Hope for USA’s soul
Many people have become discouraged for America’s future during this election season. Many have struggled to be optimistic amidst the divisiveness seeming to plague the country. Pastor Rick Warren sees solid reason for hope, and specifically lists five reasons he believes are grounds to hope for a ‘spiritual rebirth for America’. First, faith often grows the most in dark times: people realise they need God when times are hard. Second, the ‘millennial’ generation is spiritually hungry and seeking real purpose and community. Third, there are millions of God-fearing people living in America, living devoutly for God every day without fanfare - not out of guilt or fear or duty, but in gratitude and love to God for their transformed lives. Fourth, contrary to popular opinion, more people are turning to faith rather than to secularism. Lastly, God’s promise to hear prayer still applies.
Down’s syndrome screening
The government has approved a new test (NIPT) to make it easier to detect babies with Down’s syndrome in pregnant women. The NHS intend to make NIPT available next year. This has led to a campaign ‘Don’t screen us out’. 90% of Down’s babies are aborted. NIPT will increase the number of children with Down’s screened out and terminated. A British Medical Journal report said annual screening of 698,500 offering NIPT will result in 195 more Down’s babies being detected. Recently 279 medical professionals accused the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of advocating that pregnant women with a prenatal diagnosis of Down’s syndrome should have an abortion. The move to introduce NIPT is also backed by powerful commercial interests, notably two of the companies which supply the tests. The real victims are babies with a common genetic abnormality whose eradication will lift a perceived burden from some and make others very rich indeed.
Trump and relations with UK
The election of Donald Trump is an unpredictable factor, with possible knock-on effects for Britain. His victory speech pledged to ‘get along with all other nations willing to get along with us’ and to deal fairly with everyone seeking common ground, not hostility; partnership, not conflict. Theresa May said she was ‘looking forward to working’ with him, in a strong ‘trade, security and defence ’ partnership. Previously, Mrs May called his campaigning comments on Muslims divisive, unhelpful and wrong, while Boris Johnson said he wouldn't visit New York due to the real risk of meeting Trump. However, he now says he is ‘looking forward to working with Mr Trump on global stability and prosperity’. President Obama had warned that the UK would go to the ‘back of the queue’ for US trade deals if it voted for Brexit. The Trump camp is more positive and ‘absolutely wants’ to strike a trade deal with the UK, whether in or out of Europe. See also Christian Voice comments at:
What are they teaching the children?
Sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers; teen pregnancy and abortion; porn addiction; mental illness; inability to form and sustain relationships - the list goes on. Over recent years the UK has seen cultural, social and political change as the result of changing attitudes towards sexuality and gender and the combined, but often conflicting, pressures of secularism and multiculturalism. Education has reflected this shift, teaching that many once-traditional values are increasingly being banned by law. The policy of giving ever more information without any moral frame has been a spectacular failure and, with the disintegration of what are now branded repressive values, we face a growing crisis that affects the physical, mental and emotional welfare of our young. Today and tomorrow there is a major conference at the Emmanuel Centre in London, aimed at discussing and tackling these problems. Pray for the delegates to digest and act on all that is learnt and considered at the conference.
