Easter 2024

Resurrection of Christ (Bellini and Mahler)  Source: Wikipedia

Wishing You a Happy and Blessed Easter

Blind guide

The Archbishop of Wales enjoying the Cardiff Iftar Source: X (Twitter)

Posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Archbishop Andrew John:

"What a delight to attend the Cardiff #Iftar organised by the Bangladesh Chamber of Trade. We  have much to celebrate and learn from each other."

The archbishop certainly has much to learn. He could do no better than start by watching this video from Dr Gavin Ashenden: 

A simple Google search shows that 'Iftar' is the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan at the time of adhan, the call to prayer declaring that there is no God but Allah. Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe that the Qur'an was sent down from heaven "as a guidance for men and women, a declaration of direction, and a means of salvation."

If archbishop John believes in Christian salvation he should be familiar with Jesus' declaration in John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

However well intentioned, such gestures as made by the archbishop are a one-way traffic which help endorse a political ideology that regards Christians as infidels to be persecuted for their witness to Christ.

Whilst it is true that the majority of Muslims live peacefully, it takes only a few to stir up trouble and wreak havoc by those who follow the Qur'an literally. 

The Islamic State group have already claimed responsibility for recent atrocities in Russia and in Afghanistan. See also here and here. 

Similar events have been perpetrated in Great Britain by members of the so called religion of peace.

While it is understandable that politicians are eager not to offend Muslim voters it is inexcusable that some Christian leaders appear not to believe their own Bible.

New First Minister's shame

New Welsh Labour leader and First Minister nominee, Vaughan Gething Source: BBC

 Gaining 51.7% of the vote, Vaughan Gething secured a narrow victory over his cabinet colleague to secure the top job in Welsh politics, First Minister of Wales.

It is not an auspicious start. WalesOnline reported that Gething "received a huge £200,000 donation from a man whose companies have been convicted of environmental offences. On the same day that he received the donation, one of the donor's companies submitted an application to build a large solar farm in Cardiff that would require Welsh Government approval." 

The First Minister nominee has refused to return the donations arguing that they were "within the rules". He has since declared another £51,000 in donations.

They may be within the rules but not in the spirit of good government.

Nation Cymru reported that the offences entailed "illegally dumping toxic sludge in the Gwent Levels, a sensitive wetlands landscape near Newport", regarded by former First Minister, Mark Drakeford, as a 'fantastic wild haven' equivalent to the Amazon rainforest for sheer diversity of wildlife.

Toxic sludge to kill off wildlife but not the much needed M4 relief road which Drakeford killed off.

It can only get worse with plans to raise the number of Senedd members from 60 to 96. 

As Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons argued, if Westminster were expanded in the way planned for the Senedd it would have more than 2,000 MPs. 

But it gets even worse. Described by the bishop of St Asaph as 'bad news' for democracy, from 2026 votes will be cast for parties instead of individual candidates enabling the Labour Party to tighten its grip in Wales despite its lamentable record, particularly on NHS waiting lists. 

There was a time when Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer regarded Welsh Labour as his "blueprint" for power but no longer. He has twice declined to repeat his claim.

No surprise there. 

Postscript [23.03.2024]

Nation.Cymru reports that "New First Minister Vaughan Gething is facing his first major constitutional clash with the UK Government over a controversial Bill that would enforce a gender-balanced Senedd by law and allow election candidates to self-identify as the gender of their choice."

Self-identifying gender balance! Completely crackpot.

Exclusion!

Source: 'X' (formerly Twitter)

From OneBodyOneFaith - 'Empowering LGBT+ Christians; advocating for change':

"With the Bishops in the Church in Wales, we are organising the second national memorial service to remember and commemorate all LGBT+ people who have lost their lives to suicide or experienced harm following exclusion from Christian faith communities."

Suicide is a tragedy not confined to LGBT+ people. Nor is exclusion.

When will the Church in Wales do something for the many faithful Anglicans who are excluded for keeping the faith? 

Budget shock

"This ‘great altar stone’ as Lutyens’ referred to it, would stand as a memorial feature in the
Commission cemeteries and could be used by those of all faiths and none and act as a symbol of common sacrifice." CWGC

I was not the only person who was surprise by the Chancellor's opening statement in yesterday's budget speech as reported in the Daily Mail: 

"Jeremy Hunt has announced £1million plans for Muslims who died in the First and Second World Wars in his Budget. The chancellor said it would honour those Muslims lost 'in the service of freedom and democracy'."

Some responses here, here, here and here, all neatly summed up by Nigel Farage here.

Need one say more!

Remembering the persecuted during Lent

 

More:

Remembering the persecuted during Lent

Burkina Faso, attack in a Catholic church during Mass, at least 15 dead

The Genocide of 'The Sunday People': 365000000 Christians Persecuted Worldwide

Why is Christian persecution often met with indifference?

Please don’t forget about Palestinian Christians like me

Why is Christian persecution often met with indifference?

Behind a Media Wall of Silence

Muslims are killing Christians in Nigeria. The media couldn’t care less

Christian Communities Facing Increased Persecution in 2024

700 percent rise in church attacks, closures noted in 2024 World Watch List

One in seven Christians worldwide face persecution and discrimination for their faith

The 50 countries where it is hardest to follow Jesus in 2024

Postscripts 

[03.03.2024]

Islamic extremists targeting women, teens for radicalization, Indonesia counter-terrorism group warns

[04.03.2024]

Reported on X (formerly Twitter):

Anger directed at Palestinians who have damaged aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile in Great Britain: "Millions of brave servicemen have fought for our freedom under the British flag. Now, those same men are being cautioned by the police for holding up that flag." https://twitter.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/1764209088626373101

The bravery of the few is to be admired: 
The old European patriot has had enough and explains it to them clearly.

[05.03.2024]

More reported on X (formerly Twitter):

"Militant islamists are forcibly converting Christians in Amhara, Ethiopia. Those that don't convert are raped or murdered, or both." https://twitter.com/alfred_cabonena/status/1764894275181973741

‘It’s estimated 50-60% of mosques in the UK have been covertly funded by Saudi to preach extreme [ideology]’

There is not a SINGLE church in Saudi Arabia. Christianity is banned.
Meanwhile, there are over 1,500 mosques in Britain. 
https://twitter.com/GoldingBF/status/1764957864446066822

[06.03.2024]

Dozens of displaced people are feared to have been abducted by Boko Haram jihadists in north-eastern Nigeria  

[07.03.2024]

Kuriga kidnap: More than 100 Nigerian pupils abducted

[08.03.2024]

Adviser warns London a 'no-go zone for Jews every weekend'

[09.03.2024]

From X (formerly Twitter) yesterday:

Rights of non Muslims : When Islam gets into power. Taught in UK and Ireland Mosques

Muslim Imam in UK: "We must unite and create a political system within the nations through Islam."

Manchester. A powerhouse town of the industrial revolution. Now resembles a Taliban caliphate.

Bradford. Is this what our war heroes fought for?

Berlin Lisbon Italy Pakistan

Italian diocese urges Catholics to join Muslims for prayers and meals in Ramadan

[10.03.2024]

More from 'X'

In Sadiq Khan's London there are around 500 mosques, why do they pray in the streets? What message do they want to communicate?

Nigel Farage: "We are surrendering the streets."

Police arrest ANTI HAMAS demonstrator!!

Happy International Women’s Day from London

Nigeria: Fulani Islamic militants opened fire and killed several Christians

[11.03.2024]

Latest from 'X'

When did this become acceptable in our country

Metropolitan police officers shove and harass a Jewish man holding a ‘For Israel Against Antisemitism’ sign. 

"There is only one solution - intifada revolution" - being chanted on the streets of London today.

But vote fishing continues - Prime Minister:
"Ramadan Mubarak to everyone observing the holy month of #Ramadan"

And this from the Archbishop of Canterbury who appears to care not one jot for the Great Commission or for the fate of infidels refusing to pay the jizya in Muslim dominated countries:

God help us all!

[12.03.2024]

While the Prime Minister continues fishing for Muslim votes with a £117 MILLION MUSLIM PROTECTION FUND, in the north of Nigeria even more Christians have been slaughtered by Boko Haram Muslims