AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER * PRESSURE MOUNTS ON KENYA TO DEFUSE CRISIS * MOTION TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS SPEECH DEFEATED IN UK HOMOSEXUAL HATE CRIMES BILL * CHRISTIAN ARTIST REJECTED AND RIDICULED ON AMERICAN IDOL BECAUSE OF HIS MORAL STAND * CHRISTIANS TO JOIN POPULAR UK PSYCHIC SHOW PANEL * THE AMAZING HEALING POWER OF FORGIVENESS * POLICE GIVE PERMISSION TO CHURCHES TO PRAY AGAINST FATALITIES AT ACCIDENT HOTSPOT ----------------------------------------------- PRESSURE MOUNTS ON KENYA TO DEFUSE CRISIS The European Union, United States and United Nations have urged Kenya's politicians to agree to a peaceful and democratic end to violence that has killed 500 people since the recent elections. "All political parties in Kenya should recognize that it cannot be business as usual in Kenya until there is political compromise leading to a lasting solution reflecting the will of the people," the EU said in a statement. The unrest has badly dented Kenya's democratic credentials, worried world powers and damaged its previously booming economy. U.N. staff say 500,000 Kenyans will need emergency aid such as food handouts after two weeks of riots and ethnic bloodshed. The European Union and United States are coordinating their efforts to end the crisis in Kenya. A top U.S. diplomat in Africa, said Washington was "deeply disappointed" that Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga had not yet held face-to-face talks. "Both should acknowledge serious irregularities in the vote tallying which made it impossible to determine with certainty the final result," she said in a statement. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is due to lead a new push for peace in Kenya. But the opposition has been holding new protests after earlier African Union talks failed. An EU source said it was too early to talk about sanctions. "If there is not a positive outcome from the Annan intervention, then the EU has agreed that it may review its relations with Kenya including the use of sanctions" the source said."The potential for further bloodshed remains high unless the political crisis is quickly resolved," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement issued in Nairobi. Kenyan media forecasted dark days ahead. "Recalling the lives lost and destruction visited on this country, both sides should pause a little and consider whether they want to be responsible for any chain of events that could wreck Kenya," the Daily Nation newspaper said in an editorial. "Given the government's intransigence and the oppositions unrelenting demand for justice, the days ahead are bound to be the most difficult ... there is a dark, ominous cloud hovering above us," the Standard newspaper said.The pending resumption of Parliament, where Odinga's party won 99 seats to 43 for Kibaki's Party of National Unity, is likely to prove another flashpoint. Since being sworn-in Kibaki has, inspite of his loss, entrenched himself by leading state functions, recalling legislators and naming most of a new cabinet. Analysts say protests appear to be the only way for Odinga to maintain pressure.The prospect of more turmoil has dismayed Kenyans enduring one of the worst episodes in 45 years since independence from Britain. More than 250,000 have been made homeless. Officials are concerned that a continuing cycle of attack and counter-attack could lead to complete anarchy. Source: Intercessors Network ----------------------------------------------- MOTION TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS SPEECH DEFEATED IN UK HOMOSEXUAL HATE CRIMES BILL The British Parliament has rejected a motion that would have afforded Christians and other conscientious objectors legal protection from accusations of hate crimes by homosexual activists. Government MP's were refused a conscience vote on the amendment. The hate crimes bill moved through its final stages in the House of Commons on January 9. The proposed "gay hate crimes" law would carry a maximum penalty of seven years in jail for anyone convicted of "inciting hatred" against homosexuals. The motion to amend was introduced by Jim Dobbin, the Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton, who warned that some Catholic and Anglican leaders believed the proposed law would make it impossible to teach or preach Christian moral doctrine on sexuality and marriage without incurring criminal penalties.Dobbin, who has chaired the all-party Pro Life Group and is a Catholic, told the House during the debates, "Sexual activity and lifestyle are matters of choice," he said, "and impinge on the public sphere. As such, they are subject to evaluation and criticism and the freedom to discuss them should be preserved." Dobbin said the Churches fear that the bill "may impinge on their basic freedom to practise their religion." He added, "We cannot ignore such a serious concern from two important national religious institutions."The law is even regarded as unnecessary and a suppression of freedom of speech by homosexual activists. In the House, Dobbin mentioned homosexual rights activist Peter Tatchell who opposes the bill and has argued that existing laws are adequate to protect homosexuals. Journalists Matthew Parris and Iain Dale, both publicly homosexual, also oppose the bill on free speech grounds.The bill now moves on to the House of Lords. Source: LifeSiteNews.com ----------------------------------------------- CHRISTIAN ARTIST REJECTED AND RIDICULED ON AMERICAN IDOL BECAUSE OF HIS MORAL STAND A 19-year-old American Idol contestant Bruce Dickson who was rejected last week for being too "innocent" because of his commitment to remain a virgin until married, has said that he will use the rejection to speak out even more strongly on the subject. Dickson said he is not at all dissuaded from his decision to remain celibate until marriage. "I respect women and don't think of them as a sexual object, and I'm the freak?" said Dickson, explaining that "this is an important thing for me."Jason Burtt, national director of Silver Ring Thing, a Christian organization that promotes teen abstinence, said: "Bruce has said he's going to walk the hard walk. We should admire him. Maybe the judges felt bad they couldn't do it themselves." In response to Ryan Seacrest's parting comment, "Maybe next year he'll come back less a boy and more a man," Dickson responded: "A real man would rather wait than just do whatever with whoever." Source: CNS News ----------------------------------------------- CHRISTIANS TO JOIN POPULAR UK PSYCHIC SHOW PANEL Whistling Frog Productions has created an exciting new opportunity for the Gospel to be heard by New Age enthusiasts. An extremely popular Friday night Psychic Show, broadcast to about 92,000 people, will have three different spiritual 'experts'-a Christian, a psychic, and an astrologer-who will each be given the chance to offer help and advice to callers, says the report. It will be the first time guidance from a Christian, using prayer and the Bible, will be offered.According to the report, the program-which already has regular weekly opportunities for callers to receive guidance from their "resident medium" - will be advertised as The Mind, Body, Spirit Challenge. The Christian "expert" will be Church Army Evangelist Steve Hollinghurst who is Researcher in Evangelism to Post-Christian Culture based at the Sheffield Centre, and is also a member of the team running the Christian "Dekhomai" stand at the London Mind, Body, Spirit Festival, from which the program takes its name.Colin Lowther, Head of Programs at Whistling Frog Productions commented: "This is a unique opportunity for our listeners to compare the claims of Christianity alongside the new age ideas they hear about every week on the Psychic Show. We want these listeners to see that being a Christian isn't just a set of intellectual beliefs, it actually makes a difference!" Source: Inspire Magazine ----------------------------------------------- THE AMAZING HEALING POWER OF FORGIVENESS A Canadian pastor, newspaper columnist, and author of 12 books, wrote about the power of forgiveness to break the chains of past hurts, and usher in healing, in a recent Canadian Christianity article. Pastor Barry Buzza shared about a 35-year-old woman who'd been terribly abused by her father as a little girl. "For all of her adult life," explains Buzza, "she'd been trapped in an emotional prison, which was ultimately causing pain in both her body and her relationships." The pastor met and counselled the woman, and when she decided to forgive her father she reportedly experienced an immediate freedom. Buzza says she was released from the desire for revenge, as well as headaches, depression, stomach problems and anger. Notes Buzza... "If we choose not to forgive the offending person, we lock him up in an emotional prison; but at the same time we lock ourselves up in an adjoining cell. We are both bound up in an emotional prison as long as the grudge continues. Even if we live thousands of miles apart, do not speak to each other, or if one party dies, the bars on the cell remain locked for the person who does not choose to forgive. Mental, physical and spiritual turmoil are intrinsically wrapped up in the emotional consequences of our choice. When we choose to forgive the offender, and release them from our own desire to punish them (and let the law and ultimately God, make the proper judgment), then we free ourselves from the weight of anger, judgmentalism and desire to get even." Source: Canadian Christianity ----------------------------------------------- POLICE GIVE PERMISSION TO CHURCHES TO PRAY AGAINST FATALITIES AT ACCIDENT HOTSPOT In a place called Dome Valley, in the Rodney district near Auckland, New Zealand, police have been frustrated by a section of State Highway 1 that has the highest rate of fatal car accidents in the region. In response, City Impact Church of Auckland (with permission of the local police commander) has sent a team of 12 people to pray in the Dome Valley. "We spent about two hours there, praying until we felt we had achieved something," said church outreach director Dean Payn. "We realized there was something more to the accident rate there than just the physical issues of road construction, which the police said was fine." Andy Chapman, a St John Ambulance officer and former policewoman, said, "We can always blame a variety of factors-incorrect decision making, inappropriate speed on corners-but it is clear the road itself has little bearing on the fatal crashes that are occurring there...It is without a doubt the worst road for accidents in Rodney. Every time it rains the emergency services just sit and wait for a call from the Dome." "How do you explain it when an experienced heavy truck driver loses control on a bend, as happened last year, and kills someone?" he asked. Mr. Payn said City Impact was putting itself on the line by praying for the area, but the outreach team had a high faith level and was expecting a dramatic reduction in the road toll in the valley. "Prayer is the ultimate answer to this horrendous problem. What is seemingly an impossible task for our police is very achievable for God. I assure you next year the statistics won't be the same." he said. In addition to prayer, reflective angels have been placed as a special reminder of the prayer covering that had been placed on the three areas. Source: Assist News
top of page