Recently in faith Category

The expression used to describe an insensitive person says that they 'only opened their mouths to change feet,' but sadly when it comes to some leaders, it's only to say things that hurt rather than help.

Cue Pat Robertson, Rev Pat Robertson and his outrageous comments that Haiti has suffered the devastating earthquake last week because of a historic pact the country had taken with the devil.

While Haiti has a strong link to occultish practices like voodoo, that doesn't explain why the earthquake happened. Does Rev Robertson not realise that there is a vibrant Christian community in Haiti, many of whom have lost their lives in the disaster? The dead include three missionaries from my church. We don't even know where their bodies are.

In any case, now is not the time to pontificate on the why, the focus should be on the how, how we can help bring relief to those in distress. The Bible says we should mourn with those who mourn and this is a time to put away the prejudicial comments and do everything possible to empathise and help these folks.

Yet again with Rev Robertson's comments, the Conservative Christians in America show that they put their politics firmly before their faith. This is why so many of them are against President Obama's healthcare bill. What could be more Christian than ensuring as many people as possible have adequate access to healthcare? I am sure these objectors are taken care of in that department.

Come on Reverend, use your public platform to promote harmony and give an accurate representation of our Lord, who at this time wants to be close to those who mourn and suffer right now.

Am I making sense? How did you feel when you heard what Rev Robertson said? What impression do high profile ministers give you of Christianity?

God Bless,
Veron
www.GMAgency.co.uk

Amidst all the prep for Christmas, worrying about buying this, cooking that, a dose of reality hit me, while chilling with the family the other night - the ticker tape running across the bottom of the screen on Sky News - actress Brittany Murphy has died.

But hold on a minute, I pondered, she's just 32. Yes, 32 and she's been taken out by what seems like cardiac arrest.

This year's been littered with unexpected celebrity tragedies - the sudden deaths of Natasha Richardson, Jade Goody, original Charlie's Angel Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, 33 year old Stephen Gately and the biggest story of them all, the passing of Michael Jackson. Now we have a tragic post-script to 2009 - Brittany Murphy reaching the end of her days.

This puts all of our Christmas carry-on in to perspective - none of us are promised tomorrow and therefore we need to regard everyday as Christmas Day in which we hold dear the virtues of love, peace, family, health and faith.

None of us know what the future holds, but in God we can get to know someone who holds the future.

Can I encourage you, if you haven't already, to consider developing faith in God? He's with us at all times, so talk to Him, tell Him how you feel about 'stuff' whether you believe or not. If you truly expect answers, you'll get them.

You regulars will know that I'm a Christian but I'm not necessarily advocating Christianity. Shocked?! Well don't be, I know from personal experience, when you reach out to God, you'll find Him and He'll guide you into all truth, as the Bible says.

The Christmas season is a time to enjoy and celebrate, but so is every other day of the year. None of know how much time we have left, now matter how young, healthy, successful, ambitious, etc, we are.

In our time of celebration, and believe me, I'm going to celebrate, spare a thought for the lives we are living and our readiness for the one after death.

Thanks for your support throughout 2009 and I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Year,

Veron x

Tony Collins' story in a recent edition of the Birmingham Mail about the importance of youngsters' spiritual development made very interesting reading. So why is religious education treated like a hot potato in some schools?

Pamela Taylor, the principal of Birmingham's Newman University College, said: "the spiritual and emotional development of young people has never been more important." She goes on to say: "encouraging dialogue and understanding between different groups ... has never been so vital."

As a Christian myself, I am not surprised at her comments - I believe that all of us have a God-shaped void in our lives that only He can fill. My faith teaches me that God is interested in every area of our lives and wants to build relationships with us. So, as education is important to us, it is to God too. That's why I'm working with Christian Media Services, bringing stories of the tangible benefits of Christian faith to the world.

That said, why is Religious Education not been given full expression in schools and why is Christianity, in particular, marginalized in certain areas?

Recognition and respect should be given to all faiths in all schools, regardless of the religious make-up of that school. So what if the school is, for example, majority Hindu? That does not mean you only teach Hinduism there. Are these Hindu kids not going to encounter anyone of any other faith for the rest of their lives? And what about the non-Hindu kids in that school?

Education authorities need not be frightened of our religious differences, and more importantly, they shouldn't allow our children to be.

The society I grew up in was multi-cultural too and there was a better understanding of cultural /religious diversity because each faith was taught and discussed freely in school.

Kids are growing up now without any real understanding of other faiths, aside from that gained from lurid headlines and extremist views.

The lack of education into these issues at an early age is only storing up the potential for misunderstanding, fear and hatred when these youngsters grow up.

Am I going too far?

Do you think the lack of religious teaching in schools contribute to fear and disharmony? Did you do RE in school? Did it help or hinder your relations with people of different cultures/ faiths?

God Bless ... and I mean that whatever you call Him,

Veron
www.GMAgency.co.uk