Tomorrow, four cases concerning the freedom of Christian expression in the UK will be heard before the European Court of Human Rights. The Court will hold a public hearing on the admissibility and merits of the cases and then deliberate privately before making its ruling. The summary of the ECHR press release explains,
Relying, in particular on Articles 9 (freedom of religion) and 14 (prohib-ition of discrimination), all four applicants complain that domestic law failed to adequately protect their right to manifest their religion.
The full yet brief release may be read in Gillan Scott’s overview on God and Politics, along with link to a commentary in The Law Society Gazette about the case of Registrar Lillian Ladele.
Christian Concern’s announcement here states that two of the other applicants are supported by its sister organisation, Christian Legal Centre, and is of the opinion that the outcome of these ‘landmark cases’,
will have implications for freedom of thought, conscience and religion across Europe. At issue is the freedom of Christians to express their faith publicly and to live in line with historic, mainstream, biblical Christian teaching. (my emphasis)
Two of the cases relate to wearing a cross at work and, although David Cameron has told MPs that Christians should have the right to wear a cross at work, the Government has said their employers had every right to discipline them.
The other cases relate to freedom of conscience and include Gary McFarlane, who was sacked after he expressed a possible conscientious objection to giving sex therapy to two homosexual men. The grounds for the last seem to be mendacious, as may be inferred from reading his interview with Laura Donnelly in A cross to bear.
I know these cases hardly compare with the real persecution and danger to life and limb regularly experienced by Christians throughout Islamic nations, as reported lately by Barnabas Fund and more in-depth from the Gatestone Institute (see report). But as I’ve often remarked since a vision in 2004 (see Comments upon collapse of Society), a stand has to be taken against deliberately anti-Christian policies not only within Britain but also any secular society, does it not?
Personally, I thank the Lord that application of Equality & Diversity laws didn’t prevent a night sister praying (after quick nod of the head) and thereby immediately halting Nina’s suffocation from anaphylactic attack one night during an enforced hospital stay (as at ‘2 Proof of Political Direction’ in this post).
Readers who followed my earlier post’s links to Archbishop Cranmer’s site may have discovered that the BBC has finally paid tribute to Usain Bolt’s Christian faith! Regular readers of His Grace recognise this as yet another sample of his satirical wit.
[Today, Cranmer adroitly tackles the public perception that PM Cameron is out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people.]
Back to the ‘Beeb’…Wonderful as the great Brit Mo’ Farrar’s fantastic feets’ feat of winning double Olympic gold medals in 10,000m and 5,000m is, ol’ Auntie’ saw fit to give serious consideration to the ‘Mo Effect’ upon his fellow Somalis in the United Kingdom. And, of course, the BBC News recognised his Muslim faith and made reference to his on-track prayers.
Thus, it’s clearly evident the Badly Biased Corporation does display double standards.
Lisa, lots to mediate upon and become more aware of the many benefits to being saved and for not-yet-believers to desire. Will put link to this and to your post ‘Abide’, into my site’s ‘Do You Know Him?’
In order for a person to abide in Christ, he or she must first be in Christ. Although these two concepts are related, they are not exactly synonymous.
Let’s discover what the Bible says about being in Christ.
In Christ, you are reconciled to God. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”
(II Corinthians 5:18).
In Christ, you are a new creation. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10; also see Galatians 6:15).
In Christ, you are dead to sin and alive with Him. “And ye shall…
Has the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) deliberately ignored the fastest man on earth’s God? Also, could its coverage of the Middle-East just be bellicose disinformation prior to an anticipated major regional conflict?
Cranmer’s posting of 10 August about this year’s thrice-Olympic gold medal Jamaican sprinter and world record buster opens as follows:
Usain Bolt – the fastest man on the planet – is a devout believer (of the Protestant Christian kind) in the One True God. And he makes absolutely no secret at all of the fact: he crosses himself to exalt the Trinity, and mouths a prayer to the heavens before every race. And after each victory, he publicly gives thanks to God, in word and physical supplication. Following yesterday’s triumph in the 200m, he said of his Lord and Saviour: “Nothing would have been possible without Him.”
Is this not worth just a passing mention by the BBC?
He continues:
While he was manifestly thanking God on his knees for yesterday’s victory, the BBC presenter spun this spontan-eous act of worship as Bolt having ‘a moment to himself’. This manifestly blurs the significance for the viewer. This is what Bolt tweeted:
Later, he closes:
The BBC have known for more than four years what Usain Bolt always does, before and after each race, without fail: …They have been briefed to bits by Bolt’s PR team and by members of his family: Usain Bolt is a Bible-believing, God-honouring, Jesus-worshipping Christian. But not a whisper from the BBC; not a word of explanation of the real significance of these ‘moments to himself’.
Could the once-honourable ‘Auntie’ have fallen into disrepute? I do hope its writers and directors are not making her jump onto “bigots’ bandwagon”. The following opinion in The Commentator could make one wonder whether ol’ Auntie is thinking of just that.
The Commentator questions BBC’s unquestioning acceptance of a well-known liberal Jewish blogger’s claims of receiving ‘secret’ information from Israeli military sources on a regular basis. In this particular instance, Richard Silverstein discloses details of Israeli plans for a strike against Iran. The Commentator observes:
The problem is, while Silverstein is quick to publish information he ‘receives’, the veracity of such information can of course never be verified. The BBC has not seen the so-called documents that Silverstein purports to have, nor has it double-sourced any information of the sort….
The BBC, despite being unable to verify any information beyond that of a blogpost, has run full pelt with the story, interviewing Silverstein on several occasions and quoting him widely. While their diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus states that it is impossible to know whether or not the document exists, one might question the need for any kind of story based on such a tenuous blog…
One wonders what it takes today to get the BBC to report a non-story. Was it the fact that as a self-proclaimed ‘progressive’ blogger, Silverstein is well connected within the BBC? Or could it be once again that anything showing Israel in an aggressive light is swarmed upon by BBC hacks looking for a quick bit of Israel bashing?
BUT, to be fair, Silverstein’s full article deserves to be read in its entirety, as well as the follow-up. It was also covered in depth in last night’s Eye View from the White House (subscription service) wherein William Koenig similarly reports upon several articles that quote well informed high-level sources in the USA and in Israel. Of the alleged comprehensive text released to Silverstein, Koenig notes this outline shows a full ‘decapitation plan’ and comments that Israel cannot afford to go in half-cocked; so it is quite believable.
So could this ‘leak’ simply be part and parcel of the dozens of options for disinformation issued in the prelude to war? Alternatively, if it is the definitive game plan, its unofficial disclosure could be a way of spelling out very clearly to the mad-mullahs of Iran and their maniac-in-chief what, in fact, they’ll be up against when they act upon their oft-declared intent of ‘wiping Israel off the map’.
FOOTNOTE: Click here, and here for a special despatch from MEMRI, Middle-East Media Research Institute, for the latest Iranian madness on the elimination of Israel. See the recent reblog and my earlier references here and here to this diabolical attitude.
Says it all Lisa. Thank you for an excellent summary of the heart of discipleship and which is implicit in Jesus’ commission of His disciples to, “Go, therefore,..teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always – even to the end of the Age.”
Lord, may all our political leaders desire to abide in You. Amen
In order for the Father to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), we must abide in Christ. What does it mean to abide? It means to remain, rest, stay, wait, and continue. (See the concordance definition) Abiding in Christ, then, involves waiting upon the Lord and entering into His peace. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without [separately, apart from] me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Just as a branch draws its life-source from the vine, believers must stay connected to…
Most uplifting and, in my humble opinion, a fitting addition to what Jesus said about this model prayer – He stressed that we can actually hinder and prevent Father forgiving us as an individual because of unforgiveness towards those who’ve hurt us! (Matt 6:14-15). How rapidly the decision to forgive can bring even physical healing, as Nina discovered (see testimony). See also Khamneithang’s moving personal story Journey of Hope.
“Our” – if I live only for myself. “Father” – if I do not endeavor each day to act like his child. “Who art in heaven” – if I am laying up no treasure there. “Hallowed be thy name” – if I am not striving for holiness. “Thy Kingdom come” – if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event. “Thy will be done” – if I am disobedient to his Word. “On earth as it is in heaven” – if I do not serve him here and now. “Give us this day our daily bread” – if I am dishonest or am seeking things by subterfuge. “Forgive us our debts” – if I harbor a grudge against anyone. “Lead us not into temptation” –…
Thank you Lisa for this excellent post which is pertinent to the apparently ‘mixed bag’ of my recent AND current posts. I recommend every believer to run off a hardcopy for reference and application.
These are the last days; the days of the falling away. These are days when Satan is having a great deal of power. But we must keep in mind that Satan has no power only as he is allowed. And we must never think that Satan has power over the believer. If I could get only the establishment of that fact in your hearts it would be something living all the time. Satan has no power over the believer. “The wicked one toucheth him not.” So we must understand that all things that fall to our lot are according to the mind and will of God. “All things work together for good…
Today is the second anniversary of that astonishing day when the living God visited a two-day conference at a church in Daphne, near Mobile, Alabama, USA. This meeting, called Open The Heavens, was convened by the Rev. John Kilpatrick, to whom in ’95 God had entrusted a revival of repentance in Brownsville, Florida. On Thursday, a few miles from Washington DC, he described what happened on July 23rd 2010:
“(on) the second night miracles broke out and…I’m not a critic…but a sceptical person, and whenever the miracles broke out I saw miracles that were undeniable and I said, “This is God”…But the thing that made it so real for me was when the miracles began to break out – I was sitting in the audience – I heard coming from behind me that familiar sound of revival…
“I heard that roar of the presence of the glory of God come in and I said, “Oh my God – He’s back!” and whenever I heard that I knew beyond any doubt right then, I said, “We’re in for it!”
You may ask, “Is that scriptural, where’s that in the Bible?” It’s here at Psalm 29:3-4; “The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the glory of God thunders…”
The pastor’s guest was a young English evangelist, Nathan Morris, whose huge Gospel campaigns in India had brought a hundred thousand Muslims and Hindus into salvation with a similar number of miraculous healings, salvations and deliverances in Africa (see Shake the Nations).
Nathan wondered why that doesn’t happen in America and the Western world…but then healings started happening in Mobile too! The first to receive sight to blind eyes was a man who’d had 8 operations to restore his sight, but all failed. Many others received healing for deafness.
Thus began a long, remarkable series of preaching with signs and wonders following. It became known as The Bay of The Holy Spirit Revival, named after the original Spanish name for that bay in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
For a short summary of a selection of notable miracles during The Bay Revival that I’ve summarised in this blog click on video clips of testimonies, or visit the main website for a collection of testimonies.
Yesterday, several hundreds were assembled in the convention centre for the usual Sunday morning meeting – but that ‘usual’ is not the same usual as in your average church service. The regulars at Church of His Presence really know how to worship and praise the Lord. No ‘hymn sandwiches’ here! Opening worship by musicians and vocalists lasts about 40 minutes; but yesterday after the band stopped, everyone simply couldn’t stop praising God in their individual ways!
This carried on for 10 minutes and the pastor sensed the Lord was doing something different and he realised that it was to encourage a festive time of celebration for the anniversary the next day of the start of the Revival. As one of very few to honour the presence of the Holy Spirit and make space for Him to have His way, Pastor Kilpatrick announced he’s putting aside his prepared sermon. (In fact, he’d been away for a few weeks and had some fresh teaching.)
John then encouraged all to continue and even brought all teens-and-twenties to the front to worship – then they were replaced by a few dozen adults – who in turn were replaced by the over 60s! Next, he invited all the black folk to come and show how to worship. What a fantastic time, and live on-line too – now that’s church!
So seventy five minutes into the service the formal business of taking the offering and blessing the congregation happened later than usual – then the celebratory worship just continued – wow!
Thank you Lord for being so good – Oh, what our eyes have seen!
Why not join in the festivities of 22nd July yourself by clicking here?
For the first short report soon after the start of the Revival play this video:
This is such a timely, apposite posting in connection with my stressing the relevance of the oft-neglected aspect of the Great Commission that Jesus gave His Apostles. See Matthew 27:18-20 at foot of this post.
19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
The first mans disobedience was Adam in the garden. (Genesis 3) Adam was specifically told to not eat of that tree but through their own will they choose to eat. They were not forced to eat that fruit. Once they ate of that fruit sin entered in to the world.
The obedience of one we were made righteous. When Jesus was on this earth he was all about his Fathers business. (Luke 2:49) His will was His Fathers will. (John 4:34) He was the final Adam. He reversed the curse from the garden.
In this post, my friend Gillan Scott proffers a detailed, well-researched analysis of the issues and governmental confusion. It is well worth reading to gain a fuller consideration of the matter to which I recently drew readers’ attention (here).
PostScript Friday 20 June: see also reblog of Gillan Scott’s view and commendable interviews by Paul Burgin with the Rt Hon Gary Streeter MP about the group Christians in Parliament (of which he is chairman) and with Danny Webster, Parliamentary Officer with the Evangelical Alliance, mainly about the role of Christians in the media.
In today’s Telegraph Rosa Prince writes that during Prime Minister’s Question Time, David Davis MP asked about the case of Nadia Eweida. She is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights after having been barred by her employer from wearing a crucifix whilst working at Heathrow Airport.
Mr Davis described British Airways refusal to allow Miss Eweida to wear her cross as a “disgraceful piece of political correctness”. He asked the PM why the Government was opposing her appeal to complain that there are no protections under UK law for workers who wore religious symbols.
I thank Christen Forster for this post on his Blog about the initial outcome of the special listening-prayer meeting, to which my previous post referred:
“On June 12th 2012 more than eighty Christian leaders from throughout the UK gathered in St Mary’s Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster alongside Parliamentarians for an hour of listening to God in silence. Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics and Christian leaders from a wide cross-section of ministries were present. Two hours of feedback where then held in Committee Room 16 and written submissions made to the organisers. [For more details click here.]
“Below is the initial summary issued by the Organising group, a coalition of ministries under the banner “Together for the Nation” chaired by Maranatha Prayer Community. A full transcript will be available on request. [See Christen’s blog for more information, as well as my notes below.]
“Many of those who attended have said it was a very special time for them. Apparently this is the first time a group has gathered in Parliament just to listen to God with no other agenda. The summary contains a very sobering and challenging message. We are told to weigh prophecy, because while we see in part and prophesy in part, the seed of God’s “now” word are too valuable to miss.
“Don’t treat prophecy lightly, test it all; hold on to what is good and hold back from what seems bad.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
“So, please read the summary below and where it seems good let it shape and inform your praying and ignore what doesn’t seem right to you.
“It is probably worth observing that like most prophecies to whole nations, it is quite broad – after all, it needs to frame the prayers of a million and more potential hearers and intercessors. So look for your own guidance within the framework it sets out.
If you accept this message, it demands an urgent response involving practical preparation and action. As one attendee wrote: “God is looking for people of skilful hands and integrity of heart who will listen to Him”.
These five themes and words repeated again and again in the verbal feedback session. Other more specific guidance and thoughts can be found in the full transcript.
God’s appointed time to judge the nations of the world is very nearly upon us. Our nation and its church have turned away from God and His standards and we are beginning to see and feel the resulting judgement.
A remnant of Britain’s covenant past, its Christian heritage and the good fruit of our worldwide missionary zeal, remains. We should embrace our spiritual sons and daughters from the nations who have returned to help us. It is possible that God may yet act out of mercy to avert the very worst of the judgement that we have brought upon ourselves. The Church is called to be the voice of hope and compassion.
The shaking of every part of man’s world-wide economic, social, political and religious systems has begun. It will be a time of great humbling, purification and refining in every aspect of society. Only what is built on the foundations that God requires will be permitted to remain – righteousness, truth and justice.
When the judgement has run its course, God has promised to restore us. This restoration must follow God’s revealed strategies and guidelines and not be led astray again by Man’s initiatives and good ideas.
Because of His great love for this nation and all of its people, God’s heart is breaking and He longs for us to respond to Him, as individuals, as a church, and as a nation. The time to respond is now.
“A theme only hinted at in the list above (see point 4) that struck a particular resonance with me was the call to the church, for reformers and builders to be released and to step up. We need to prepare for what is coming down, but Jesus is a builder, he clears the way not for destruction’s sake but to make space for the new.”
Notes:
My previous post referred to the forum at which Christen presented a detailed summary of the meeting. If you’d like to listen to those sessions their recordings are available free of charge here. Christen stressed the importance of recalling and honouring our very ancient Christian foundations, which I’d already had occasion to do in my earlier post Landmark Parliamentary Inquiry and provided a link to a fascinating historical item.
Christen also reported that the group had recognised that institutions and people had broken past covenants with the Lord (presumably not just our reneging against the one with Israel) – “A tree doesn’t stand without good roots and severe storms are coming!”
Since 1993 the Marantha Community has been committed to speaking out to challenge the steady and deliberate removal of Christian values from our society. The Community believes that if the people of God speak with one voice, the voice of God will be heard in the land. Over recent years they have researched prophetic words given to the wider Church and found that common themes emerged, from which collated messages have been compiled – click for their Prophecy page and One Voice Messages.
Do you recall, dear reader, the last time you were struck by an unusual and personal coincidence? My previous post about the Jubilee bells referred to the fortuitous, happy occurrence of such events – serendipity. But on this occasion it all came in like a flood tide of information and understanding from several sources!
It would be interesting to know the mathematical probabilities of these personal events – it was as though it had all been orchestrated. Perhaps the Lord Himself is composer, arranger and conductor of an orchestra – players stand and play their ‘instruments’ at specific moments and a melodious tune can be heard. Also, singers give thanks and praise to their maker/composer – even angelic choirs may join in and the whole gives glory to God.
So for not-yet-believers and nominal Christians, what follows may seem weird, perhaps ‘inaudible!’ but let it sink in and sink into it. In Part 1 I told about my ‘stumbling’ upon this revelatory information and provided links for readers to check for themselves. Here’s why it’s exciting.:
As previously recounted, a blog from Kingdom Vision in SW England popped onto my pc screen by ‘mistake’ and which begins:
For 48 hours now I have seen myriads of angels in the heavenlies standing in rows. “Myriads” is not a word I would use, it dropped into my spirit when I saw them. Myriads means “uncountable.” Then I heard the sound of bells pealing, over and over. Sometimes they got REALLY LOUD. (my emboldening)
This was at the close of May and American Kathie Walters goes on to tell about lots of cheering accompanying the bells, like at a wedding, and she realises it’s to do with the UK. Then she gets an email with news of the imminent Diamond Jubilee celebrations and hears that:
My friend Beni Johnson says God has been telling her things for a year about the bells. God told her, “The bells are going to ring again in England. Bells that have not been rung in years.” Beni said, “The bells are going to ring again and call people to prayer and worship as they did before. The bells will cause a sound in the atmosphere and it will be a sign to the UK. A sign of change (look back at the meaning of “peals”) and bring a shift.”
Following that English site’s link I read Joy Hall’s explanation of the number of Jubilee Bells and its Hebraic meaning, which is exceedingly encouraging for the UK.
But what particularly impacted in my spirit is the recollection of the effect of pealing bells when Nina and I visited Beverley, East Yorkshire, as recounted in Back down to earth. Strolling around the market we decided to visit the close-by Minster. As we went down the street the heavy Minster bells started to be rung, not as a plain toll but in a most melodious tune. Nina and her companion were both immediately ‘blasted’ in their spirits and had such difficulty in remaining upright they had to get into the nearest doorway to lean against it. Any passer by could have thought they were drunks – but at that time of day? At just gone 11.30 am?
As for me, I was busy taking photos but noted how unusual the bells sounded and surmised angels would enjoy it. But Nina heard it as a continuous announcement and declaration into the earthly and heavenly realms within the region!! So, there was a real spiritual dimension to these bells being rung, even though in a humanly organised schedule.
The last link connected into a prophetic well in SE London, which plugs straight into an article I’d commented upon just before going on our holidays, from which we’d recently returned. This new post begins:
There has been a massive amount of prophetic chatter about the sound of bells ringing in the heavenlies – some linked to resistance and spiritual warfare with others linking to the message of hope, a call to worship and a call to the “UK” believers in Jesus to awaken from slumber and take hold of God’s intended purposes for this nation. (my emphasis)
Now, in the very busy week prior to going away I’d made time to comment upon Gillan Scott’s blog Has the Church fallen asleep on its feet? You may like to read this short debate wherin my hastily penned contribution summarises where I believe the Church should be heading. But reading further into the on-screen item I was hit by:
Within our fellowship we have had many words from the Lord about new beginnings, the start of the new things of God, breaking through of glass ceilings, wells of salvation, healing and heritage being opened up again – this past Sunday evening was all about the fire of God – key is that we have to ensure our lamps are full of oil and that we are to be totally focused on watching and waiting for the groom as we have to have the oil of His Holy Spirit within us to catch the fire! (author’s emphasis)
To understand this impact please note that, whilst I was away, Tony in Arizona had left me his following comment on exactly the same scriptural theme of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25)!
The Hour is Late and the Time is Short
I had a dream early the morning of 04/29/2012. In the dream my wife and I were in bed sleeping and it was very late. Our door bell rang and I remember saying to my wife, “who would be ringing our doorbell at this late hour”. We both got up to see who it was. What was odd was that each of us had an old fashioned hurricane lamp, the kind you fill with oil, as our light . When we opened the front door, we saw an angel standing there with a jug of oil in his hands. He filled our lamps and told us that the time is short.
His comment was to my posting Get Ready. Later, when I discussed all this with Nina and told her about Tony’s dream she was stunned, “That’s the topic of my talk at a ladies’ breakfast in mid-June!” She had written it two months before what I reported upon in my post. I recall her having said it would be a follow-up to previous addresses; but this time, she said, she’s going to have to sock it to them, no holds barred, because the time to Jesus’ return is getting very short!
In February, the Lord had given her the whole message and title, which is – reader, are you ready for this?…‘Are You Ready?’ !! Just upon the thought and mentioning the title whilst we spoke, she was hit by the physical reaction of being fired up by Holy Spirit. (It happened again last night when telling visiting friends about it!)
Two days after all this I attended Sharon Stone’s mentoring class in Windsor on the eve of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Upon the suggestion of another prophet, we went discretely to cleanse and bless the River Thames prior to the next day’s Jubilee flotilla.
Beni Johnson’s Prophecy on Breakthrough for the UK:
Intercessor Beni is in charge of Bethel Prayer House, Bethel Church in Redding, Calif. Her words about the bells have been quoted far and wide in part but what validates all the above impressions is this brief reference:
…We ended up in London where Big Ben is, on a river tour when it rang at high noon – which, for an intercessor, is the time to pray – high noon represents everything exposed, like nothing hiding,..Then we took a train to Paris… and got a taxi to Notre Dame. The minute we got out at Notre dame it was ringing high noon..then we got it (understood what the Lord is stressing about bells).
Now look at photo displaying the time when Nina was ‘struck’ – 11.35am. The bells were ringing and declaring in preparation for high noon! If you’re a believer, then listen to the whole 7 minutes of Beni’s greatly encouraging message above.
There’s lots more to all this, perhaps even a mathematical proof of God’s existence?
Further to my post about the ASA adjudication against Healing On The Streets in Bath there is some unrelated news about another injudicious ASA action.
Regular readers will be aware of my opinion on political attempts to suppress Christian beliefs (eg. as here, here, here, here). So, it was extremely interesting to learn about the widely read political blogger Archbishop Cranmer’s confrontation with Lord Smith, Chairman of the ASA, over his unwarranted interference with his blog:
…the ASA seeks to harass and bully those who carry perfectly innocuous advertisements promoting the traditional view of marriage, and enter-tain that such advertisements might be ‘offensive and homophobic’.
This other ‘saga’ with the ASA reveals a distinct lack of integrity and impartiality within its top echelons! It also provides yet more evidence of its ulterior political motives, and is well worth reading and following the links provided by His Grace to grasp the whole story.
With regard to HOTS,Christians Together in the Highlands provides a summary of the nature and significance of this issue for churches within the United Kingdom.
Paul Skelton of Healing On The Streets Bath, has updated me with welcome news of a substantial flaw in the ASA dictat against statements and testimonies of healing on his website. The ruling has been officially reviewed and over-ruled and thus vindicates HOTS’ stance and their claims about ulterior motives to this issue, which many others could discern too – see previous update, and ASA tags in this blog for more.
The official statement has yet to be appear but it seems to confirm HOTS’ concerns, which the original complainant described as, ‘bizarre’. This young lady claims to be a ‘paranormal investigator’ and yet admits to not having spoken to anyone or to making enquires other than visiting the website, or having done any open-minded research. Her reasons arise from personal medical experiences, which is understandable, and so wishes to protect vulnerable people – but they’re mixed motives. Consequently, a very strong ‘crusading’ bias contributed to a hasty, incomplete assessment and conclusion. When I presented her with undeniable evidence of my wife’s healing the ‘lady’ didn’t want to accept its validity. Her claims to being an objective investigator are thereby shown as being, at best, delusion or, at worst, downright fraudulent.
[I was once on her side of the ‘fence’ – even having contempt for contemporary Christian belief – but how utterly shocked I was to discover I was ‘gravely’ wrong (deliberate pun) and that the Gospel really IS wholly true– see Death of Destiny?. I was devasted but what could I do but acknowledge the Truth Himself as my personal Lord and Saviour?]
Now, after my aside, here’s Paul’s published announcement.:
Advertising Standards Authority admit there was
a substantial flaw in their judgement
Early this year the ASA ruled that HOTS Bath was in breach of advertising standards in expressing our belief that God can heal physically as well as spiritually and emotionally.
However, the official review process has now been completed and has identified a substantial flaw in the ASA’s Adjudication.
The ASA has subsequently accepted the official reviewers recommendation that the HOTS Bath website is actually outside of their remit and therefore beyond their jurisdiction.
This is great news and sets a clear precedent for Christian websites to be able to share testimonies of Gods goodness through physical healing with out opposition from official bodies.
Below is our official statement regarding this news :-
We are grateful to the ASA’s Independent Reviewer and the ASA Council for reviewing and amending this decision, and confirming that there was a fundamental flaw in the original assessment of the complaint about our website.
The ASA has now confirmed that our website is not within its remit because the statements made on it reflects our beliefs and relate to a cause or idea – the website explains our belief that God can heal and provides information about prayer offered by our volunteers and therefore the ASA has confirmed that nothing on the website is in breach of the advertising regulations.
The ASA still considered that leaflets handed out could be in breach of the advertising regulations, however we changed the leaflets several months ago to reflect the concerns which the ASA had previously expressed.
The ASA is due to re-publish the adjudication confirming its views on the leaflets, but the revised adjudication does not apply to what is on our website, meaning we can continue to express our beliefs that God can and does heal, as well as providing information and testimonies explaining all about Healing on the Streets.
HOTS Bath will continue to fulfill its commitment to demonstrate the love of God through healing of body, mind and spirit on the streets of Bath and elsewhere.
Recently (here and here), I’ve tried to convey our own great excitement over March’s revival meeting in Hull. At last, I can share it better with you on this 10 minute clip, which also features a short song in the middle Note: no longer available but see this 3 min clip:
These miraculous healings of folk from Hemel Hempstead, Chesterfield and Tiverton strongly enthused a packed auditorium of Americans in Alabama a week ago. Nathan Morris was also excited to announce that BBC local radio had interviewed Michael about his amazing triple miracle and that Lasette’s astounding appearance in her hotel, which I reported in “Now we know God is real”, brought a Muslim to salvation!
[A friend who directs a national healing ministry says Muslims are keen to learn about God’s healing power. It’s a pity for those atheists with whom two fellow bloggers and I have been in debate but who steadfastly refuse to accept such signs of salvation – Lord, bless them with a personal revelation and true contrition.]
Next, Nathan’s fresh preaching entitled Have You Defiled Your Robes? on holiness and repentance, as in John 8.34-36 and Revelation 3:2-6, was truly outstanding. It was exceptionally rare preaching on the ‘offensive message’ of the Gospel – that is, upon all sin, even in believers!, and the power of Jesus’ blood – “it is the lifeline“. For example:
“I’m tired of this gospel that won’t get in peoples’ faces. Let me tell you the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ offends – get used to it! People don’t want to be offended anymore…without the Blood there are no miracles, without preaching the shed Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, there is no salvation…one of the biggest lies you ever received is ‘once saved always saved’…you can’t live how you want… “
Many believers flocked forward, blocked the aisles in repentance and then received a fresh fire. The whole was preceded by an hour’s ascending worship as the Holy Spirit filled Lydia Stanley’s fingers with fire on the keyboard. (Join the worship here – news of the UK starts at 1hr20 and Nathan starts preaching at 1hr54.)
On his blog, Hull’s New Life Church leader Jarrod Cooper also includes a video clip of a lady and her husband telling what it’s like to be disabled for 6 years and then being healed at the church.
Jarrod also provides additional photos of Lasette and of extra footage with a follow-up of Michael, who declares, “God’s just amazing. He’s given me my life back and I thank God”. Oh, yes indeed that’s such a tremendous blessing.
I trust you will take time to watch these signs of God’s wonderful healing grace.
Thus ran yesterday’s Sun on Sunday ‘world exclusive’ front-page headline about Fabrice Muamba’s recovery from ‘death’ after a heart attack. Click here to read his down-to-earth personal account of being grateful not to be left brain damaged. The follow-up story of who inspired Fabrice’s recovery is on this link.
I’d previously mused in the email below as to whether God’s hand could be discerned in this event as it followed upon the heels of the ASA’s decision to ban any statements about our Lord’s healing power. We can rejoice in His ‘cocking a snook’ at the thought control behind authoritiarian political correctness.
As before, Gillan Scott quickly reported upon this news and sensitively discusses its appearance in this particular journal. His own conclusion is well worth noting:
This weekend God’s greatest evangelist was a footballer who used a tabloid to tell the world just how amazing God is. God knows what He’s doing and we need to learn to follow His lead.
Amen.
Copy of earlier email:
From: Richard Barker Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 4:05 PM To:Undisclosed Recipients Subject: Fw: Christians in Parliament challenge ASA’s ‘God can heal’ ban
…Thank you to Paul for having alerted me, to Gillan for this news, and to three Christian MPs dealing with this important issue. (You may recall my emails of early February and my blog’s post on this issue.)
Gillan reports (link) that the All-Party Parliamentary Group, Christians in Parliament, has asked the Chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority to provide scientific substantiation for the ASA ruling against Healing On The Streets, failing which the matter will be raised in Parliament. The ASA decision sought NOT ONLY to ban claims that God can and does heal physically, BUT ALSO TO SUPPRESS PUBLICATION OF TESTIMONIES of such healings!!
In case you may not understand the footballer reference, see Gillan’s post God is in control and Peter Kirk’s post about the BBC’s suggesting prayers for him! Is the Lord using that unfortunate incident to state, “Who says I cannot heal?”..?
“What’s happening in England right now is blowing my mind (I hear of more miracles)…I was there a few weeks ago…in the city of Hull, where miracles were happening – one week later our Prime Minister stands up in the Houses of Parliament and he says this..: Continue reading →
…then perhaps you could go to Trafalgar Square by midday for a couple of open performances which have our highest personal recommendation: The Passion of Jesus. We’ve booked for a third trip to ‘partake’ in this modern rendition of The Life of Christ, as well as an amazing Nativity, inopen fields on the North Downs, south of Guildford. There, the actors mingle among the audience and it seems as though we travel back in time. It’s as though one’s there alongside Jesus and the disciples, watching and listening to all they say and do.
News from Downing Street yesterday is encouraging in the light of previous events and the spiritual power play in the ‘heavenlies’ for our nation. I’m grateful to Gillan Scott for spotting this and for recognising that its significance warranted his interrupting his break by posting the entire transcript on God and Politics in the UK.
Mr Cameron’s reference to a “Christian fight-back” is especially revealing after many believers have been calling for a stand to be taken against evil that has encroached upon this land. (Readers may recall some of my earlier posts on this here and here, the latter now having some new links to prophetical material.)
Also, this development suggests prayers for the Prime Minister are in the process of being answered. Let’s keep praying, especially for Godly men to draw close and that they may encourage and direct Mr Cameron towards our Lord and Saviour (whom he does not deny or reject – Matthew 10:32-33).
Post-holydays update:
Over the break for the holydays there have been a number of posts, some critical, by well-respected Christian bloggers on the PM’s message but which overlook my point. Not so much by coincidence but more the Lord’s quick nudge did I discover that Jarrod Cooper was struck by the ‘remarkable!’ slant of the message and posted its full text on his personal blog as Cameron praises the Christian fight-back!.
Maybe it needs an gifted appreciation of the prophetic to discern what’s going on?
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