British Army "Actions On" when encountering a Snake

Line Infantry: Tracks snake through undergrowth with blowpipe (which doesn't work). Snake smells them and leaves the area.
Airborne: Lands on and kills the snake. Tabs (marches) to the objective.
People's Cavalry (Royal Tanks): Runs over the snake, laughs and looks for more snakes.
Proper Cavalry: Treats snake with haughty disdain as it has no impact on primary objective - to hold London at all costs.
Royal Marines Commando: Plays with snake, gets naked together and then eats it.Guardsman: Immediately leaves London Zoo.Gurkha: Eats snake.
Combat Engineer: Studies snake. Prepares tactical doctrine for the fixing of the snake using counter-mobility assets and the defeat of the snake using mobility assets. No one listens. Snake falls in the hole.
Artillery: Hits the area with a massive time-on-target barrage. Even though the snake is not hit the mission is deemed a success and the gun line are awarded medals for valour.
REME: Files suggestion for improved mobility system for reptile family which allows snakes to move 3mph faster and requires 43 strong REME unit in support.Special Forces: Makes contact with the snake, ignores all Foreign Office directives and Theatre Commander ROE by building rapport with snake and winning its heart and mind. Trains it to kill other snakes. Files enormous expenses claim on return.
Royal Navy: Fires missiles from various types of ships, kills snake and makes presentation to MOD Select Committee on how Naval forces are the most cost effective means of anti-snake operations.
Submariner: Loiters for 6 months in maritime choke point waiting for snake to swim past - leaves the area to restock dragging 30% of the local fishing fleet with it.
TA: Kills snake by accident while out for the weekend.
RAF: Gets GPS co-ordinates for snake. Can't find snake. Runs out of flying hours. Returns to base for refuelling, crew rest and manicure.
AAC Gunship: Has sufficient firepower, manoeuvrability and range to destroy millions of snakes bu: Snake? What snake? Only 4 of the 35 indicators of snake presence t couldn't see through the canopy.
Int Corps are currently active. Assess the potential for snake activity as Low.
General Support (Construction) Engineers: Build pub. Gut and stuff the snake. Mount over bar. Name pub "Snake Pit".

It is our conviction that the Church exists for the sake of those who have not, as yet, discovered the love of God. Our belief that Jesus cares about the whole person shapes our ministry.

Injustice that exists!

Do you remember February 1993 in England , when a young boy of 3 was taken from a Liverpool shopping centre by two 10-year-old boys? Jamie Bulger walked away from his mother for only a second, Jon Venables took his hand and led him out of the mall with his friend Robert Thompson. They took Jamie on a walk for over 2 and a half miles, along the way stopping every now and again to torture the poor little boy who was crying constantly for his mummy. Finally they stopped at a railway track where they brutally kicked him, threw stones at him, rubbed paint in his eyes. Other mutilations were inflicted but not reported in the press. N.B. :- Remember, a 3 year old cannot possibly defend themselves against a 10 year old, let alone of 2 them. What these two boys did was so horrendous that Jamie's mother was forbidden to identify his body. They then left his beaten small body on railway tracks so a train could run him over to hide the mess they had created. These two boys, even being boys, understood what they did was wrong, hence trying to make it look like an accident. This week Lady Justice Butler-Sloss has awarded the two boys ( now men ), anonymity for the rest of their lives when they leave custody with new identities. They will also leave custody early only serving just over half of their sentence. They are being relocated to Australia to live out the rest of their lives. They disgustingly and violently took Jamie's life away and in return they each get a new life!

The Rabbi's Conversion

On February 17, 1945, Israel Zolli, the Chief Rabbi of Rome, and his wife were baptized in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels by Msgr. Luigi Tralia. Zolli was the Chief Rabbi of Trieste for 35 years before coming to Rome. His deep learning in the Scriptures and Semitic literature may be seen in the many books he published. Catholic scholars publicly recognized this learning years before his conversion, when they invited him to assist in the work of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and in the compiling of the Italian Catholic Encyclopedia.The former rabbi is now 65, but fairly vigorous. He was born in Poland. His mother was a German Jewess; and on her side of the family there were actually 130 years of rabbinical tradition.It is no surprise to find newspaper comment on Zolli’s action insolent, at least by implication. For instance, it was neither necessary, nor good sportsmanship, for certain newspapers to headline the story: "Voices, Rays Convert Rabbi to Catholicism." Moreover, it was disrespectful and offensive to millions to call the conversion a "religious switch," since it was the outcome of at least 12 years of serious thinking and study by a serious-minded ecclesiastic of the Synagogue.Only in the Associated Press dispatch by George Bria do we find any reference to the "voices and rays" supposed to have affected the rabbi. Nevertheless, even if Zolli did use such expressions, they did not mean what the casual reader of the news was led to think—namely, that the convert was a dreamer or crackpot and that this conversion was to be passed off with a pitying shake of the head. If Zolli did use the phrase, he was referring to interior inspirations he had received from the Light of the World. As Chief Rabbi of Rome, this sincere man had offered himself as hostage to the Nazi forces then occupying the city if they would release several hundred of his fellow Jews. Was that the conduct of a dreamer? Wasn’t it rather the action of a practical-minded, self-sacrificing pastor?Jews, and especially the rabbis of the Orthodox group, do not become Christians lightmindedly, nor without powerful help from God. Experience has proved that a prospective convert from Judaism may nearly always look forward to severe boycotts from his family and friends and all former Jewish associates. If Orthodox, he may expect even father and mother to turn against him. They will put him out of their home and blot out his name from their will. All his Jewish business connections will be severed, even if they mean his bread and butter.If the convert is a member of some milder branch of Judaism, such as the Conservative or Liberal, his penalty for conversion will be bad enough. Israel Zolli and his wife had to face most of those evils. In reply to a suggestion that he had become a Catholic for gain, the rabbi said, "No selfish motive led me to do this. When my wife and I embraced the Church we lost everything we had in the world. We shall now have to look for work, and God will help us to find some."When a Jew is willing to take such a cross as this as the price of his conversion, he makes his momentous break with the past only from rock-like conviction that he is doing what God wishes him to do, and he is able to do it only by the power of God. This is clear in Zolli’s case, from his defense of his decision.When the good rabbi was asked why he had given up the Synagogue for the Church, he gave an answer that showed he had a keen understanding of his present position: "But I have not given it up. Christianity is the integration of the Synagogue. The Synagogue was a promise, and Christianity is the fulfillment of that promise. The Synagogue pointed to Christianity: Christianity presupposes the Synagogue. So you see, one cannot exist without the other. What I converted to was the living Christianity.""Then you believe that the Messiah has come?" the interviewer asked."Yes, positively," replied Zolli. "I have believed it many years. And now I am so firmly convinced of the truth of it that I can face the whole world and defend my faith with the certainty and solidity of the mountains.""But why didn’t you join one of the Protestant denominations, which are also Christian?""Because protesting is not attesting. I do not intend to embarrass anyone by asking: ‘Why wait 1,500 years to protest?’ The Catholic Church was recognized by the whole Christian world as the true Church of God for 15 consecutive centuries. No man can halt at the end of those 1,500 years and say that the Catholic Church is not the Church of Christ without embarrassing himself seriously. I can accept only that Church which was preached to all creatures by my own forefathers, the Twelve who, like me, issued from the Synagogue."I am convinced that after this war, the only means of withstanding the forces of destruction and of undertaking the reconstruction of Europe will be the acceptance of Catholicism—that is to say, the idea of God and of human brotherhood through Christ, and not a brotherhood based on race and supermen, for ‘there is neither Jew nor Greek; neither bond nor free; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’"I was a Catholic at heart before the war broke out, and I promised God in 1943 that I should become a Christian if I survived the war. No one in the world ever tried to convert me. My conversion was a slow evolution, altogether internal. Years ago, unknown to myself, I gave such an intimately Christian form and character to my writings that an archbishop in Rome said of my book, The Nazarene, ‘Everyone is susceptible of errors, but so far as I can see, as a bishop, I could sign my name to this book.’ I am beginning to understand that for many years I was a natural Christian. If I had noticed that fact 20 years ago, what has happened now would have happened then."As was to be expected, the announcement caused a great stir in Jewish religious circles throughout the world. The Jewish community of Rome tasted gall. Overnight the once venerated, learned rabbi who had offered his life for his "sheep" became to some Jews an ignoramus and to all Jews a heretic and traitor. The Synagogue of Rome proclaimed a several-days’ fast in atonement for Zolli’s defection and mourned him as dead, while at the same time they denounced him as a reschumad (apostate, one struck by God) and excommunicated him. . . .Though to many it looks like frightful bigotry to condemn a man like Zolli, we must yet be wary against hastily condemning the Jews for this. The Catholic Church also excommunicates heretics with severe penalties.Rabbi Zolli, like others who became Christians, was condemned by the Jewish elders because in their judgment he had violated God’s Name by believing that the man Jesus was God. To be fair, we must give to the Jews of Rome credit for acting honestly in the rabbi convert’s case.Moreover, the Jews have long memories. Their souls are still smarting from countless past persecutions; today their poor bodies are suffering again in a most horrible mass murder of millions in Europe.Christians most certainly should restrain the temptation to scold the Jews for their treatment of Zolli and other converts and instead should compassionate and pray for them, as the former rabbi and his wife are doing.Inconsistently enough (or consistently, would one say?), non-Orthodox Jews of today have called Baruch Spinoza the greatest Jew of modern times. (Spinoza [1632–1677], who was excommunicated in 1656 for his unorthodox theology, has since been recognized as one of the most important philosophical thinkers of his age.) Such an about-face by modern Jews is no reflection on Orthodox Jews of the past or present. "Reformed Jews," perhaps unknown to themselves, have surrendered the revealed faith of their fathers; they can teach almost anything and get by with it. Since many of them are very hazy about the Adonai Echod (One God) for whom their fathers surrendered their lives, it is no surprise to find them now praising someone their forefathers condemned.Einstein, the scientist, committed the same spiritual crime as Spinoza; yet he, too, is praised and respected by Reform Jews. Now the Orthodox have condemned Einstein too, at least silently, and they would like to condemn him publicly as they did Zolli. But they reasonably hesitate because they feel their people are suffering enough and, perhaps, because Einstein did not profess himself a Christian.All the difference between the religious beliefs of devout Jews and Catholics hinges on one question: "Is this Jesus whom the whole world worships as God really the Messiah whose coming was foretold by the Jewish prophets of the Old Law?" Any Catholic who stubbornly denies Jesus is the Son of God will be excommunicated from the Church and be in danger of eternal punishment in hell unless he retracts. Conversely, a Jew who professes Jesus is the Messiah will be cast out of the Synagogue as Zolli was. Orthodox Jews of today believe their own ancient doctrines as completely and firmly as Catholics hold to the teachings of the Church.It is necessary to point out that, although Jews repudiate Jews who have become Christians, they teach plainly that non-Jews who believe in the one God of heaven and earth and do his will can enter eternal life, even though their understanding of the one God is somewhat spoiled by their notions concerning Jesus and his mission.Zolli’s daughter, not a convert, asserted in defense of her father, "I don’t feel that my father’s conversion was a betrayal of the Jews. The fact that he could spend 40 years teaching Judaism proves the profound connection between the two religions." Zolli himself said, "I continue to maintain unchanged all my love for the people of Israel; and in my sorrow for the lot that has befallen them, I shall never stop loving the Jews. I did not abandon the Jews by becoming a Catholic.""Once a Jew always a Jew" is a shibboleth too often quoted by well-meaning Jews as a sort of proof that a Jew cannot in his heart of hearts ever become a Christian. When Israel Zolli was asked whether he still considered himself a Jew he answered with the same expression, but explained it in its deeply correct significance. "Did Peter, James, John, Matthew, Paul, and hundreds of Hebrews like them cease to be Jews when they followed the Messiah and became Christians? Emphatically, no."A Jew who accepts a Messiah today remains just as much a Jew as he would expect to remain if and when he were to accept a Messiah at some distant future coming. In other words, a Jew who accepts Jesus as his Messiah accepts a Jew and himself remains a Jew. This may sound strange and even heterodox to Catholics who have only a surface knowledge of Jewish prophetic history and Catholic teaching concerning it. A Jewish convert takes as his Messiah the Jew Jesus, who traces his ancestry back to King David without a break: Can anyone be more Jewish than that?The convert accepts a Jewish Messiah who proved his mission was from God by doing the hundreds of things the prophet said he would do, chief among them his unquestionable and numerous miracles and his Resurrection from the dead. His miracles are continued and multiplied in his Church even up to the present moment. Has any Messiah ever done the like: Could any Jew do anything greater to put the seal of God on his teachings?When a devout Jew becomes a follower of Jesus he changes neither his nationality, which is Hebrew, nor his religion, which is Judaism. Well, then, what does he do? He merely brings his religion to completion, as Zolli pointed out: He plucks the ripe fruit from the tree that was planted by God. This is why the former rabbi was able to say that he had not given up the Synagogue for the Church, that the one could not exist without the other. This is also why he repeated correctly, "Once a Jew, always a Jew."If there is any notion that must be stressed both for Christians and Jews it is that Jesus did not give to the world a new religion, but only a New Covenant or Testament concerning the Old Religion which he himself had given to the Jews. God’s very nature forbids his giving to the world at any time at all more than one religion or one way of life and worship.

Throw Out more churches please!!

Much has changed as a result of the Fundamentalist takeover the Southern Baptist Convention that began nearly three decades ago. But one thing has been consistent for a long, long time.During the SBC annual meeting, anybody can — and often will — go to an open microphone during a "miscellaneous business" session and make a motion.The motions can range from well-crafted and relevant to venting about something that got stuck in one's crawl while walking over from the hotel.The motions are either ruled out of order or referred to committees. A few make their way back to the convention floor for debate and vote.Two motions this week (that were referred to the SBC Executive Committee) related to throwing out churches. A pastor from Wendell, N.C., wants a Ft. Worth, Texas, church bounced for being too friendly to gay and lesbian persons. The other calls for booting the few Convention-related churches with female pastors.Most moderate churches with minimal SBC connections would be done a favor if the Convention tossed them out. It would save them from having to explain again and again to their congregations about the nonsense that permeates that organization.Give fundamentalists 50 percent plus one and they will gladly impose their agenda on the remaining nearly half of a congregation. But I've consistently watched more moderate churches retain minimal relationships with the SBC and state conventions for the sake of a very few members.For most of these churches, dismissal from the SBC would be as painful as the brier patch was to Brer Rabbit.Of course, the irony is that the SBC Executive Committee declined a call to create a database of Baptist ministers found guilty of sex crimes. The information could be helpful to congregations searching for a new minister.The reason given by Executive Committee leaders: local church autonomy.However, many current Southern Baptist leaders (as evidenced by the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message and other actions such as these motions) don't trust churches with the basic freedom to call their own pastor or minister to all persons as they feel led.

Jargon

JESUS SAVESChristians believe that Jesus is still alive, and still actively saves people from their sins.
BORN AGAIN
The most overworked and least understood. Jesus said Unless a man is born again of water and of the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.
WITNESSING
A Christian means by this that they are showing an example or telling, that Jesus is Lord of their life.
GOOD NEWS
The Good News of Jesus Christ.Who he was, what he did, and what he still does. The word Gospel simply means Good News
CHURCH
To many this mean a Religious Building. Yes it is ,but it is also a lot more than that. A Church means a body of people who worship Jesus in that building as well as everywhere else. Jesus said I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail again it.He certainly never meant any kind of building. He meant a body of believers who would carry on his work. In affect the worldwide church is Christ's body here on earth until he return's in person.
CHRISTIANS
You can be good, kind, decent person who never does anyone any harm; infact you probably do a great deal of good. But you are not a Christian unless you believe that Jesus Christ died to save you from Hell, and has a place prepared for you in Heaven. A christian is not a faultless person, who never does anything bad or wrong. A Christian is simply a very inperfect human being who believes in God and Jesus.
Article from: "Celebration" Magazine (Magazine of Churches-Together: Kettering,Northamptonshire, England)

Faith

The Church believes and proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ, namely:that God is active and personal, a Father who cares for his creation, and for every human being as his beloved child;that God is as he has revealed himself to be in the historical person of Jesus Christ, andthat through the life, death and resurrection of this one person, God has proclaimed his love for the world, and opened a way, accessible through our response of faith, by which his love and life may be poured into our lives.That God is at work in the world today as Spirit, inspiring faith, justice and truthWe believe that God has called all who respond to him to be his people, and to work together to act as ambassadors for his work of healing in the world.This is Good News, because it encourages each one of us to realise that God loves us, that he has gone out of his way to meet us in the person of his Son, in whom he accepts us as we are. He asks us to draw on his strength to live life to the full, and to bring healing to the world. We invite you to join with us in sharing this Good News.

Wiiliam Williams Pantycelyn

William Williams Pantycelyn(Also known as Williams Pantycelyn)(1717-1719) is generally acknowledged as Wales's most important Hymn writer. He was also one of the key leaders of the 18th century Welsh Revival alongside Daniel Rowland and Howell Harris. As a poet and prose writer he is today considered to be one of Wales's greatest writers.Williams was born in the parish of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, Carmarthenshire in 1717. His family were nonconformists. He was educated locally and intended to become a doctor. This changed when he had a religious conversion while listening to Howell Harris, the evangelical reformer, preaching in Talgarth in 1737. He took Deacon's order's in the Church of England in 1740 and was appointed curate to Theophilus Evans(1693-1767) in the parishes of Llanwrtyd, Llanfihangel Abergwesyn and Llanddewi Aberhwesyn. Because of his Methodist activities he was refused ordination as a priest and from then on he committed himself entirelly to that movement. He travelled throughout the country preaching and establishing seiadau,local fellowships of Methodist people, for the converts he won. He died in 1791.His virtuosity as a Hymn Writer also earned him the nickname Y Per ganiedydd (The Sweet Singer). He wrote some of his work in English, but the majority was in Welsh. He published his first work in 1744, the first part Aleluia, a collecton of Hymns. This was folllowed by others:Hosanna i Fab Dayydd (Hosannah the son of David) 1751Rhai hymnau a chaniadau duwiol (Some godly hymns and songs) 1759;Caniadau Y rhai sydd ar Y mor o wydr(The songs of those on the crystal sea) 1762;Ffarwel weldig, groesaw anweledig bethau (Farewell seen, and welcome unseen things) 1763;Goria in exelsis 1771Ychydig hymnau (A few hymns) 1774;Rhai hymnau newyddion(some new hymns) 1782.He also published two collections of English Hymns:Hosannah to the son of David 1759;Gloria in exelsis 1772.His best known hymn is: Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch(Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah), usually sung to John Hughes' Cym Rhondda.(Used a subject of a Homily preached at the Communion Service at The Grove & The Ash Wednesday Service in the Health Center & Lower Lodge at Plymouth Village, Redlands, California in February 2007)

New Office for the Baptist Union of Wales

After 70 years at Ilston House, we now look forward to a new chapter in the life of the Union. In December 2007 the Baptist Union of Wales relocated from its present headquarters at Swansea to the site of the new Cultural Innovation Centre at Trinity College Carmarthen. The Centre, known as “Y Llwyfan” translated the “platform” will become the locus of the Union’s work and its administration. The building provides a modern office facility as well as the latest digital communication technology and will provide an effective platform for the Union’s activities.
Ilston House will be retained by the Union for the future and the building will be placed on rent. The new office became fully operational from the 3rd January, 2008.
Our new address is The Baptist Union of Wales, Y Llwyfan, Trinity College, College Road, Carmarthen, SA31 3EQ and the telephone number is 01267 245660 and the fax is 01267 245680. Our email address remains the same and you can contact peter, marc, menna or bonni @bedyddwyrcymru.co.uk
May God bless our endeavours so that in all things He will be honoured.
Peter M. Thomas, General Secretary

Bible Translation

Looking for a Bible?If you have taken a visit to your local Christian Bookshop lately, you will realise how silly it is and ask for a copy of the Bible.
For there are many, not numerically speaking, but the number of different versions that actually are in print.Do you require a large print, study edition, youth edition, Army, navy, Air force or Police edition? Do you require the words of Jesus to be in RED! Do you wish a leather bound & if so, which colour? Are going to give it as a present, wedding for example or maybe for a Birthday. But is it for a man or a woman? Have got the answer to these questions yet? Good, then you now need to decide which actual "edition" you want. Do you require, the good old faithful tradition, King James Version?, or maybe the language is hard; did you fail your English Literature Shakespeare exam; okay try the "New" King James Version. Maybe you want to get the message across to the good old faithful Evangelical group that you are part, then the NIV: New International Version is for you? Too "academic", why not give the "Good News' version a bash, unless you live outside of the UK which means you can get a copy! That being the case, try the New English Bible(NEB), paraphrased you say, okay then give the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) a go, unless of course you do not like "Inclusive Language". That brings us to "The Message", too much like a Novel. Then try: "The Word on the Street", not a Youth Culture kind of person, then try the New Living Translation (NLT); too much of a Charismatic Conservative Evangelical edition for you? But I am a Roman Catholic you say, well then what about the Jerusalem Bible? Just right for the more "conservative" Catholic; not you? give the New Jerusalem Bible a go, as it is more contemporary.Ah' you do not live in the UK, then you may have a problem! What about the American Catholic Bible, just about what every Catholic in the US is using.
Confused? Not sure? If you think this is the end of it, you are so wrong, you can double this number and still be far off! So why so many? The simple answer is translation; ever now & then a Theologian comes along and informs us that part of the Bible has not translated it correctly; therefore, another edition appears. This does not even include the Welsh Bibles! The 1588 Welsh Bible is close to the KJV, but not everything in English translate into Welsh ,and now as the attendance in all Welsh-Speaking Churches, regardless of Denomination decline in numbers, especially with those under the age of 60, there has been two further versions; the latest is the New Welsh Bible; part NIV, part NRSV & part everything else, but meanings, phrases;verbs,etc.. have been lost in translation.
So what do we do? We simply make our choice & stick with it, knowing that someone, somewhere, has a different version, because despite being the Word of God, they believe that yours is translated correctly! So are we still to believe in the infallible word of God? Has the Bible served its time? Do read it in view of cultural changes or do we accept that translation means contradiction?

Healthcare Costs!

Anyone who lives in the United States of America, cannot even move without facing the growing concern about the costs of Healthcare. We all need to see a Doctor at some point and the truth is, that the majority need to go a fair bit. Therefore the question is; why are we not in the Doctor's more often? Simply it comes down to the cost of Medical Insurance. Many Americans as well as those who live in this country via a Visa of some kind or a "Green Card" payout close to $450 a month. The reality of this, is that many more cannot afford anything close to this. So what do they do? They go without, they attend clinics where Doctors give their free time to help.
Instead of getting an appointment, they sit & sit & sit; normally for many hours, sometimes it takes all day! Is this what you call Healthcare??
This is a Business; one that takes advantage of those who can afford, as well as those who cannot afford anything! As everything increases, so does medical costs. But who is gaining? The Insurance companies of course. At this point, we ask questions about God and how we are his children? Is this how you treat your children? No of course not! You want to help them at every point in their life, regardless of their of what is going on.
Jesus said:"Come to me, all that are heavy laden & I will give you rest" . But with the stress of life caused by the pressure of life, it is a great problem for many. But with Jesus Christ in our lives, everything should come together in the right way. With the benefit of the Christian life, All things are possible! So as Chrisitians, we need to play our part, to be will to offer the helping hand to all those who reach out.