light de candle everything's alright
light de candle everything's alright

when i was a baby child
(shut de dó, keep out the debil)
good and bad was just a game
(shut de dó, keep the debil in de ni-eet)
many years and many trials
(shut de dó, keep out the debil)
they proved to me they not the same
(shut de dó, keep the debil in de ni-eet)

chorus

here's something you can do
if you dig it, you might want to
you can sing the song with me
move your lips on the count of three

chorus

oh, satan is an evil charmer
(shut de dó, keep out the debil)
he's hungry for a soul to hurt
(shut de dó, keep the debil in de ni-eet)
and without your holy armor
(shut de dó, keep out the debil)
he will eat you for dessert
(shut de dó, keep the debil in de ni-eet)

chorus

my mama used to sing this song
(shut de dó, keep out the debil)
poppa used to sing it, too
(shut de dó, keep the debil in de ni-eet)
jesus called and took them home
(shut de dó, keep out the debil)
and so i sing the song for you
(shut de dó, keep the debil in de ni-eet)

chorus

Randy Stonehill - Turning Thirty (1990) Christian Rock

The Outlaw - Larry Norman

some say He was an outlaw that He roamed across the land
with a band of unschooled ruffians and a few old fishermen
no one knew just where He came from or exactly what He'd done
but they said it must be something bad that kept Him on the run

some day He was a poet that He'd stand upon the hill
and His voice could calm an angry crowd or make the waves stand still
that He spoke in many parables that few could understand
but the people sat for hours just to listen to that man

some say He was a sorceror a man of mystery
He could walk upon the water He could make a blind man see
that He conjured wine at weddings and did tricks with fish and bread
that He talked of being born again and raised people from the dead

some say a politician who spoke of being free
He was followed by the masses on the shores of galilee
He spoke out against corruption and He bowed to no decree
and they feared His strength and power so they nailed Him to a tree

some say He was the Son of God a man above all men
but He came to be a servant and to set us free from sin
and that's who i believe He was 'cause that's who i believe
and i think we should get ready 'cause it's time for us to leave

The Charge given at Valedictory

to all leaving Students...

You know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. Therefore, we urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. And, In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, we give you this charge!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength; love your neighbour as yourself.

Be strong and very courageous. Do not let the Word of God depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Do not give anyone cause to look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and purity. Be diligent in these matters; give yourselves wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do you will save yourself and your hearers.

Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Go and make disciples of all nations.

You, men and women of God, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God and of Christ Jesus we charge you to keep this commandment without spot or blemish until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in His own time. Guard what you have been entrusted to your care, looking to Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith. When He, the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Adapted from: 2 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:1; Mark 12 30,31; Joshua 1:7-9; 1 Timothy 4:12-16; 2 Timothy 4:5; Matthew 28:19; 2 Timothy 2:1; 1 Timothy 6:11-15,20; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 5:4

Valedictory 2007

Valedictory 2007, originally uploaded by emptybelly.

## Sermons & Lectures Links ##

Subiaco Church Author of "Preaching to a Postmodern World"
Christian Institute
Church of St Andrew the Great Cambridge
Covenant Theological Seminary *
Believers Chapel
An Introductory Survey of the Christian Faith - By Stuart Olyott

Abbot Gregory
Adam Road Presbyterian Centre, Singapore
All Souls Langham Place, London
Ambassador Baptist Colege
Apologetics.com: Radio
Bible College of Queensland
bible.org
Biblical Theology: 11.04
Bill Winston Ministries
Billy Graham Sermons
Cambridge Community Church : Media
Cedar Ridge Community Church
Center for Christian Study - Charlottesville, Va
Central Coast Evangelical Church - Resources: MP3 file list
Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
Christian Resource Index
Christians Unite Online Sermons
Church of Christ the King, Brighton. Part of Newfrontiers
Cambridge University - St Edmunds Lecture series - Science, Religion & Society
Denver Seminary: Equipping Leaders
Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth by Wayne Grudem
Expository Sermons and Worship Resources
Faith Bible Church
Firefighters - Sermons
Fires of Revival
GCTS - Ockenga - Dimensions of the Faith
Guildford Baptist Church
Hearing It Preached -- Online Sermons
Highfields Church
Highland Theological College
Holy Trinity Lyonsdown - Sermons
Institute For Contemporary Christian Leadership
KFUO Sermons
Maclaurin Institute
Mars Hill
Metropolitan Tabernacle
Mission Hills Church
Mitchelton Presbyterian Church, Brisbane, Australia
Monergism Audio Resources
Moore Theological College
Morling College
NOOMA™
Northwest Theological Seminary
Online Christian counseling and Therapy
Open source theology
Packer Sermons
Praize Sermons
Preach The Word - Bible Study Sermons, Series Index
Reformed Sermons and Lectures by Third Millennium Ministries
Regent College :: An International Graduate School of Christian Studies
Salt and Light Ministries | Europe |
Sermon Audio
Sermon Index
Sermons Online
Skyline Church
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Gables - Perspectives Course Resources
Southern Seminary: Audio Resources
St Alfred's Anglican, Blackburn North, Australia
St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, Australia
St. Barnabas Broadway, Sydney, Australia
St John's Newland, England
Sydney University Evangelical Union
Third Millennium Ministries - Reformed Christian Education Resources
Thornleigh Community Baptist Online, Australia
Toongabbie Anglican Church

## Good News on the job front ##

Thank you for your prayers!!

Of the four positive replies I have had to my four enquiries regarding pastorate vacancies:

• Two places were not for me and I wont be pursuing them;
• One church was interested and they invited me to apply. I duly applied but they probably considered me a bit far out for them, so are not pursuing me;
• One church was interested and I duly accepted their invitation to apply... Today I received a phone call asking me down to an interview next Monday!! Praise God... Please do pray that His will, will be done... Thank you...

If you have anny advice about what kind of questions I may be asked or questions I should ask, please do tell me!!!

Virtual Church and the housebound & disabled...

This is part of my dissertation Virtual Church and I would like some feedback on this particular section... I am aware of the rules regarding researching St Pixels and no names will be used from this site to identify you... Thanks...

One of the ways in which a virtual church can be more effective is in the area of helping housebound and disabled people. Housebound people include those with physical, emotional and psychological problems who may venture out of their domiciles on rare occasions. With technology evolving consistently, items such as the currently produced Dream-racer Cap (Illustration 1) could be configured to control computers . Ergo, the possibility arises of a person being able to interact with others via a graphical representation in a three-dimensional Virtual Church environment.



Illustration 1.

The cap works by head movement, however as the designers acknowledge, this technology could also be used in a glove or shoe and therefore enable a semblance of ‘normal’ movement. Similar work and adaptation could be done using the ‘Sony Playstation 3’ and ‘Wii’ handheld controllers, allowing users to control their avatar with the handheld controller. By using these technological garments, housebound and disabled people would be able to participate in a corporate act of worship in a Virtual Church environment. Of course there is no need to limit the application to worship alone with this new found freedom, but to serving the Virtual Church in some capacity such as moderator, administrator or helping to lead worship and prayer times. In doing this, people will develop confidence in them selves, other people and more in a God they desire to serve using their Spiritual gifts which may currently be lying dormant and unused. Instead of feeling neglected, isolated and alone, they may feel wanted, and more importantly, loved by others.There are several foreseeable problems that can be associated with this use. Fiscally, it may be prohibitively expensive to arrange and operate a scheme like this. There is also the requirement of sourcing technical support in the case of hardware and software malfunction. Training issues could also be an issue. However, with God, if He is in it, nothing is impossible. If local church groups, (such as the Local Evangelical Alliance in the Forest), and denominations pooled financial and personnel resources, then this could be achieved. It would signify visually that churches have unity, even without uniformity. It would be the opportunity for traditional churches to work along with Virtual churches to the glory of God.

Appropriate hyperlinks Dream Racer Cap

Does anybody foresee other problems, solutions etc? Thanks brothers and sisters... Blessings...

Christians fleeing Iraq after death threats

Iraq's Christian community is close to extinction as thousands are forced to flee their traditional strongholds in Baghdad. An exodus of Christians is under way in the southern district of Dora after groups affiliated to al-Qa'eda issued a threat of "convert or be killed".

Most have fled to Kurdish northern Iraq, where the village of Ankawa has grown into an overcrowded "city of Christ", while others leave for Syria or Jordan. Priests claim that half Baghdad's pre-2003 Christian population - estimated in the hundreds of thousands - has fled or been killed. They also claim that the Iraqi government is failing to protect them.

Father Bashar Warda of the St Peter Major Seminary, relocated from Dora to Ankawa, said yesterday: "We are afraid the government of Iraq has a common understanding with those making the threats that Christians have no future in this country."

Fr Warda said one priest had registered 70 displaced families in the past 10 days. Father Raymond Moussalli, a spokesman for the Christian refugees, said Dora's seven churches had closed. "We cannot hold on," he said. "The Muslims have issued warnings 'convert or you will be killed'. Heads have been cut off statues outside our churches. People are being killed just for their faith."

By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Daily Telegraph 08/05/2007

Inside...

Inside..., originally uploaded by emptybelly.

Please click here to view large on black

As some of you know, I am doing some research into online communities. So if you would like to help me out, Please click here to take a survey I am doing regarding online communities and/or online forms... Thank you... Sorry it is only in English...

Prayers and thoughts

Prayers and thoughts, originally uploaded by emptybelly.

for the survivors and families of the victims in the shootings at Virginia Tech campus...

Dissertation Research

As part of my honours degree, my dissertation will be asking:

Is an internet church, church?

In order to complete this task, I am currently asking at a premilinary level, the following questions to which I would value as many responses as can be mustered. I will also answer any questions you may have about it...

Part A - About you..

1. What is your country of residence?
2. What is your age range? 12-17 / 18-25 / 26- 39 / 40 - 59 / 60 & Over
3. Are you a Christian, and if so how long have you been a christian?
4. How long have you used the internet?
5. Have you been involved in any internet communities and how long for?


Part B - You need answer only Yes or No...

1. Have you ever heard of an internet church or attended one of their church services?

Yes / No

2. Do you think internet churches glorify God?

Yes / No

3. Do you think internet pastoral care & counselling works?

Yes / No

4. Do you think internet evangelism works?

Yes / No

5. Do you think internet discipleship works?

Yes / No

6. Do you think internet worship services works?

Yes / No

7. Do you think internet preaching and/or teaching can help change people?

Yes / No

8. Do you think Spiritual Gifts can be used effectively in an internet context? If no, what gifts could not be used?

Yes / No

9. Do you think an internet church would be part of the universal and apostolic church?

Yes / No

10. Do you think that internet communites are real communities?
Yes / No

Any comments or questions relating to an internet church or internet community?