The 2013 Bible Challenge

In Wales, Archbishop Dr. Barry Morgan has empowered Christians to read the whole Bible in 2013 as a New Year’s resolution.

How much of the Bible have you read? How often do you read it? Because of the latest technology, a lot of us have a Bible app downloaded to iPhones or Android handsets.

As impossible as this seems at first thought, it is entirely doable. After all, there are 365 days in a year and 66 books in the Bible (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament).

Set yourself a goal for the new year. Dr Morgan suggests taking 20 minutes out of your day to day life to read the Bible. Maybe on your train journey, between classes, when you get bored of studying and need a break or even before bed are good times to read a few pages in the Holy Book. Let us all be encouraged!

How Are You Spending Christmas?

How will you be spending Christmas? Work commitments may be keeping us on campus during the festive period, or even money issues might be hindering you from travelling back home to spend the 25th with your family.

It feels like just yesterday we were all beginning the academic year full of energy and optimism for the coming months. The majority of us promised that we would attend every lesson, lecture, seminar or lab session we had on our timetable. Assignments would be begun from the day they we were informed of them and there would be no waiting to the last minute.

Some of us stuck to these promises. Some of us didn’t. Now only a few months down the line, that special and cherished time of the year has dawned upon us again and it appears that time has not been our friend.

No matter how you are spending one of the most important dates on the Christian calendar, remember the meaning behind Christmas. We have been taught this for years and are reminded each year but it’s still easy to cast this out of our minds and become consumed with buying presents, and organising outings with friends.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The World Unites In Prayer For Connecticut Shooting

Today, congregations all around the world united in prayer for the massacre at Sandy Hook school in Newton, Connecticut on Friday.

A memorial service has already been held after the horrific killing spree took place that fateful day. A six-year-old British boy, identified in reports as Dylan Hockley was among the 20 children whose lives were taken from them at the school.

Tribute pages have been created on social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Heroines such as Victoria Leigh Soto died after she hid some pupils in a gymnasium and was consequently sprayed with bullets by the murderer.

 

This Sunday has been a day of reflection and heartfelt sympathy. America is not the only nation suffering, but us also. Our hearts go out to the families of the deceased; the majority of whom were only kids and had their whole lives ahead of them.

Verse For Today 16.12.12

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have come new. (NKJV)