"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalm 46 V1

"What  then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8 V31

God is our strength and refuge and not tomorrow or days later but a very present help in time of trouble. Trust in His strength and He will deliver you from all trouble.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is planning to visit Lourdes this week, as celebrations of the 150th anniversary of 'Our Lady of Lourdes' get underway. The aim of his visit to the shrine, which will be the first for an Archbishop of the Church of England, is to foster unity with the Church of Rome. The shrine at Lourdes was built to commemorate the appearances of 'Mary' to a young girl by the name of Bernadette Soubirous. The apparition revealed itself to Bernadette in a grotto in Lourdes in January 1858. Two other girls were with Bernadette at the time of the encounter, but only Bernadette was able to see the 'vision'. Her first reaction was one of fear. She prayed that if this apparition was not of God, that it would go away. She also sprinkled a bottle of 'holy water' at the figure in an attempt to make it leave. But the apparition remained. Bernadette was to see the apparition on eighteen separate occasions, while numerous others were present. The apparition later instructed Bernadette to have a chapel built in the grotto, and to organize a procession honouring her as the 'Immaculate Conception'. Four years previous to this event, the Pope had proclaimed Mary as the 'Immaculate Conception', declaring her to be without original sin. It is said that Bernadette could not have known about the Pope's decree, thus many Catholics believe that her visions were genuine. I also believe her visions were real, but I do not believe that this apparition was the same Mary that we read about in the Scriptures. The Mary of the Bible was a humble woman who would not dare to elevate herself to the level that this apparition has. Mary was a sinner who trusted in God her Saviour (Luke 1:47). But now Archbishop Rowan Williams is seeking for the Church of England to be reunited with the Church of Rome, through the worship of this apparition. 

Quote: "Dr Williams will participate in the celebrations at the invitation of the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, Monsignor Jacques Perrier. He will also take part in a pilgrimage of bishops, clergy and laity of the Church of England, organised by the Society of Mary and the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. He will be accompanied in Lourdes by the Church of England bishop with particular responsibility for chaplaincies in France, the Right Reverend David Hamid, the suffragan bishop of the Diocese in Europe. His visit follows that of Pope Benedict, who made a pilgrimage to the town last weekend.

It's no secret that the Archbishop of the Church of England is a Druid. The Druids venerate nature, the sun, trees and groves, hill tops, streams, lakes and plants. They are also involved in ritualistic human sacrifice. Some believe the Druids may have been responsible for the construction of Stonehenge, in Salisbury, England. It is thought that the ancient landmark may have been used to track the sun through the summer and winter solstices. Thousands of people still visit Stonehenge every year to celebrate these occasions. Some think that the site may have also witnessed its fair share of human sacrifices. Well today just happened to be the autumnal equinox, the day that falls directly between the summer and winter solstices. At this time of year the northern hemisphere experiences exactly the same amount of daylight hours as the southern hemisphere. And what better day to give Stonehenge a modern makeover? It seems that in honour of one Druid's visit to the Catholic shrine of Lourdes, England is about to get its own version...

Quote: "The findings do not conflict with other recent theories about the uses of Stonehenge -- which indicate that it was an astronomical observatory, a cemetery and the site of biannual celebrations that honoured the dead and the living. But they do suggest that the monument also was an ancient Lourdes where pilgrims congregated to have their wounds and illnesses magically healed. Stonehenge has "multiple meanings and multiple uses" that may have changed over the centuries, said archaeologist Mary Ann Owoc of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., who was not involved in the new research. "To limit it to one is an error." The idea that the stones are not just building materials but have efficacy "is tremendously appealing as an idea," said archaeologist Julian Thomas of Manchester University, who also was not involved in the research. "The idea that they were brought there because they have some kind of power seems to me entirely plausible. But whether it is just about healing is another question."

Is it just a coincidence? A Druid representing the Church of England visits Lourdes? A Druidic monument gets a 'Lourdes makeover' on the day of the equinox? Perhaps it is just a coincidence. But there is no coincidence in that the same devil is behind all of it... The apparitions of Mary all over the world, the adoration of Mary, the 'miraculous healings' both at Lourdes and now apparently at Stonehenge, the 'lucky charms', the worship of nature and the human sacrifices... Personally I think the makeover on Stonehenge is just a cover-up designed to hide its dark past. Just as the apparition at Lourdes had the appearance of good, the beauty was just a veneer that served to hide a very different reality underneath. The Bible warns us in 2nd Corinthians 11:14-15 that Satan masquerades as an angel of light in order to deceive, and that it should be no marvel if his ministers use the same tactics. Regarding Rowan Williams and Lourdes, I can't think of any other words to say about this other than what God says in Revelation 18.

Revelation 18:4-5
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

I feel the thing is too far gone to merit commenting on. Make no mistake about it, judgement is coming. But what about you? As Christ said of the Pharisees, outwardly they are like whitewashed sepulchres, but inwardly they are full of dead men's bones (Matthew 23:27). Does that verse apply to you? Have you an outward veneer of good works, but inside you are still spiritually dead in trespasses and in sins (Ephesians 2:1)? Jesus Christ died for you. He bore God's wrath for your sins upon the cross. And God has promised that all who believe on Jesus Christ for salvation can have forgiveness of sins and everlasting life in heaven. Jesus Christ said all who believe on Him, out of their inward parts shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:37-39). Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source Wales Online, Mary Pages, LA Times, APOD, BBC

"The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy." - Psalm 147 V11

"...I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live..." - Ezekiel 33 V11

People often think of God as a heavenly being ready to judge and punish the evil doers. But if it was so there won't be a single person except Jesus, who lived or who will live that will go unpunished. We all deserve the wrath of God. On the other hand God clearly mentions in the Scripture that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but He would like even the wicked to repent and turn away from their sinful deeds. God displayed His great love for us through Jesus Christ who died on the cross in our place. We are redeemed by His blood. Be a part of God's pleasure by fearing and hoping in His mercy.

Quartet Special Envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair addressed Yale students on the issues of faith and globalization today, as part of a new initiative organized by Yale's School of Divinity and Blair's own Faith Foundation project. The first class was chaired by the former British Prime Minister and the Yale President Richard Levin, and marks the launch of the three year 'Faith and Globalization Initiative', which aims to promote understanding between world religions and aid the process of globalization. Blair, who recently converted from Protestantism to his wife's religion of Catholicism, remarked that religion was a double-edged sword which could be used to cause either harm or healing. He said that proper spiritual faith could enhance the process of globalization, but religious division could equally tear it apart.  

Quote: "Blair, 55, who recently became a Catholic, told the students that those without faith are not lesser people in his eyes. Many great leaders have led without faith, he said. But it is important to realize that religion matters to people in this world, Blair said. And understanding people's faith can make globalization work — and help bring about peace and end such long-standing clashes as those between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Blair is currently working in the Middle East as a representative of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia, helping the Palestinians prepare for statehood as part of the world's efforts to secure peace in that region. "I am convinced that the majority of Israelis and the majority of Palestinians want a two-state solution," Blair said. "It's just that they've given up hope of getting it. But they want it and that's important, so it means that there is a desire there for peace."

As I have commented before, there are three things that stand in the way of the process of globalization. Politics, economics and religion. As we have seen this past week, the world is largely unified when it comes to the issue of economics. With our global stock markets, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other such organizations, it is easy to see how we are quickly becoming interdependent. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently called for a complete shake-up of the world economic order, which would help prevent a repeat of the financial crises we have witnessed this past number of weeks. Many regional blocs, such as the ASEAN and GCC, are also considering adopting a single currency similar to that of the European Union. When it comes to politics, it is also easy to see how the world is becoming more unified in this regard. This past year we have witnessed the birth of the Union for the Mediterranean. Other regional blocs, such as the European Union, the North American Union, the African Union, the Asia Pacific Union, the ASEAN Economic Community, the Gulf Cooperation Council, are still in the process of increasing their powers. The world is becoming more and more politically unified. That leaves just one main obstacle to the globalization process - religion. And the world could not be more religiously divided. There is only one force that can unify people of different languages, cultures and traditions and that is religion. Throughout the history of the world, politicians have tried to unify people through religion. Whether it was the Roman Emperors, who demanded that their citizens worship them as God, the Catholic Church, which murdered believers throughout the centuries, the Church of England, which once imprisoned those who preached the gospel, or the Communists, who set themselves above every god. Religion is unifying force, and Tony Blair's Faith Foundation is the realization of this.

The Bible states that these three points which I have mentioned, obstacles to the process of globalization, will be removed sooner or later. In Revelation 13:16-18 we have a one world monetary system called the Mark of the Beast, and those who refuse to take the Mark in their right hand or forehead will be unable to buy or sell. In Revelation 13:2-4 we have a one world government, headed by a man to whom Satan will give great power and authority. And in Revelation 13:11-15 we have a one world false religious system, headed by a man that Satan will enable to perform all manner of lying wonders to deceive the people of earth into worshipping a false Christ. As you can see, there is time of great deception ahead. Christians are called to be subject to governments, for their power is ordained of God (Romans 13). And it's not that we are against the process of globalization either. As in the days of the Roman Empire, globalization can be used for the proclamation of the gospel. But we are against the one who is behind this whole world system, which is Satan himself (2nd Corinthians 4:4).

Will you end up becoming part of this one world religious system? Though it appears to have a morality about it, it has been condemned by God. For the Bible states that all our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and that the only way to God is through faith in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Will you end up becoming part of this one world economic system? Jesus Christ said, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also", Matthew 6:20-21. Will you end up becoming part of this one world political system? The Bible states, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end", Isaiah 9:7. True peace can only come through the Prince of Peace, which is Jesus Christ. He died on the cross for your sins, so you might know peace with God (Colossians 1:20). Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source Courant

"And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" " - Mark 4 V37, 38

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." - John 16 V33

The disciples faced the storm at the sea even while Jesus was with them. Being followers of Christ does not exempt us from the tribulations of the world and on the other hand tribulations are more in a Believer's life. Jesus let His disciples go through the storm but He did calm the storm and brought peace. Do not worry about the tribulations when you live with the Lord for the Lord will bless us with His peace.