Bible becomes 2011 bestseller in Norway
The UK's 2011 bestseller lists might have been dominated by cookery, courtesy of Jamie Oliver, and romance, courtesy of David Nicholls, but Norwegian readers were plumping for another sort of book last year: the Bible. The first Norwegian translation of the Bible for 30 years topped the country's book charts almost every week between its publication in October and the end of the year, selling almost 80,000 copies so far and hugely exceeding expectations. Its launch in the autumn saw Harry Potter-style overnight queues, with bookshops selling out on the first day as Norwegians rushed to get their hands on the new edition. ‘We only printed 25,000 to start with and thought it would last six to nine months, but it was launched mid-October and by the end of the year it had sold 79,000 copies – it's just incredible,’ said Stine Smemo Strachan, who worked on the project for the Norwegian Bible Society.
Praise: God for this incredible thirst for His Word. (Is.52:7)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/03/bible-2011-bestseller-norway
Bible becomes 2011 bestseller in Norway
The UK's 2011 bestseller lists might have been dominated by cookery, courtesy of Jamie Oliver, and romance, courtesy of David Nicholls, but Norwegian readers were plumping for another sort of book last year: the Bible. The first Norwegian translation of the Bible for 30 years topped the country's book charts almost every week between its publication in October and the end of the year, selling almost 80,000 copies so far and hugely exceeding expectations. Its launch in the autumn saw Harry Potter-style overnight queues, with bookshops selling out on the first day as Norwegians rushed to get their hands on the new edition. ‘We only printed 25,000 to start with and thought it would last six to nine months, but it was launched mid-October and by the end of the year it had sold 79,000 copies – it's just incredible,’ said Stine Smemo Strachan, who worked on the project for the Norwegian Bible Society.
Praise: God for this incredible thirst for His Word. (Is.52:7)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/03/bible-2011-bestseller-norway
Divorce easier than getting driving licence
Obtaining a divorce is now easier than getting a driving licence, a senior judge said yesterday. Sir Paul Coleridge said a cultural revolution has made it possible to end a marriage quickly with a basic form-filling exercise. He added that the stigma attached to divorce in the past has also disappeared. The judge – who presided over the bitterly-fought divorce of Sir Paul and Heather McCartney – blamed 50 years of relationship free-for-all for the spread of divorce on demand. He said the result was that 3.8million children were now left at the mercy of the courts because of the break-up of their parents. The judge, who sits in the High Court Family Division as Mr Justice Coleridge, has called repeatedly for legal reforms to clear up
the mess left by the decline of marriage. He has blamed youth crime, child abuse, drug addiction, binge drinking, truanting and bad behaviour in schools for the 'meltdown' of the family.
Pray: that the experience and wisdom of Mr Justice Coleridge will be heard and lead to reforms. (Jer.26:13a)
Europe's new treaty: A multi-speed Union
All EU countries – except Britain – have agreed on a new treaty for tighter fiscal discipline and deeper economic integration to save the euro currency. As attention turns to the legal details and ratification process, questions are raised, ‘what will happen to countries that fail to ratify?', with some fearing exclusion from 'the club'. Circumventing the British veto EU leaders led by France and Germany are pressing ahead with a new treaty of their own - an intergovernmental agreement outside the EU legal framework. The treaty text will be drafted by March 2012 and opened to ratification by countries outside the 17-member eurozone. Some commentators are saying, 'it's time for a two-speed even a three-speed Europe for anything constructive to get done.' Also Denmark took over EU rotating presidency last Sunday and will chair all decisions for the next 6 months.
Pray: for God in His mercy to influence all decision making processes in the first quarter of 2012 and for David Cameron to grow in wisdom and strength in the European arena. (Ps.2:10-12)
