HOLY ROLLERS ON HARLEYS TOUR THE HOLY LAND

It wasn't your everyday sight at the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism: dozens of motorcyclists in black leather vests, tattoos and army-green bandanas gathered at the plaza in a culmination of their journey across the country, broke bread together and honored the Israeli army with a prayer and a moment of silence.

     The gathering on Sunday was the culmination of a motorbike tour of Israel organised by Mission:M25 (www.missionm25.org), a group of Evangelical Christians and military veterans whose mission is to honor the armed forces, fallen soldiers and those missing in action. This is the first time the organisation has taken one of these honoring rides, called Run for the Wall, outside of the US.

     "We came to be a blessing," Gary Burd, director of Mission:M25, told Travelujah. "Our whole emphasis was to honor the IDF and all of the armed forces in Israel. As Christians we can come here and freely walk where our Lord walked. We know it takes the sacrifice of men and women to keep a country free."

     NICOLE JANSEZIAN, of Travelujah, reports...  | more... |

GERMAN CHURCHES HIT THE ROAD

Germans are famous for their love of fast cars. But for those needing a little respite from the country's high-speed highways, autobahn churches offer a unique brand of peace and sanctuary for the modern traveler.

     "We seek to care for our guests fully -- not just for their cars but also for their body, soul and spirit," said Anna Isabell Strohofer, whose parents opened the ecumenical Light on Our Path Church ten years ago at the family-run Strohofer service station close to Nuremberg in southern Germany. "It was the aim of our family to create a place where drivers can recover mentally."

     A family tragedy also played a role in the decision. "My mother's brother died aged 18 in a car accident," said Strohofer in an interview. "My family had always been very religious but this accident made our faith much stronger, and was also a reason to build the church: to remember him."

     RUBY RUSSELL, of ENInews, reports...  | more... |

SCOTTISH BIBLE TEACHER ON A MISSION TO REVIVE SMITH WIGGLESWORTH'S CHURCH

International Bible teacher Terry Quinn is on a mission to restore the famous Bowland Street Mission in Bradford in the North of England, where well-known healing evangelist Smith Wigglesworth preached for more than 30 years.

     Despite major financial challenges to the project Quinn is pressing on with his vision to revive this abandoned building back to it's former glory, not just as a memorial to the famous preacher but to also help usher in a revival prophesied by Wigglesworth more than 64 years ago.

     "One of the things that's driving me is that Smith Wigglesworth gave a prophecy in 1947 just before he died and it was the last prophecy he gave, in which he said over the next few decades will be two main revivals," Quinn said.

     PETER WOODING, of Assist News Service, reports...  | more... |

PALESTINIAN, ISRAELI STUDENTS USE ART TO BRIDGE DIFFERENCES

Though their leaders may be at political odds with each other, a group of Israeli and Palestinian students learned that they can communicate through art.  

     "Before I saw art as a hobby, now I see that art can even connect between people who have preconceived ideas and prejudices against one another," said Israeli student Noga Zer, 14.

     Zer was among 50 eighth and ninth graders at the Israeli Hebrew University High School, the Palestinian Al-Quds High School for Girls and the Ibn Khaldoun Junior High School for Boys who participated in the two-year "Through the Window" project.

     JUDITH SUDILOVSKY, of ENInews, reports...  | more... |

30,000 PEOPLE IN BRITAIN HELP WITH HANDWRITTEN BIBLE

Thousands of people across Britain and Northern Ireland have hand transcribed the Bible in the last 12 months, and the final version was presented to the Methodist Conference in Southport earlier this month.
      As part of the 400th year anniversary of the King James Bible, people were invited to handwrite verses from the Christian and Hebrew Scriptures.

     Volunteers joined in from across communities, including prisons, schools, colleges, libraries, nursing homes, airports and shopping centres to copy verses from the New Revised Standard (NRSV) version of the Bible, after Methodists decided to transcribe the Scripture at their Conference in Portsmouth last year.

     Rev Lionel Osborn, president of Methodist Conference, commented: “The handwritten Bible has been a tremendous success. It has enabled people to engage with Scripture at perhaps a slower pace than usual and to really think about what they are copying. For many it has been a deep and enriching experience.”

     A report from Ekklesia...  | more... |

CHRISTIANS FIND 'VOLUNTOURS' BLESSING ISRAEL MAKE FOR A MORE MEANINGFUL VISIT

More and more Christians are finding that their visit to Israel can be rewarding and meaningful when they roll up their sleeves and volunteer to help organisations, projects and individuals rather than merely tour the sites of the Holy Land.
      In May, one group did just that. And all 14 members of the group - 12 of them who visited for the first time - were immensely impacted by the trip. Many even wished they had spent more time rolling up their sleeves and less time touring. The 14-day trip was divided between seven days of working and seven days of visiting the holy sites. Without fail, the group's members said the "work days" were the most rewarding.

     "It gave more depth to the trip than just coming to see the sites," said Karen Panapa. "Those were our best days."
      Ms Panapa explained that when she travels, she prefers personal contact than just visiting the sites, to immerse herself in the culture and get to meet the people of the land. This tour, designed by Travelujah, provided a gratifying balance, she said.

     NICOLE JANSEZIAN, of Travelujah, writes about the trend for 'voluntourism' among visitors to Israel...  | more... |

CAMPING TRIP CANCELLED, BUT THE BIBLE DOES SAY WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN

Well, the Rapture has come and gone, or at least Harold Camping's itinerary for it. The news media took late and casual notice of it - significantly, not with any focus on peoples' last-minute confrontation with their own sinfulness, but an opportunity to paint Christians as kooks. Mr Camping is nothing if not sincere, and since there were no Kool-Aid packets in the Family Radio International's shopping cart (that is, no financial scam; maybe just bad mathematics, addressing Biblical numerology) life goes on.

     Or... has anyone considered whether Heaven held a rapture and nobody came? How many of us are worthy to meet the Lord in the air?

     The question sounds half-kidding, but is totally serious. I believe the reason that the Bible is so ambiguous about all the questions regarding the Second Coming of Jesus, the End of Time, the Rapture, the End of the Age, the Great Tribulation, the advent of the Millennial Reign of Christ...is to keep us on our spiritual toes.

     Writing from the US, RICK MARSCHALL takes a look at what the Bible does say about the end in the light of recent, erm, non-events...  | more... |

US CHURCH JOINS WORLDWIDE FLASH MOB DANCE EFFORT

More than 150 dancers spontaneously erupted into dance in between Easter services outside a worship center Saturday proving that the flash mob craze is alive and well at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.

     The five minute production was part of an effort by Faith Church to include flash mob dances performed worldwide to “Up To Faith" (www.uptofaith.com), and taking place on Easter weekend, in a YouTube video. The video is expected to be released on 8th May.

     For some people exiting Saddleback’s early evening service Saturday, getting to their cars was a bit of a challenge. However, walking through the gauntlet of dancers in mid-performance appeared mostly joyous. There were plenty of surprised expressions and smiles.

     ALEX MURASHKO, of Assist News Service, reports from California...  | more... |

TEL AVIV NAMES NEIGHBOURHOOD AFTER NEW TESTAMENT FIGURE TABITHA

Tel Aviv Municipality has named eight new neighborhoods last week, and one of them was after a New Testament, Tabitha, well known for her charitable works and whom the Apostle Peter raised from the dead.

     The neighborhood is situated adjacent to the Russian Orthodox church in the southern part of the city, next to Jaffa and very near the Tel Aviv Botanical Garden. The grave of Tabitha also located in this area of the city.

     The importance of Tabitha is mentioned in the New Testament in the story of Peter. Peter was summoned from Lydda (modern-day Lod) to Jaffa, upon the death of Tabitha, known far and wide for her charitable works: "But Peter...kneeled down, and prayed: and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa (Jaffa); and many believed in the Lord." Acts 9: 36-42, (40-42).

    ELISA MOED, of Travelujah, writes about a new name for a Tel Aviv neighbourhood...  | more... |

THE ROYAL ENGAGEMENT - IT'S ABOUT A MARRIAGE, NOT JUST A NATIONAL PARTY

"Never get married in the morning," said Paul Hornung, "because you never know who you'll meet that night."

     Prince William has courted his bride-to-be Catherine Middleton for a decade and he clearly sees no need to meet anyone else. The forthcoming royal wedding is great news for the happy couple but it also present a welcome shot in the arm for a nation that’s growing weary of its post-recession, austerity-era blues.

     As my fellow Australian author Kathy Lette noted today, Britain often behaves as if "optimism is a form of eye complaint". This wedding offers an opportunity for some collective cheering up.

     Of course, any wedding is or should be a major cause for festivity. Weddings bring people together to celebrate not just the love of a certain bride and groom, but the marriage bond itself, which has held societies together for millennia.

     If weddings were merely about signing a legal contract, or a romantic day out, even royal weddings would hold less attraction for us. Even in these often cynical times, marriage is still seen as a covenant and a wedding involves the exchanging of vows and the intertwining of two lives into a common cause.

Writing from the UK, MAL FLETCHER reflects on the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton...  | more... |

GEN X MARKS THE SPOT - MID-LIFE CRISES AND GENERATIONAL CHANGE

Some wit once wrote that middle age is when work is a lot less fun and fun is a lot more work. If a new study is to be believed, British people are experiencing the classic symptoms of mid-life crises earlier than ever before.

     The concept of a mid-life crisis remains, for some people, a myth, the false construct of a society that’s become much too enamoured with youthfulness and self-analysis.

     For others, though, mid-life crises are very real and worrying. They mark the end of the joyous and sometimes painful journey of discovery that is young adulthood and the beginnings of an awareness of one’s own mortality.

     The new report, released last week by the relationships advice charity Relate, found that for many Brits the years between their mid 30s to mid 40s are the unhappiest decade of life. This it said is the time when more people than average feel lonely or depressed.

Writing from the UK, MAL FLETCHER looks at what characterises Generation X and the challenges that lie ahead for it...   | more... |

FEEL THE LOVE - PASTOR CHUCK SMITH AND LOVE SONG ON TOUR

1969 proved to be an interesting year. Not only did man first land on the moon, but Charles Manson was charged with murder, Pelé scored his 1,000th goal, Intel made its first one kilobyte chip, and the three-day music festival known as Woodstock helped shape our cultural landscape.

     Beyond my own birth in that same year, something else - musically speaking - occurred: a small group of hippies formed the first Christian rock band: Love Song. On a similar note, the Christian church Calvary Chapel, founded in 1965, began inviting hippies into its pews around this time, beginning what is now known as the “Jesus Movement.”

     Today, 45 years later, the two catalysts of the Jesus Movement are united: Pastor Chuck Smith (considered by many to be the ‘father’ of the Jesus Movement) and Love Song (the first contemporary rock band to arise from the Jesus Movement.) They are together once again for a tour promoting music - and the Gospel.

     Writing from the US, BRIAN NIXON, in a report first published on Assist News Service, charts the return of some giants in the modern Christian music scene...   | more... |

HAITIAN PEOPLE'S RESILIENCE SHOWS THROUGH AS LIFE REGAINS SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMALITY

At the end of April, I went to Haiti for four weeks with the organisation I work for, Samaritan’s Purse, to evaluate our work there.

     “A beautiful country in a complete mess” is how Mac, a Haitian man I met living an internally displaced person  camp, described his own country. I would agree.

     The most noticeable effect of the earthquake, as you drive through the capital Port-au-Prince, is the collapsed buildings. Buildings which were seemingly picked at random as to which should stand and which should be left as a piles of rubble.

     However, the underlying destruction - the destruction you only sense from talking to people and hearing their stories - is in people's own lives. Everyone I spoke to knew someone who had been killed in the earthquake. Family members, friends, colleagues – all lost in an instant.

     ALEX DAY, of Samaritan's Purse, writes about his recent visit to Haiti...   | more... |

RECONSTRUCTING IMAGES OF THE FILIPINO POOR

It was said that the true demonstration of one's faith is in visiting and caring for the needs of the orphans and widows. In this simple reflection, I am about to present the different images of poverty in Baguio City and Isabela province.

     For almost a year while we were studying in Baguio City, I observed various images of the life of the poor. Some of them are the people I closely work with, and others are the everyday faces we see in the streets of Baguio City. In Baguio City, the poor are the less privileged people who do not have access to economic resources.

     These are people who do all kinds of things just to survive and try to eat maybe at least once a day. Two children that I see every time I go to the Beckel terminal are Jason and Freddie. Both are minors who are not in school. They tend to work in the evening just to survive. Jason and Freddie are two children who have dreams in life. But they were not given the privilege to study. So they remain as among the millions of youth who are out of school. They are selling "one day old" and "balot" to help their family earn a living.

     Writing from The Philippines, Rev JOEL A. TEJEDO reflects on the lives of those living in poverty...   | more... |

TV DEBATES - GOOD FOR POLITICS? OR JUST FOR TV?

Going into last week's inaugural TV election debate, the big question seemed to be who of the three leaders would bottle it first.

     Who would be the first to choke under pressure, to fluff their lines or appear either too aggressive or disengaged under the glare of the TV studio lights?

     However, after the hype of this first debate dies down, a much more important question will remain. On balance, will these debates be healthy for the election process in years to come?

    Doubtless, they are here to stay, in one form or another, but will British politicians and media outlets discover and develop a distinctly British approach? Or will we see politics turning more and more toward America for its models on how to connect with voters?

Writing from London, MAL FLETCHER ponders the question of TV debates and politics...  | more... |

ALCOHOL ABUSE AND FLIMSY RE-EDUCATION DRIVES

The UK government's latest attempts to deal with the problem of alcohol abuse reflect a typically muddle-headed, ultra-liberal approach to dealing with social ills.

     Having previously abolished long-established curfews on drinking in public places throughout England and Wales, the government is now spending £7 million on TV commercials which show the physical dangers of alcohol abuse.

     In part, the ads are a response to rising alcohol-related admissions to hospital casualty departments. Leading medicos warned the government last year that up to 70 per cent of visits to casualty departments are now due to alcohol abuse.

Writing from London, MAL FLETCHER argues for a carrot and stick approach to the growing issue of alcohol abuse...  | more... |

SUPER-SNOOP NATION? CCTV AND CITIZEN SPY GAMES

Will the UK become a nation of super-snoopers? If the designers of a new internet enterprise have their way, Britain may become what some privacy advocates are calling a 'snooper's paradise'.

     Under the Internet Eyes scheme, computer owners within Britain - and later, the designers hope, around the world - will be able to view life feeds from security cameras and report suspected criminal activity.

     Marrying the security angle with the attractions of online gaming, the designers will allow watchers to compete for points and win cash prizes when they accrue a high enough score, based on successful crime identifications.

     The scheme, which will roll out next month in Stratford-upon-Avon, will target shops and other businesses, but the designers hope to see it used more widely - with CCTV cameras owned by the police and local authorities.

     On the face of it, such a scheme seems to offer a solution to what has become a real dilemma for the authorities.

Writing from London, MAL FLETCHER takes a look at the growing trend towards surveillance and its ramifications...  | more... |

HEAVEN CAME DOWN IN JERUSALEM

Heaven came down for two nights - Sunday, 5th September and Monday 6th September, 2009 - in Jerusalem, the "City of Gold", as thousands of Christian pilgrims gathered for a unique "Multi-Cultural Festival" to celebrate their faith and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

     They were aware that this was the city where Jesus Christ lived so much of his ministry life and died and was resurrected, so this gave a special flavor to the activities.

     Up until their arrival, all the headlines in Israel had been captured by Kabbalah follower, Madonna, who was in the country, but now they had suddenly realised that so many Christians from 36 countries, were in town for two nights of the festival which was led by Pastor Dr Jaerock Lee of South Korea, who has 100,000 members in his Seoul church and 9,000 branch churches around the world (with two million members).

    DAN WOODING, of Assist News Service, describes his recent experiences in Jerusalem...  | more... |

IS ATHEISM ON THE RISE IN THE US?

Much has been said about how atheism has over the years has reached a level of unprecedented prominence. It appears to be ironic that in a nation where polls routinely show that nine out of ten participants affirm a belief in the divine. Statistics estimate that the number of atheists in the United States ranges from one per cent to 10 per cent and even higher.

     Experts say atheists are becoming more and more visible, more so than in 1963, when the late atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair won a landmark Supreme Court ruling barring prayer from the public schools.

    JACKIE O'NEAL reports for Assist News Service... | more... |

JAPANESE WOMEN LOOK TO "MARRIAGE-HUNTERS" TO FIND FINANCIAL SECURITY

The second largest economy in the world has not been able to escape to the global financial crisis. Steeped in recession, Japan has seen unemployment reach a three year high. This country has been hit hard with what is said to be the worst recession since World War II. Japanese people are doing what they can to cope with these desperate times, and for some Japanese women, it's finding a husband.

     “The recession made me realise...I'd be more stable financially if I had double income to fall back on,” said one Japanese “marriage hunter” when interviewed by Bloomberg news.

     In the last decade, there has been a strong push for independent, career-focused women, resulting in the lowest national birth rate ever. Many Japanese women are choosing not to marry, not have children and become economically and professionally independent. However, “desperate times have called for desperate measures”, and while arranged marriages are still common in some areas of Japan, these times are seeing “arranged marriage with a twist”.

     CORAL VASS reflects on the growing trend for women to use marriage-hunters in Japan... | more... |

EAST GERMAN 'REVOLUTION' REMEMBERED IN CHURCH CAMPAIGN

Christians in eastern Germany have launched a campaign to mark the 20th anniversary of the peaceful revolution that overthrew communism, with a light sculpture shone onto the walls of the regional parliament building in Erfurt.

     The work by artist Ingo Bracke projected words such as "peace", "reconciliation", "non-violence" and "solidarity" onto the building that once housed the communist-run administration for the district of Erfurt in the days of totalitarian rule.

     The sculpture included extracts of texts from the Ecumenical Assembly that gathered delegates from all East Germany's main churches in April 1989. That was less than six months before the country was engulfed in its autumn revolution. Despite still having strict communist rule, the assembly demanded, among other things, secret ballots for elections, freedom of opinion and freedom to travel, and the right to form independent associations.

     STEPHEN BROWN reports for Ecumenical News International... | more... |

SUDAN: THE "LIVING HELL" CREATED BY THE LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY

Sudan has approximately one million orphans at extreme risk to slavery from both the Northern Islamic Sudan Government (Government of Sudan, "GOS") as well as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) from neighboring Uganda, which the GOS funds.

     Make Way Partners has the only indigenous orphanages in the country and it has long been a God-size dream to build a network around the country to protect, raise and win for Christ these precious children.

     I have just returned from visiting our current work in Sudan while seeking God's direction over its expansion. The day after landing in Torit (near the border of Uganda), we had confirmation that the dreams, visions and hopes of our hearts were to become reality. Through a new partnership (much more information on that to come), we now have 200 additional acres in Sudan to expand the Make Way Partners' Orphan-Care Network.

    KIMBERLY L. SMITH, of Make Way Partners, tells of a recent trip in Sudan... | more... |

US: DOLLARS AND DARWIN

I'd like to open this postcard with my condolences to everyone affected by the fires in Victoria. Recently, here in the US, many have been dealing with ice and power outages. But not fires.

     Of course, we're in the middle of winter, and y'all aren't. So the confluence of fire and ice should, perhaps, not be surprising. Nevertheless, I hope everyone you love is safe and doing well.

     The big news (stateside), as of Saturday, is that our Congress has passed that huge “stimulus” bill they've been working on.

     To be more accurate, I should say the Democrats in Congress passed it. No Republicans in the House of Representatives voted for it, and only three Republicans in the Senate voted for it.

    MICAH TILLMAN writes about economic stimulus packages and anniversaries... | more... |

ESCAPING TO A NEW LIFE THROUGH 'COSPLAY'

Who didn't love getting dressed-up as a kid, playing make believe and pretending to be someone else? Well, venture out on the streets of Harajuku, Shibuya or Akihabara, Tokyo, and you'll enter a world of the imaginary, role-playing, dress-ups and the outright wild. Japanese young people are hooked on 'cosplay' (costume play). You don't have to look far to see Lolitas; french maids, Alice In Wonderland characters, goths, punks, and otaku just to name a few.

     While you might be familiar with the french maid, Alice, gothic and even punk look, you may not be so au fait with otaku - Japanese slang for a fan of a particular theme, topic or hobby. One form of otaku in Japan is the anime or manga otaku. Anime and manga are a national phenomenon, a distinctly Japanese-style cartoon series found in book, magazine, TV and video game form. For some manga and anime devotees, identification or obsession with a single character is quite common, and cosplay helps bring this identification to life.

    CORAL VASS writes about the Japanese phemonena of 'cosplay'... | more... |

CHRISTMAS CONSTERNATIONS IN AMERICA

Winter has officially begun here in the States, and it would seem the Weather (whatever that is) noticed.

     It's cold. Not as cold (at least here in the Greater Washington, DC Metropolitan Area) as the coldest I can remember.

     But it's still cold.

     It makes me wonder what itís going to be like on 20th January, Inauguration Day.

     The latest stir about Inauguration Day - other than the fact that many (but not all) GWDCMA residents are afraid of the entire world showing up on our doorstep, stealing our parking spaces, clogging our roads, drinking all our water, overwhelming our hospitals, tying up our phone lines, etc - is over the fact that Rick Warren will give the invocation.

    MICAH TILLMAN looks ahead to the presidential inauguration... | more... |

CONFUSION AND TUMULT IN THE US
It's been a month since our historic elections here in the States. The fall semester is ending. Final exams are next week.

     Everyone's panicking. Students have to “cram” all the information they neglected to study. Teachers can hear the stampeding herd of tests and papers they're going to have to grade.

     Parents have to buy all the Christmas presents they've been putting off. If they can find the money.

     And if they haven't yet been “let go” by their small-business-owning bosses-who have to figure out how many employees they're going to have to fire this holiday season.

    MICAH TILLMAN says things are a little confused following the recent US presidential election... | more... |

COMING NEXT WEEK - A REVOLUTION IN AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY

With the presidential election next week, American Christians face a bizarre choice. Vote for either:

     (a) the candidate who has constantly emphasized his Christianity - and yet is (i) “the most extreme pro-abortion candidate ever to seek the office of President,” and (ii) “the most extreme pro-abortion legislator ever to serve in either house of the United States Congress,”

     or

     (b) the candidate who (i) never talks about his purported Christianity, (ii) says, “My country saved me,” (iii) chose the slogan “Country First,” and (iv) continues to take a pro-war stance-thereby begging some obvious, Ten-Commandments-related questions.

    MICAH TILLMAN looks forward to next week's presidential election in the US... | more... |

JAPAN'S NATIONAL OBSESSION WITH BODY IMAGE

The weight loss commercials on Japanese TV are a must see. Where, on American or Australian TV, a 20 kilogram loss is applauded, here in Japan people are delighted with a two or three kilogram weight loss. For a nation whose main diet consists of rice, miso soup and sushi, and for a people (young and old) who ride bicycles or walk everywhere, health and weight issues have never been a realistic concern.

     However, Japan is a nation consumed with trends and body image. So much so, the recent explosion in popularity of “The Morning Banana Diet” in Japan has stores struggling to keep bananas on the shelf. On 7th October this year, the Japan Times reported, “When Tokyo Broadcasting System's TV show Dream Press-sha explained on Sept. 19 how former opera singer Kumiko Mori - who weighs in at more than 100kg - lost 7 kg through the banana diet, there has been a run on the fruit.” Together with the TV show, a recent book Asa (Morning) Banana Diet, proved to be a huge hit in Japan, selling more than 230,000 copies in just a few months. This book has a wide readership, from people in their teens to the elderly.

       CORAL VASS finds there's a national obsession with waistlines in Japan... | more... |

'I'M BETTER THAN YOU' - LOVE, AMERICAN GUY

I’ll tell you why you lost the gold to us in Olympic women’s basketball: your uniforms were hideous.

     First of all, what did those colors have to do with Australia? And second: Spandex?! Really? In basketball?

     In swimming or racing sports, maybe. But spandex anywhere else went out of style with hair metal in the 80’s. Surely you noticed.

     What has become more and more disturbing to me recently is how such “trash talk” as the above seems to be taken seriously in parts of life outside of sports.

       MICAH TILLMAN takes a look at the rise of 'trash talk', of being a 'winner', and the ongoing US presidential race... | more... |

'KEITAI CULTURE' REDEFINING RELATIONSHIPS IN JAPAN

I survived six months in Tokyo without a keitai (mobile phone). But with the pressure from my friends to be able to “contact me” at anytime and the convenience of making a call if I needed, I eventually succumbed and got one, braving the bemusing array of plans and new phone options coming out seemingly every month.

     Everywhere you look in Tokyo, if not the rest of Japan, someone has his or her keitai on: searching the internet, sending an SMS or email, or playing games. Most of the Japanese population own mobile phones, equipped, of course, with enhancements such as video and camera capabilities - features which are common in most phones these days.

       CORAL VASS takes a look at Japan's 'keitai culture'... | more... |

AMERICA - LAND OF SYMPATHETIC IDOLATORS?
I hear the Pope has paid a visit to your neck of the woods since last we talked. I hope you enjoyed him as much as we did. The papal trip here was nothing short of spectacular.

     You should have seen the reporters and pundits on TV news programs - news programs, mind you - going on about what a kind and wise man His Holiness had turned out to be.

     I did a little blogging on the phenomenon at the time. I’ll leave it to you to read my post if you want to know why Americans were so shocked.

     But I don’t want y’all Down Under (do you call it “Down Under,” or is that just us Amer’cans?) feeling too good about yourselves - what with your papal visit and our American naivety and all: We in America have the messiah, you see. I even had an article featured on his official blog! And he’s been making trips too.

       MICAH TILLMAN wonders who Americans will be voting for come November: Barack Obama, John McCain - or Batman?... | more... |

'ACTS OF GOD' IN THE US

Recently, American states bordering the Mississippi River have been flooded. The great river about which Mark Twain wrote so much has been swollen by rain, rain, and more rain.

     (Here in the US we have a saying about April showers bringing May flowers. I don’t know where it comes from, but the April showers certainly have come late this year.)

     They call such things “acts of God” in the insurance business, I understand. If floods and hurricanes and whatnot are acts of God, He surely does work in mysterious ways. What did the victims do to deserve this?

       MICAH TILLMAN writes about the debate over the recent floods along the Mississippi... | more... |

IRISH NO VOTE - EU LEADERS MUST ACT LIKE LEADERS

On Thursday of last week, the voters of Ireland sent waves of discomfort and confusion through the ranks of the EU establishment in Brussels.

    They voted a resounding 'no' to the ratification of the treaty which replaced the earlier constitutional treaty, which was rejected by French and Dutch voters.

     Well, some will say, it was Friday the 13th after all - so what can you expect but bad news? But it's arguably likely that the same result would have occurred whatever the date of the vote.

     The EU bangs on all the time about championing the cause of democracy, the popular vote and the involvement of the electorate in decision-making. It's time for the EU to put its political will where its mouth has been. It's time for it to not only listen to the people, but to be seen to be listening to the people.

Writing from London, MAL FLETCHER reflects on Ireland's decision to vote 'no' to a new EU treaty... | more... |

SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA'S DECISION TO LEGALISE GAY MARRIAGE LEAVES MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

On 15th May, the California Supreme Court changed the legal definition of marriage for its state. Our federalist system in the US will keep that ruling from having any official effect on the other 49 states, but the unofficial effects are expected to be huge. “As goes California, so goes the country.”

What makes the decision particularly controversial is that the court overturned a law which was enacted by 61 percent of “the people” of California (who voted). The law was voted on at the ballot box, not in the Capital Building, and thus the court’s ruling is a rebuke to “the people” of California, not just their legislators.

     Of course, not everyone in California took the ruling as a rebuke. The state in general, and San Francisco in particular, is (in)famous for being a center of gay culture. (Do you remember in Remember the Titans when Petey tries to turn some girls off Sunshine by telling them he’s “from California”?)

    MICAH TILLMAN reflects on the ramifications of California's change to the legal definition of marriage... | more... |

JAPANESE SUICIDE RATE REVEALS SEARCH FOR 'GREATER MEANING'

Spring is in the air in Japan, yet while the trees are blossoming and spring flowers display signs of new life, all around there are reports of people taking their own lives in Japan.

     Everyday there is news of more suicides in Japan, affecting all ages and social groups. According to statistics, over 100 people a day commit suicide, at a rate of one every 15 minutes. For most people living in Japan, these terrible statistics don’t come as a surprise. By just picking up a daily newspaper one can read a stream of disturbing suicide reports.

     The suicide rate in Japan is not only frightening but it’s complex. There are so many factors contributing to this social epidemic, such as stress and competition in schools and the work place, reluctance to discuss mental health issues, family breakdown, isolation, loneliness and financial insecurity.

    CORAL VASS reflects on a tragic trend in Japan... | more... |

WHAT HOPE FOR JAPAN'S "HIKIKOMORI"?
They’re the group of young Japanese people who, overwhelmed by anxiety about the world, have chosen to shun the world in which they live, locking themselves away in their bedrooms for years on end. 

     Known as “hikikomori” - which means "pulling away, being confined" and refers to the sociological phenomenon as well as the reclusive individuals themselves - it has been said there may be as many as one million of them in Japan, a staggering figure which equates to 20 per cent of all male adolescents in Japan, or one per cent of the total Japanese population. Up until recent times, this phenomenon had not been found in any other culture in the world.  

     CORAL VASS takes a look at what Japan's "hikikomori" is all about... | more... |

BRINGING HOPE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS IN KENYA
I met John at KE722, a Compassion project in Kenya. He is a seven-year-old Kenyan boy who is both an orphan and HIV positive. His single mother died of AIDS, leaving a shy and withdrawn John to join her brother’s family of six. They live in a shack on a tiny piece of land on the rural outskirts of Nairobi with little food and no work (Kenya’s unemployment rate is 60 per cent).

    John’ eyes showed the sadness of his existence, yet he has some hope because of God’s intervention in his life through the Compassion child development project.

      Here, he has an opportunity to be fed, educated, socialised and, most importantly, develop his relationship with God through Jesus. The anti-retroviral drugs are paid for through a complimentary intervention for HIV/AIDS which is operating through Compassion in the area and John is responding well to the drugs which is an answer to prayer.

    ANDREW MERRY tells of how he saw hope for the future during a recent visit to Kenya... | more... |

STREET KIDS IN SUDAN - WHAT CAN I DO?
As I walked to work, I passed motionless bodies lying in the dirt, their clothes impregnated in this grey filth. A closer glance revealed that this pile of rags is a young human life, probably no older than 16 years. What can I do?

    The sight, which I saw when visiting North Khartoum recently, saddens me no less than when it confronted me the first time with the reality of how hard life is in Sudan.

      On a walk back to where I was staying, I saw a couple sitting in the squalor with their young daughter. Both adults had what are, in these parts, the symbols of hopelessness expressed on their faces - a rag stuffed in their mouth so they could inhale glue or benzene. Their senses were numbed, their faces were blank; their small, maybe two-year-old child stood naked with her hand holding on to a small fruit juice container, sucking out the last remains that someone else had just discarded.

    JOHN HARRISON writes of how God stirred him to reach out to the street kids of North Khartoum... | more... |

SHHH! FINDING GOD IN THE SILENCE

For an overachieving, working mother with a 'Type A' personality and a tendency toward anxiety, the concept of being still is rather foreign...and a little frightening. Like so many Christians, I can be silent and listen to God for oh, about 15 seconds, before the noise of my over-stimulated mind breaks in. So imagine putting me in a place for 36 hours where true silence and isolation are observed? Then consider that this bona fide city girl would have no electricity or indoor plumbing and you’ll get an idea of how daunting the whole concept was for me.

      But that’s exactly where God led me. Finding myself at a career crossroads, I sought solace at Pacem in Terris, a Franciscan centre of spirituality located in rural Minnesota. Nestled among almost 100 beautiful wooded hectares are 16 simply furnished one-room cabins called “hermitages.” Within their walls believers can find peace and solitude - and most importantly - God.

      Silent retreats are “in” and centres are popping up all over the world. Facilities vary from primitive one-room cabins to luxurious lodges, tents and teepees and are operated by a wide variety of religious traditions.

     AMY HAMMOND HAGBERG takes time out to listen... | more... |

INDONESIAN OBSERVATIONS

Sometimes you see a photographer or artist lock their thumbs and index fingers in an effort to frame a portion of a landscape. Travelling for 30 days through three Indonesian islands gave me faint glimpses of the heart, soul, muscle and sinew that lie beneath the skin of a complex and chaotic culture. But mostly, as a cashed-up Westerner, I saw an index finger/thumbs view.

    Here’s a dozen observations:
    The Wet Season: Often names come from irony, a big person nicknamed ‘Tiny’, a redhead named ‘Blue’. No irony here. Pure reality. Sometimes it’s hot enough to make your sweat sweat. The dampness cloisters your nostrils with the promise of rain and humidity becomes a personality that clings at first light and grows on you sometimes for days until it weighs like heavy old blankets. Then it bursts and the rain comes down, not in drops but like a giant tray of water dropping out of the sky.

    ADAM KELSALL's Indonesian odyssey... | more... |

ART AND FAITH IN NYC
‘The Poet’s Corner really exists, doesn’t it?’ I asked Jo while settling in. It had been the place in her novel where the protagonist, Jordan, finds respite and inspiration when the pressures of city life threatened to engulf her.

      Jo nodded, a twinkle in her eye.

     ‘I’ll have to do the pilgrimage, you know. You’ve started something!’

      Imagine my delight, then, when I stepped off the subway at Manhattan’s 110th street and wandered around the block to discover the Cathedral of St John the Divine - large enough for a couple of games of football to be underway inside - and its Poet’s Corner. The Poet’s Corner was inspired by one in Westminster Abbey, and quotes carved onto large stones paved into the floor pay tribute to the great American writers.

    JO HOPPING tells of how she looked 'beyond the surface' during a recent trip to New York... | more... |

LLOYD HARKNESS finds himself somewhere between statues and murals at the Spanish Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in California... | more... |

TANYA BENNETTS is encouraged by Mandela's acknowledgement that his son died of AIDS... | more... |

DEB MACKIE writes of her experiences at a Bali orphanage...

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