Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, Hard Pressed on Every Side

Praise God for Patrick Sookhdeo, founder of Barnabas Fund. In the face of many challenges, hostility, smears and attacks, the Barnabas Fund continues to help, support, serve, and defend persecuted Christians, and Dr Sookhdeo enjoys the loyal support of all the boards of Barnabas Fund around the world.

The Barnabas Trustees should be commended for defending the charity and Dr Sookhdeo from these attacks by publishing Hard Pressed on Every Side.  Dr Sookhdeo resigned from the Barnabas Fund in November 2015. The booklet seeks to correct inaccuracies and misleading information.

You can obtain an electronic version  on line

https://barnabasfund.org/hard-pressed-on-every-side

Christianity in Syria and Iraq

In parts of Iraq and Syria Christians have fled their homes, seen churches destroyed and folk murdered for their faith. The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq, St Elijah's in Mosul, which is over 1,400 years old, has been demolished by ISIS/ISIL/Daesh.

Christians are harshly persecuted by hardline jihadists throughout the Middle East. Many of these Christians are now in refugee camps outside of Iraq and Syria. Lebanon has been a safe haven, though there are tensions caused by the massive wave of refugees. Some have managed to find sanctuary in the West through Christian relief agencies and charities. They are living martyrs escaping from the killing fields.  Merchants of murder, mayhem, misery and slavery have ruined many lives. These refugees have lost homes, jobs, possessions and loved ones.

Barnabas Fund is an aid agency for the persecuted church. It is a registered charity that helps Chrstians in hostile environments, mainly in Muslim lands.  I thoroughly recommend their work.
To find out more about this valuable agency which makes a difference in the lives of suffering Christians, please visit
  www.barnabasfund.org 

Well done Andrew Jennings

Andrew Jennings deserves enormous credit for his hard work in exposing the bribery and corruption within FIFA.  He has campaigned vigorously against dodgy and dishonest officials in world football who have acted fraudulently. His journalism and Panorama documentaries have revealed the extent and depth of these crimes. Andrew Jennings shows who the crooks are in his latest Panorama documentary: FIFA, Sepp Blatter and me. According to Andrew Jennings, Blatter is the Godfather of FIFA's criminal racketeering, an organised crime syndicate.

The excellent BBC Panorama documentary, FIFA, Sepp Blatter and me, will be available on BBC iPlayer for 11 months.

Not another high ranking clergyman convicted of sex crimes?

Yes, another church leader, an Anglican bishop, has been found guilty of serious sex crimes which should lead to a custodial sentence. It is a sad and sorry saga, which involved the Church of England, the victims who suffered so badly, former Bishop Peter Ball and others who helped cover up the crimes.

Damaged lives reveal the deep wounds and harmful consequences of these profoundly sinful actions. Something truly toxic has ruined relationships. The flesh, the carnal nature, has reaped corruption and chaos in lives that could and should have produced abundance, fruitful growth and eternal quality.

Archbishop Justin Welby is right to call for a rigorous review of child protection procedures and the handling of sexual offences within the church. Clearly clergy have let down the flock under their pastoral care very badly indeed. Much was given to them and much shall be expected. Repentance, action and justice must be seen to be done. Deeds done without justice and loving kindness will not stand the test of time and eternity. We will all give account to God for deeds done on earth. They have eternal significance. They reach beyond this present realm. 

Blatter disgraces himself again

Blatter will not go with any grace, but in disgrace. He is a disgrace to FIFA, the game of football and himself. His ego, selfishness and lack of integrity are amazing to the point of being incredible. Major FIFA sponsors have called time on Blatter's ignominious career. But still Blatter will not leave, though his position is untenable. For years Blatter has been well past his sell by date and shelf life. It will be a time of rejoicing when he eventually goes. Some would like to see him jailed for his crimes, which they expect to come to light. The man has been a dark presence in world football.

Come on FA, get with it!

It's high time that the Premiership used 21st century technology, as they do in Rugby, to determine crucial decisions during a game. They use it in cricket and many other sports, but Association Football is run by some asses who are well beyond their shelf life. Please let's put them out to pasture and allow common sense, logic and sound technology to play its part. Last Saturday's game at White Hart Lane saw some really shocking decisions by match officials. Technology would have helped them to see what thousands saw on TV.

Taliban takeaway

What a catastrophe! Afghanistan is dreadfully divided, despite lost lives of Afghan and British  service personnel, many civilians, enormous aid expenditure, diplomatic engagement, training, and economic investment. So little has come from so much effort. You can rely on the Taliban to muck up the country.