Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

c.f. readings for Conversion of St Paul

Isaiah 51-52

Pay attention to me, you peoples.
Listen to me, you nations.

The islands put their hope in the Lord.
They put their trust in his strength.

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of one who brings good news,
who proclaims peace and salvation,
and tells Zion "Your God is king!"

Break into shouts of joy, you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord is redeeming his people.

All the ends of the earth
shall see the salvation of our God.

Lord, may more and more people in more and more countries know you and love you.
My recording of this reading

Psalm  117  

O Praise the Lord, all you nations. Acclaim him, all you peoples!

Strong is his love for us.
He is faithful for ever.

May all the nations love and praise you, Lord   

Recording 

Acts 9.1-19

Paul kept up his campaign against the Lord's disciples. He got the ok to arrest followers of the Way in Damascus

But on his way to Damascus, a light from heaven surrounded him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying "Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me?"

He said "Who are you, Lord?"
The voice replied "I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me.
Go into Damascus and you will be told what to do"

Paul's eyes were open, but for more than a day he was without his sight, and he ate and drank nothing

The Lord got Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, to visit Paul and pray for him. The Lord said to Ananias "Paul  is my chosen instrument to bring my name to non-Jews and Jews. He will suffer much for me"

Ananias went to Paul and prayed for him with the laying on of hands. Straight away, Paul could see again. Then Ananias baptized him

Jesus, please help me understand how unkindness to others is unkindness to you

Recording 

Mark 16.9-20 

After he rose from the dead, Jesus appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had cast out 7 devils. Next  he appeared to two of his disciples while they were on a journey

Then he appeared to the 11 apostles. He said to them "Go everywhere in the world. Proclaim the Good News to all creation.
Anyone who believes and is baptized, will be saved.
Anyone who refuses to believe, will be condemned

These are the signs that will be associated with believers:
- in my name they will cast out devils
- they will have the gift of tongues
- they will pick up snakes in their hands
- they will be unharmed if they drink poison
- they will lay their hands on the sick, who will be healed"

And so, the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up to heaven, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming their message by the miracles that accompanied the message

Lord Jesus, may more and more people all over the world
believe in you
Recording 

Recommended Book

10 years ago today

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Monday,  please bless the people of Europe & Russia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 25th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Ningxia

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 25th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Comoros

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify ISIS 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file   

187. This does not mean being opposed to any technological innovations which can bring about an improvement in the quality of life. 

But it does mean that profit cannot be the sole criterion to be taken into account, and that, when significant new information comes to light, a reassessment should be made, with the involvement of all interested parties.

The outcome may be a decision not to proceed with a given project, to modify it or to consider alternative proposals.

2015 was the world's hottest year - This is why Australians should worry

Yesterday in Nairobi I had a meeting with two members of a family who have agreed to be co-ordinators of  Nairobi families of inmates in HK prisons. 
Two other co-ordinators have been arranged on this trip - one in Uganda and one in Mombasa.
Co-ordinators' role is to help build up a support group, use WhatsApp to share info with the group, and to continue the campaign to warn people about the danger of drug trafficking to HK.

God bless these co-ordinators!

1 Samuel 16-24

When David was living in exile,
some people helped him, some people insulted him.

To insult his father and to claim the kingship, Absalom publicly had sex with his father's concubines.

Gradually David was able to re-build his army, and his army defeated Absalom's soldiers in battle.

In that battle, Absalom died
and David mourned his death for a long time.

Eventually David was able to become king of all Israel again.

Dear God, may Israel be a land of peace

My recording of this reading

Psalm  87

On the holy mountain is Jerusalem, the Lord's cherished city.

Of you are told glorious things, O city of God.

All nations are called to serve and love the Lord. And Jerusalem shall be called their spiritual mother, for all shall be her children.

In Jerusalem everyone will be welcome and find a home.

Lord, may Jerusalem be a place of peace and prayer 
for all peoples

Recording  

Romans 10.9 & 11.33-36

If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved

How wonderful is God!  How great his wisdom and knowledge.
What finite creature could ever understand the mind of our infinite Creator?

All that exists comes from him. To him be glory for ever!

Jesus, Father, Spirit - three persons, one God  - to you be glory for ever!

Recording   

Luke 11.1-4

Once when Jesus had finished praying in private, one of his disciples asked him "Lord, teach us to pray". 

Jesus replied "Pray like this:

Father, may everyone love and honor you. Your kingdom come.
Thank you for enough food for today. Forgive us as we forgive others. Save us in time of trial"

Jesus, please teach me how to pray 

Recording  

Pope decrees that not only men may be chosen for the washing of the feet in the Liturgy of Holy Thursday

Kenya troops killed by 'huge bomb' in Somalia attack

208. If anyone feels offended by my words, I would respond that I speak them with affection and with the best of intentions, quite apart from any personal interest or political ideology.

 My words are not those of a foe or an opponent.

 I am interested only in helping those who are in thrall to an individualistic, indifferent and self-centred mentality to be freed from those unworthy chains and to attain a way of living and thinking which is more humane, noble and fruitful, and which will bring dignity to their presence on this earth. 

10 years ago today

2006-01-21,22 Visit to all six centers in poor areas by RGS teachers from Hong Kong and Macau

This week has seen quite a bit of mainly light rain in Nairobi, but on both my washing days, yesterday and last Saturday, the rain held off and the sun came out for several hours. Hanging your washing out on an open line sure helps you stay a bit closer to nature!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Friday,  please bless the people of South America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 22nd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Zhejiang

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 22nd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Rwanda

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, on this Muslim day of prayer, please bless all Muslims!

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

186. The Rio Declaration of 1992 states that “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a pretext for postponing cost-effective measures”[132] which prevent environmental degradation. 

This precautionary principle makes it possible to protect those who are most vulnerable and whose ability to defend their interests and to assemble incontrovertible evidence is limited. If objective information suggests that serious and irreversible damage may result, a project should be halted or modified, even in the absence of indisputable proof. 

Here the burden of proof is effectively reversed, since in such cases objective and conclusive demonstrations will have to be brought forward to demonstrate that the proposed activity will not cause serious harm to the environment or to those who inhabit it.

2 Samuel 14-15

When David had finished his time of mourning for Amnon, he allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem.

Only after two years did David agree to meet Absalom. He met him and pardoned him.

But as time went on Absalom started to plot against  David.
Absalom gathered enough supporters to overthrow David.

David found out about the plot and fled from Jerusalem.

David was very sad and prayed to God that someday he could return to Jerusalem.

Dear God, please help  people who are exiled from their homes

My recording of this reading

Psalm 86

Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer for I am poor and needy.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of love to all who call to you.

All the nations shall come to adore you and glorify your name, O Lord, you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way, and guide my heart so that I may walk in your truth.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart for your love to me has been great.

O give your strength to your servant and save your handmaid's son.

 Dear Lord, thank you for all your love

Recording

Romans 10.1-4

I have a really great love for the Jews. I pray to God for them to be saved

They have a strong belief in God, but their zeal is misguided

They can't see that friendship with God is a gift from God, not just a matter of external practices

Jesus, some people have mixed up ideas about religion
(.. Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses ..). Help them know the truth as you revealed it

Recording

Luke 10.29-37

The religious leader then asked another question: "Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied "A man on a journey was attacked by robbers. They beat him, took all he had, and left him seriously injured

A priest came by and saw the man, but did not help him. A temple worker also saw him, but did not help.  But a lowly foreigner who saw him was moved with pity

The foreigner bandaged his wounds, and used his own donkey to take the man to an inn. He paid the innkeeper to look after the man

Which of the three was a neighbor to the injured man?"

The leader replied "The one who helped him". Jesus then said "Go, and do the same"

Jesus, please don't let me ignore people who need help 

Recording

207. Any Church community, if it thinks it can comfortably go its own way without creative concern and effective cooperation in helping the poor to live with dignity, and reaching out to everyone, will also risk breaking down, however much it may talk about social issues or criticize governments.

 It will easily drift into a spiritual worldliness camouflaged by religious practices, unproductive meetings and empty talk

10 years ago today

Seniors Moment: after I collected my checked in bag at Nairobi airport last Tuesday afternoon (after flight from Mombasa) I noticed that the little lock on the checked in bag had something in it: the key

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Thursday,  please bless the people of S.E. Asia & Pacific

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 21st of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Yunnan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 4th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Benin

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Al-Qaeda

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

185.  In any discussion about a proposed venture, a number of questions need to be asked in order to discern whether or not it will contribute to genuine integral development. 

What will it accomplish? Why? Where? When? How? For whom? What are the risks? What are the costs? Who will pay those costs and how? 

In this discernment, some questions must have higher priority. For example, we know that water is a scarce and indispensable resource and a fundamental right which conditions the exercise of other human rights. This indisputable fact overrides any other assessment of environmental impact on a region.

2 Samuel 13

David had many wives and concubines. One of his sons, Amnon, fell in love with his step-sister Tamar and raped her.

King David was very angry about this but did not punish Amnon, since he loved him. Amnon was his first-born son.

But another son, Absalom, Tamar's full brother, hated Amnon and killed him.

Absalom fled for three years to another land. All that time the king mourned for Amnon.

Dear Lord, please spare my family from conflict and strife

Psalm 85

I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace.

Peace for his people and his friends and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who love him
and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met. Justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice shall look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps

Lord, please give more peace to our world

Recording 

Romans 9.1-5

There is a great sorrow in my heart. It's with me day and night. It's the situation of the Jewish people, how they will not accept the Anointed One

I am willing to do anything to help them accept Jesus. I am willing to undergo the greatest suffering if that would help them believe

They are my nation, my family. They have been so blessed by God. From their flesh and blood came Christ, who is God

Jesus, God-made-flesh, I pray with Paul that the Jewish people will believe in you

Recording 

Luke 10.25-28

To test Jesus, a religious leader asked him in public "Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus replied "What does the Law say?"

He replied "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and you must care for others as much as you care about yourself"

"You are correct", said Jesus, "do this and life is yours"

Jesus, help me to love you with all my heart .... and to care for others as much as I care about myself

Recording 

Chris McDonnell (Wed UK blogger) 

The sign of the Cross

Many Christian prayers begin and end with the Sign of the Cross, a finger-tip pattern that we trace on ourselves with the words, ‘Father, Son and Spirit’. Our rosaries and prayer beads include the symbol of a small cross and in numerous other ways that sign, that symbol, is important to us. Whatever the suggested reason for its removal from display, its significance cannot be overstated. There have been instances where the wearing of a small cross in the work place has been deemed unsuitable lest it be offensive to others and the wearers have been sanctioned.  

206. Economy, as the very word indicates, should be the art of achieving a fitting management of our common home, which is the world as a whole. 

Each meaningful economic decision made in one part of the world has repercussions everywhere else; consequently, no government can act without regard for shared responsibility. 

Indeed, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find local solutions for enormous global problems which overwhelm local politics with difficulties to resolve. 

If we really want to achieve a healthy world economy, what is needed at this juncture of history is a more efficient way of interacting which, with due regard for the sovereignty of each nation, ensures the economic well-being of all countries, not just of a few.

Yesterday's menu had the words of Psalm 84 "Even sparrows and swallows are your temple guests. They build homes for their young near your altar'. Well, yesterday morning when I attended 6.30am Mass at a church where I stayed overnight in Mombasa, there were not sparrows or swallows, but crows! ....and many of them. Flying all around inside the church. So loud that the priest and reader could not be heard clearly. 

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Wednesday,  please bless the people of East Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 20th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Sichuan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 20th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of The Gambia

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Al-Shabaab 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)