Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file 

204. The current global situation engenders a feeling of instability and uncertainty, which in turn becomes “a seedbed for collective selfishness”.[145] 

When people become self-centred and self-enclosed, their greed increases.

The emptier a person’s heart is, the more he or she needs things to buy, own and consume. It becomes almost impossible to accept the limits imposed by reality. In this horizon, a genuine sense of the common good also disappears. 

As these attitudes become more widespread, social norms are respected only to the extent that they do not clash with personal needs. 

So our concern cannot be limited merely to the threat of extreme weather events, but must also extend to the catastrophic consequences of social unrest.

Obsession with a consumerist lifestyle, above all when few people are capable of maintaining it, can only lead to violence and mutual destruction.

1 Kings 18

In the 3rd year of drought, the Lord sent Elijah to speak to Ahab.

Elijah got Ahab to gather all the people and all the prophets of Baal  on Mount Carmel.

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to produce fire to consume a sacrificed bull.

Elijah mocked the false prophets as they ranted and raved and cut themselves, but produced no fire for their bull.

Then Elijah got the people to pour water on his bull and he prayed to God to hear his prayer.

A fire from heaven then consumed the bull and the people acknowledged the Lord as God.

Elijah then told Ahab there would soon be rain, and the sky grew dark and produced torrents of rain.

Dear God, please help people not to follow false gods

Psalm 98

Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand has brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation. He has shown his justice to the nations.

He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp, with the sound of music.

Let the sea, the world and all peoples acclaim the King, the Lord.

Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy

at the presence of the Lord, for he comes to rule the earth.

He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.

Lord, may all peoples in all countries know your love and goodness

Recording 

1 Corinthians 1-10

I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, send greetings to the church of God in Corinth. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace

I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ

The witness to Christ has been strong among you

God shares with us the life of his Son, Jesus. God helps us to be faithful as followers of Jesus

I appeal to you to be united in belief and practice. Put an end to the differences between you

Jesus, Son of God, thank you for all the graces I have received

Recording 

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

 Luke 14.12-14

Jesus said to the meal guests "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, family, or rich neighbors

Rather, when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind

That they cannot repay you means you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again"

Jesus, help me do more to help poor people

Recording 

 Drug bust nets HK$10m worth in New Year haul

China’s looming debt crisis is no cause for alarm, says PBOC expert  (???)

Recommended by a HK reader

 223 (c): Time governs spaces, illumines them and makes them links in a constantly expanding chain, with no possibility of return.

What we need, then, is to give priority to actions which generate new processes in society and engage other persons and groups who can develop them to the point where they bear fruit in significant historical events. Without anxiety, but with clear convictions and tenacity.

10 years ago today

Went to Yum Cha yesterday with a group, including one man who has the motto "Happy wife, happy life"

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, Tuesday, please bless the people of South Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 9th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Henan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 9th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Central African Republic

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

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

203. Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, people can easily get caught up in a whirlwind of needless buying and spending.

Compulsive consumerism is one example of how the techno-economic paradigm affects individuals.... This paradigm leads people to believe that they are free as long as they have the supposed freedom to consume. 

But those really free are the minority who wield economic and financial power. 

Amid this confusion, postmodern humanity has not yet achieved a new self-awareness capable of offering guidance and direction, and this lack of identity is a source of anxiety. We have too many means and only a few insubstantial ends.

c.f. readings for Lunar New Year

Genesis 1-2

God made the world.  God made  the sun, the moon and the stars .... the whole universe.  God said "Let there be light" and there was light.

God made the earth with all its plants and trees and animals and fish and birds.

God made the first people ..... the first man and first woman.  God made them in his own image and said to them "Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth."

God saw all that he had made, and all of it was good, very good

Dear God, thank you for making such a beautiful world!

My recording of this reading

Psalm 100

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy.

Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we belong to him.
We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Go within his gates, giving thanks. Enter his temple with songs of praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age.

Dear Lord, please help us to serve you with gladness

Recording 

Colossians 3.12-14

You are God's special friends. He loves you. You should be clothed in sincere compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience

Allow for other's weaknesses. Forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you. You must forgive others

Over all these clothes, to keep them together and to complete them, put on love

Jesus, help me be a better and kinder person

Recording   

John 1.1-12

From all eternity the Word existed. The Word was with God the Father. The Word was God the Son

The Word was the source of life for all creatures

The Word became a man, and lived among us. We saw his glory, full of grace and truth

Many people did not recognize and did not accept the Word.

But to everyone who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God

Jesus, please help me understand how you are the Word-made-flesh

Recording 

223 (b): One of the faults which we occasionally observe in sociopolitical activity is that spaces and power are preferred to time and processes. 

Giving priority to space means madly attempting to keep everything together in the present, trying to possess all the spaces of power and of self-assertion; it is to crystallize processes and presume to hold them back.

Giving priority to time means being concerned about initiating processes rather than possessing spaces. 

For the Year of the Monkey:
A man in a movie theater notices what looks like a monkey sitting next to him.
"Are you a monkey?" asked the man, surprised.
"Yes."
"What are you doing at this movie?"
The monkey replied, "Well, I liked the book."

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 8th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Heilongjian

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Sierra Leone

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   

200. Any technical solution which science claims to offer will be powerless to solve the serious problems of our world if humanity loses its compass, if we lose sight of the great motivations which make it possible for us to live in harmony, to make sacrifices and to treat others well. 

Believers themselves must constantly feel challenged to live in a way consonant with their faith and not to contradict it by their actions. 

They need to be encouraged to be ever open to God’s grace and to draw constantly from their deepest convictions about love, justice and peace. 

If a mistaken understanding of our own principles has at times led us to justify mistreating nature, to exercise tyranny over creation, to engage in war, injustice and acts of violence, we believers should acknowledge that by so doing we were not faithful to the treasures of wisdom which we have been called to protect and preserve.

Cultural limitations in different eras often affected the perception of these ethical and spiritual treasures, yet by constantly returning to their sources, religions will be better equipped to respond to today’s needs.

1 Kings 12-16

After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king. The people asked Rehoboam not to be harsh like Solomon. Solomon had imposed heavy taxes, enforced labor etc.

Rehoboam asked the elders for advice. They said "Treat the people kindly and they will serve you."

Rehoboam asked his peers for advice. They said "Treat the people more harshly than your father."

Rehoboam accepted the advice of his peers. Therefore the people of Israel rejected him as king. Only the people of Judah accepted him.

The people of Israel made Jeroboam king. He had previously led an unsuccessful revolt against Solomon.

Rehoboam and Jeroboam died and were succeeded by various kings who ruled over Judah and Israel.

Dear God, please help leaders be kind to their people

My recording of this reading 

Psalm  96

O sing a new song to the Lord.
Sing to the Lord, all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

Proclaim his help day by day.
Tell among the nations his glory,
and his wonders among all the peoples.

It was the Lord who made the heavens. Give the Lord, you families of peoples, give the Lord glory and honor.

Bring an offering and enter his temple. Worship the Lord in his sacred place.

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad. Let the sea and all within it thunder praise.

Let the land and all it bears rejoice, all the trees of the forest shout for joy.

Everyone and everything, give the Lord glory and honor.

Lord, you are our Creator. We love and praise you

Recording  

Romans 15.15-33

The reason I have written to you is to encourage you in your faith.  This is my job from God

He has appointed me as a priest of Jesus Christ. I must do all I can to spread the Good News

I hope to see you on my way to Spain

Please pray for me that I may be protected from people who want to eliminate me

Jesus, help me do all I can to spread your Good News

Recording   

Luke 14.1-6

One Sabbath day Jesus went for a meal to the house of a religious leader. In the house Jesus saw a man with dropsy

Jesus asked the leaders present there "Is it against the Law to cure a man on the Sabbath?" But they remained silent

Jesus took the man, healed him, and sent him away.

Then Jesus said to the leaders "Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, will not pull him out on a Sabbath day?" Again  the leaders remained silent

Jesus, help me understand that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath"

Recording  

Why are Indians being targeted in Hong Kong’s crackdown on illegal immigration?

George Monbiot

221. Progress in building a people in peace, justice and fraternity depends on four principles related to constant tensions present in every social reality. 

These derive from the pillars of the Church’s social doctrine, which serve as “primary and fundamental parameters of reference for interpreting and evaluating social phenomena”.

 In their light I would now like to set forth these four specific principles which can guide the development of life in society and the building of a people where differences are harmonized within a shared pursuit.

 I do so out of the conviction that their application can be a genuine path to peace within each nation and in the entire world.

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 5th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guizhou

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 5th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Chad

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

199. It cannot be maintained that empirical science provides a complete explanation of life, the interplay of all creatures and the whole of reality.

This would be to breach the limits imposed by its own methodology. If we reason only within the confines of the latter, little room would be left for aesthetic sensibility, poetry, or even reason’s ability to grasp the ultimate meaning and purpose of things.[141]

I would add that “religious classics can prove meaningful in every age; they have an enduring power to open new horizons… Is it reasonable and enlightened to dismiss certain writings simply because they arose in the context of religious belief?”[142] 

It would be quite simplistic to think that ethical principles present themselves purely in the abstract, detached from any context. Nor does the fact that they may be couched in religious language detract from their value in public debate. The ethical principles capable of being apprehended by reason can always reappear in different guise and find expression in a variety of languages, including religious language.

1 Kings 11

Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Many of these women were foreigners.

As Solomon grew old, his foreign women swayed his heart to allow the worship of foreign idols.

This displeased the Lord and led to the breakup of Solomon's kingdom.

Solomon was king for 40 years and then died.

Dear God, please protect leaders from corruption
My recording of this reading

Psalm 95

Come ring out our joy to the Lord. Hail the rock who saves us.

Let us come before him giving thanks. With songs let us praise the Lord.

A mighty God is the Lord, a great king above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth. The heights of the mountains are his.

To him belongs the sea, for he made it, and the dry land shaped by his hands.

Come in, let us bow and bend low. Let us kneel before the God who made us.

For he is our God and we are the people who belong to his pasture.

Lord, you are our Creator. Our life comes from you. We praise and love you, Lord 

Recording  

Romans 15.4-13

Learn hope from the Scriptures, from the example of people who did not give up, and were helped by God

May the God of hope bring you such joy and peace in your faith, 
that the power of the Holy Spirit will remove all bounds to hope

Holy Spirit of God, help me understand that no situation in this life is ever hopeless, that you can enlighten even the darkest place

Recording

Luke 13.18-35

Jesus said to the people "The kingdom of God is like a tiny seed planted in the ground. It grows and becomes a big tree, and the birds live in its branches

The kingdom of heaven is like yeast mixed with flour until the flour is leavened all through

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets who are sent to you. How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you refused"

Jesus, may your kingdom grow in the hearts of more and more people

Recording

While other countries, especially the USA, are experiencing an increase in the prison population, HK is blessed with a continued decrease!
Custodial population falls 4%

 220. People in every nation enhance the social dimension of their lives by acting as committed and responsible citizens, not as a mob swayed by the powers that be.

 Let us not forget that “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation”.

 Yet becoming a people demands something more. It is an ongoing process in which every new generation must take part: a slow and arduous effort calling for a desire for integration and a willingness to achieve this through the growth of a peaceful and multifaceted culture of encounter.

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 4th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangdong

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 Mozambique

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

198. Politics and the economy tend to blame each other when it comes to poverty and environmental degradation. 

It is to be hoped that they can acknowledge their own mistakes and find forms of interaction directed to the common good. 

While some are concerned only with financial gain, and others with holding on to or increasing their power, what we are left with are conflicts or spurious agreements where the last thing either party is concerned about is caring for the environment and protecting those who are most vulnerable.

 Here too, we see how true it is that “unity is greater than conflict”.[140]

Yesterday afternoon I was at a correctional institution from 1.15 to 6.15 .....where, since I recently visited Uganda, I was very sad to met four inmates from Uganda. All four were arrested at HK airport before my trip to Uganda. I hope my Uganda trip does something to stop Ugandans drug trafficking to HK.

In the next day or so I'll contact media in Uganda to warn others how two of the inmates were tricked: while in the Duty Free section of Dubai airport, waiting for their flight to HK, they were approached by a West African man who asked them to help take some gifts to a friend in HK

1 Kings 10

Solomon's wealth continued to grow. He acquired a fleet of ships for trading. He also had a huge force of chariots and horses.

The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's wisdom and came to visit him.

Solomon answered all her questions. None of her questions was too difficult for him.

Dear Lord, please give wisdom to all world leaders

Psalm 94

O Lord,  Judge of the earth, how long will the wicked crush the poor?

The wicked say "God does not hear". But can he who made the ear, not hear?

Blessed are those whom the Lord teaches. The Lord gives them peace in troubled times.

When cares increase in my heart,
God's consolation calms my soul.

Lord, when cares and troubles increase,  please  help us to trust in you.

Recording 

Romans 14.7 - 15.2

The life and death of each of us, has its influence on others. If we live, we live for the Lord. If we die, we die for the Lord. Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord

Never pass judgment on other people. Never treat other people with contempt

The kingdom of God is not about eating special food. The kingdom of God is about friendship with God, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

Do whatever you can to help other people become stronger Christians

Jesus, please help me be a good Christian

Recording 

Luke 13.10-17

One Sabbath day Jesus was teaching in a prayer hall. There was a woman there who for 18 years had been possessed by a spirit which left her bent over and unable to stand up straight

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said "Woman, you are rid of your infirmity" and he laid his hands on her. At once she was healed and could stand up straight, and she glorified God

Jesus, please heal the people I know who are bent over and can't stand up straight

Recording 

Chris McDonnell (Wed UK blogger) 

Sharing an intimate act of love

When Francis visited the young men and women in the juvenile detention centre in Rome on the first Holy Thursday after his election in 2013 he gave a message that reverberated round the world, not only for his action of kneeling to wash a stranger’s feet, but for the inclusivity of what he did

Seeking asylum: four-fold increase in illegal immigrant arrests after Hong Kong chief executive’s comments on pulling out of UN torture convention

219. Nor is peace “simply the absence of warfare, based on a precarious balance of power;  it is fashioned by efforts directed day after day towards the establishment of the ordered universe willed by God, with a more perfect justice among men”.

 In the end, a peace which is not the result of integral development will be doomed; it will always spawn new conflicts and various forms of violence. 

Lucky me: after my monthly visit to Castle Peak Immigration Centre yesterday morning, I went to nearby Coffee Beach for a 15 minute lunch break before heading to a nearby correctional institution. A freezing day to sit on seat overlooking the sea, but the sound of the little waves breaking was worth it. But then when I went to leave, it started to rain ... not so convenient for someone with a trolley full of books. As I stood under a tree wondering how my small umbrella was not up to the task, and how difficult it would be to find a taxi (...taxis are in short supply when rain falls ...) a taxi driver pulled up right where I was standing ...he needed to go to the toilet near where I'd had lunch. So I just waited, and sure enough he said "no problem" when I asked if he could take me to the correctional institution. Another one of those many "co-incidences" which can be taken as a sign of Someone's kind Providence!

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 3rd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Gansu

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 3rd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burundi

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)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

197. What is needed is a politics which is far-sighted and capable of a new, integral and interdisciplinary approach to handling the different aspects of the crisis.

Often, politics itself is responsible for the disrepute in which it is held, on account of corruption and the failure to enact sound public policies

If in a given region the state does not carry out its responsibilities, some business groups can come forward in the guise of benefactors, wield real power, and consider themselves exempt from certain rules, to the point of tolerating different forms of organized crime, human trafficking, the drug trade and violence, all of which become very difficult to eradicate.

If politics shows itself incapable of breaking such a perverse logic, and remains caught up in inconsequential discussions, we will continue to avoid facing the major problems of humanity. A strategy for real change calls for rethinking processes in their entirety, for it is not enough to include a few superficial ecological considerations while failing to question the logic which underlies present-day culture. A healthy politics needs to be able to take up this challenge.   

Presenting ourselves on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord 

The feast of the Presentation is about all of us and our communities' abilities to be dedicated to God and one another

c.f. readings for Presentation of Jesus

Malachi 3.1-2 

My recording of this reading

Psalms 24-26

The Lord's is the earth and all its peoples. It is the Lord who is Creator of the universe.

May all hearts open their doors to the Lord. Let him enter, the king of glory.

Lord I hope in you all the day long. Forgive my sins and help me walk in your truth.

God my savior, teach me your way of truth

Recording  

Hebrews 2.14-18

The Son did not become an angel.
He became a man, so that he could die for us

By his death he took away the power of the devil

He himself experienced temptation. He is able to help us when we are tempted

Jesus, please help me when I am tempted to do something wrong

Recording   

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

Luke 2.22-32

When Jesus was 40 days old, his parents took him to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as the Law required

In Jerusalem there was an old man named Simeon. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that before he died,  he would see the Christ of the Lord

Prompted by the Spirit, he came to the Temple, took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying

"Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, for my eyes have seen the Savior. He is a light to enlighten the pagans, and he is the glory of your people Israel"

Jesus, true Light of the world, we praise you Lord

Recording  

 Into Zika's heart - the Ugandan forest where virus was first found
(I went past this area twice last month, on way from Entebbe airport to Kampala, then on return trip)

Recommended by a reader in UK

Abortion - out of sight, out of mind

I asked the late world-renowned French geneticist Dr. Jerome Lejeune when human life begins. He instantly replied, "At conception of course."
I then asked him if any of his colleagues disagreed with him. He said, "No, we all know when life begins. Where we disagree, is at what stage life should be protected."

218: Peace in society cannot be understood as pacification or the mere absence of violence resulting from the domination of one part of society over others. 

Nor does true peace act as a pretext for justifying a social structure which silences or appeases the poor, so that the more affluent can placidly support their lifestyle while others have to make do as they can. 

Demands involving the distribution of wealth, concern for the poor and human rights cannot be suppressed under the guise of creating a consensus on paper or a transient peace for a contented minority. 

The dignity of the human person and the common good rank higher than the comfort of those who refuse to renounce their privileges. When these values are threatened, a prophetic voice must be raised. 

Text from boy:  "No mon, no fun, your son"     ("mon"..."money")

Reply from father: "So sad, too bad, your Dad"

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, Tuesday, please bless the people of South Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 2nd of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Fujian

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 2nd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Niger

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

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)