Mail from Jesus

[Thanks, R!]

If you never  felt pain, then how would you know that I am a Healer?


If you never had  to pray, How would you know that I am a Deliverer?



If you never had  a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?



If you never  felt sadness, How would you know that I am a Comforter?



If you never  made a mistake, How would you know that I am a forgiver?


If you knew all,  How would you know that I will answer your questions?



If you never  were in trouble, How would you know that I will come to  your rescue



If you never  were broken, Then how would you know that I can make you  whole?



If you never had  a problem,How would you know that I can solve them?




If you never had  any suffering, Then how would you know what I went  through?



If you never  went through the fire, Then how would you become pure?

If  I gave you all things, How would you appreciate them?



If I never  corrected you, How would you know that I love you?



If you had all  power, Then how would you learn to depend on  me?



If your life was  perfect, Then what would you need me for?


Love,
Jesus

Spread Your Wings: Aloft on God's Wind

As I walked along the sidewalk heading into church this morning, the early sun, although still low in the sky, was already sending out intense heat, as if announcing to all the heatwave was still on. Off to my right about a foot above my head, a dragonfly soundlessly kept pace with me as if he, too, were heading into the church. I smiled as I admired how lovely his translucent wings reflected the sun's rays, giving his wings an iridescent, golden framework to which the clear membranes attached.

My winged companion brought me back to last night's evening prayer. Now, I must first say I am quite lazy and neglectful with regard to my spiritual habits and relationship with God. After realizing how much of my precious time I spend ruminating over past wrongs, I began to assess how damaging this habit is to me spiritually and physically. In my first attempt to pull myself out of what I dub my "Tazmanian Devil" behavior (i.e. mentally spinning like the cartoon chracacter until I spin myself corkscrew style into the ground), I knew I had to, in the words of the classic hymn, "take it to the Lord in prayer."

And take it to the Lord, I did!! In the quiet of the evening, I darkened the living room and lit a candle (well, actually one of those electric tea lights -- safer, you know), and placed it in a multi-colored glass holder. I began by searching for a Psalm that would set the tone and evoke my emotions. It did not take long at all to "happen" upon the one: Psalm 42 --

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3My tears have been my food day and night,
while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember,>
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

I then sat at the dining room table with the flickering candle before me. I sat with my hands on the table, palms up. I prayed. Such a long, heartfelt, intimate prayer -- conversation -- I had not had in a long time with my Father.


Today is a much better day -- night and day difference! As my dragonfly buddy accompanied me to worship, I thought how I had not been allowing my wings to spread, aloft on the Wind and basking in God's light. Instead, I had been using my wings in more of a defensive posture, like the young robin my dog scared up the other day. In an early morning, quick game of Frisbee, in some odd way my pup had stepped on a young robin hiding in the grass. I don't know if it had been injured prior to our Frisbee game or if my dog had, indeed, trounced on it.

The fledling scurried away along the ground, trying to take flight, chirping and squawking in panic. My retriever naturally pursued it, curiously poking the bird with her nose and dabbing at it with her paw. The frightened bird crouched low to the ground, stretching its wings parallel to the ground like an old-fashioned fan, forming them in tense little triangles. It peered at us in a defiant glare, chirping and squawking all the while. I grabbed Retrieving Machine and pulled her back to the house.

Dragonfly brought that incident of the injured bird to mind, his golden wings in constrast to those of the little bird. The bird's were tensely and defensively stretched along the ground -- an unsafe place to be for a bird. The luminous wings of the dragonfly, in contrast, buzzed softly in glorious flight.

Life had trounced on me years ago. Sadly and wastefully, I continue to be frozen and frightened in a defensive posture on the ground.

But, it's a new day. I now endeavor to stretch my wings to catch God's updraft. I will push past the negativity, the stewing, the Tasmanian spinning and choose to cling to the hope we have in Christ. I desire to reflect God's love and light rather than my wimperings and grievances. I desire to bring hope ... to not bring down. I choose to get off the ground and fly!

Campus Crusade for Christ Drops "Christ" from Name

Is this a case of political correctness, a "new and improved"re-make, or  another instance of our ever-changing language? ... from FoxNews (emphasis added):

Campus Ministry Drops 'Christ' from Name

One of the nation’s most prominent Christian ministries has decided to take Christ out of its name – a move that has generated cries of political correctness from within the evangelical community.

Campus Crusade for Christ International announced this week that it will change the name of its U.S. Operations to “Cru” in early 2012.

“We felt like our name was getting in the way of accomplishing our mission,” said Steve Sellers, the vice president for Campus Crusade, noting that the ministry will still be committed to “proclaiming Christ around the world.”

Sellers said researchers found that 9 percent of Christians and 20 percent of non-Christians were alienated by the name Campus Crusade for Christ.

The organization was founded in 1951 by Bill and Vonette Bright and today has 25,000 staff members serving in 191 countries. Bright died in 2003, but his widow offered support for the name change in a video posted online.

“When Bill Bright started the organization, he told his wife that someday they would have to change the name,” Sellers said. “As early as the late '70s and '80s he was looking at making the name change.”
Sellers said several factors were involved in the name change – including overseas sensitivities.

“Our name was becoming more and more of a hindrance,” he told Fox News Radio. He specifically mentioned the word crusade.

“It’s reverted back to some of its meaning related to the Middle Ages – forcing Christianity on different parts of the world,” he said.

As for removing Christ from their name, the Campus Crusade for Christ website states:

“We were not trying to eliminate the word Christ from our name. We were looking for a name that would most effectively serve our mission and help us take the gospel to the world. Our mission has not changed. Cru enables us to have discussions about Christ with people who might initially be turned off by a more overtly Christian name. We believe that our interaction and our communication with the world will be what ultimately honors and glorifies Christ.”

But that decision has created controversy within the evangelical Christian community – some taking to social networking sites and the organization’s website to voice their displeasure.

“Take Christ out, and you become just another crusade,” one critic wrote on the Campus Crusade website. “How repulsive can you get?” Another person wrote, “We are both appalled that you think you have to remove the name Christ from your name.”

“It is sad that an organization like Campus Crusade at least appears to have allowed themselves to be taken by the politically correct environment instead of acting counter culturally as Christ’s followers are called to do,” said Richard Hornsby, of Kansas City. “For an institution like Crusade to appear to cave to the same cultural pressure that leads school principals to harass or try to ban Christian groups from meeting on campus is incredibly sad. We expect the ACLU to intimidate small towns and schools by threatening to sue them. We don’t expect long-standing pillars of the Christian community to fold like this.”

Hornsby was actively involved with Campus Crusade at The Ohio State University when he was a college student. He said he was surprised by the name change.

“I immediately thought of Paul’s letter to the Romans, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,’” he said. “It may be that CCCI has good intentions behind the change, but on its face, this decision to drop ‘Christ’ seems like an attempt to hide or mask the core identity of the group.”

But Sellers defended the removal of Christ’s name from the title – and denied that political correctness was involved.

“It has nothing to do with political correctness,” he said. “It has everything to do with how we can be effective at what God has called us to do.”

“Most churches don’t have Christ in their name,” he said. “Hardly any other Christian organization has Christ in their name. People are making an issue out of something that isn’t the intent at all.”

Sellers said it is “more important that the organization is effective at proclaiming Jesus than it is important to have the name of Jesus in the name of the organization.”

And he stressed that the mission of the organization has not changed.

“We are an evangelistic organization that is committed and has been committed and will be committed to proclaiming Christ around the world,” he said.

The new name, Cru, has long been used as a nickname for the organization on university campuses. Other than that, Sellers said Cru does not have a definition.

“Much like lots of brand names they don’t necessarily have meaning in and of themselves,” he said. “It is a name we intend to give meaning so that when people hear it they know that it’s a caring group of Christians who are passionate about lifting up the name of Jesus.”

Sarah Pulliam Bailey of Christianity Today offers more to the story (emphasis added) -- 

With the name Crusade, Sellers said people might conjure images of people being forced into something.

"We think the name of Jesus and his love is the most attractive thing on the planet, and to do anything to make it seem forced or that we're trying to cram it down anyone's throat is just not necessary," Sellers said. "We're constantly trying to eliminate things that are a barrier or obstacle.

...

"Since Cru began as a nickname at the local level in the mid-90s it has taken on much of the positive equity of the organization without any of the negatives," the organization said in a FAQ  posted on its website. "Like Google, Starbucks, and other abstract names, we expect to fill Cru with meaning as it embodies all that we are as we go to the world with the gospel." 

Campus Crusade is not the first organization to distance itself from the term. In 2000, Wheaton College removed its Crusader mascot and eventually became the Thunder. Only this year, the school unveiled a physical mascot, "Stertorous 'Tor' Thunder," a 2-person mastodon costume weighing 99 pounds (the largest mascot in the NCAA). In 2002, evangelist Billy Graham began using the word "mission" to describe what he always called "crusades." His son Franklin Graham and evangelist Luis Palau call their gatherings "festivals," while Greg Laurie uses "crusade."

This word "crusade", I think, makes all of us recall the ruckus President Bush (W) stirred up when he used the term in addressing the nation following the 9/11 attacks.  He said: "this crusade, this war on terror is going to take a while."  [Click here for transcript.] At the time of hearing his speech, I didn't even flinch at the word, interpreting the word as I think most people use it today: a heroic, monumental undertaking, campaign or struggle.

So, how does Merriam-Webster define "crusade?":

1: any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to win the Holy Land from the Muslims

2: a remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm

Examples of CRUSADE

1. crusade for spending more money on our public schools>

Origin of CRUSADE

blend of Middle French croisade & Spanish cruzada; both ultimately from Latin cruc-, crux cross

First Known Use: circa 1708

Related to CRUSADE

Synonyms:  bandwagon, blitz, cause, campaign, drive, juggernaut, movement, push

But, Bush's use of "crusade" unleashed a firestorm of political correctness.  Here's a brief history lesson on it from Wikipedia in its entry of "Tenth Crusade":

The use of this figure of speech was criticized in Europe, and Arabic-speaking countries. Supporters of the President's usage of "crusade" argue that from context Bush had used the word in a military, non-religious sense, such as "The Great Crusade" which was the phrase used by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to describe the D-Day invasion of Europe to the Allied troops in his order of the day broadcast.^[2]
 
They point to many modern dictionaries which define crusade (not capitalized) to include any vigorous action aimed at achieving a particular noble goal.^[3][4] However, particularly in predominantly Muslim parts of the world, the term crusade produces the same sort of negative reaction as the term jihad does in much of the West.

Tenth Crusade

In the September 7, 2002 issue of CounterPunch,^[5] columnist Alexander Cockburn authored an opinion column titled "The Tenth Crusade"^[6] in which he numbered the conflict to follow nine medieval Crusades. In a Newsday article issued December 4, 2003, political commentator James Pinkerton cited two intermediate wars also called "Tenth Crusade." Pinkerton's renumbering of the conflict as the "Twelfth Crusade" has been overshadowed by references to the title of the Cockburn column.^[7] Cockburn is thus usually credited with coining the term, which is almost exclusively used by critics of the US operations.

Who knew such a tiny, two-syllable word could ignite such an explosive argument discussion!  I guess Campus Crusade doesn't want to get pulled into the boiling cauldron.  "Crusade" is yet another word whose meaning has transmuted these days into something different.  Or, is it simply wanting a name that's hip?

Gay Marriage & Homosexuality: Growing Normalization

I'm sure you saw last week's big news story of the state of New York having legalized same-sex marriage.  As a Christian, I have struggled for some time with the issue of homosexuality.  Having been a member of the Presbyterian Church / USA and then the Lutheran Church ELCA, this issue has followed me as I have attempted to retreat from society's gradual acceptance of gay marriage and the gay lifestyle.  Mind you, I believe a homosexual is no greater a sinner than I am.  If we accept Christ as Savior, we will both be embraced by Him when we enter into His kingdom.  But, my interpretation of the Faith continues to lead me to reject homosexuality and remain with the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. 

Still operating in my "church gypsy" mode, trying to find a church home in which to settle down, I am presently still running into this "hurdle."  I have visited numerous times a very nice ELCA church and have given serious consideration to joining, but I still choke on the homosexuality issue (... well, and also on some other leftwing ideology the ELCA has adopted over the years).  Over the past couple of weeks, I have been visiting another "contender" -- a United Methodist Church.  I have checked into the UMC's stance on homosexuality and gay marriage and am pleased that its policies are in alignment with my beliefs.  However, I do know that this is an issue that has been causing some contention within the UMC's ranks.  (Example: "200 Methodist clergy in Illinois defy church on same-sex unions.")

Today on The Christian Post, I read where the president of  The Southern Baptist Seminary, Dr. Albert Mohler, says that, because our society is seeing the normalization and legalization of same-sex marriage, we Christians need to start thinking about how we are going to deal with a changing culture and "even face the fact that they may lose a few from their flock."

Here's Nathan Black's story from The Christian Post (emphasis added):

Christians Need to Prepare for Normalization of Gay Marriage

Though many Christians are going to try to deny "the obvious," evangelical leader Dr. Albert Mohler believes gay marriage is going to become normalized.

"I think it's clear that something like same-sex marriage is going to become normalized, legalized and recognized in the culture. It's time for Christians to start thinking about how we're going to deal with that," he said Friday on the Focus on the Family radio program.

Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was speaking in response to the Obama administration's decision this week to stop defending the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act – federal law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman – in the courts.

Conservative groups and Christians have criticized Obama for going against his duty as president to defend the law.

"When a president takes oath of office, he's upholding ... defending the laws of the United States of America," said Mohler, who also noted that DOMA had passed as a bipartisan effort.

"The White House has clearly made a calculation that it can do this now with far less political risk than it could even two years ago."

Though Obama has always expressed his desire to repeal DOMA, his personal view on marriage had been traditional.

While on the campaign trail, running as the Democratic presidential nominee, Obama asserted his belief that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. He added, while being interviewed by Pastor Rick Warren, that "for me as a Christian, it's also a sacred union. God's in the mix."

Recently, however, he has stated that his views on gay marriage are "evolving."

The Obama administration has been pro-gay since taking office two years ago and Mohler noted that there has been a long trajectory on the issue of gay marriage pointing to this day.

With the Justice Department now pulling its defense of DOMA, pending legal challenges against the federal law will likely result with the nullification of DOMA, Mohler predicted.

"You can say, the cards are pretty much stacked against DOMA," he illustrated.

He warned that when Christians feel threatened, they have to be careful not to lash out with a predictable response.

The Southern Baptist made it clear that he was not saying that they are giving up. Marriage is still an institution Christians need to save, particularly in their own community. But Christians also need to start learning how to deal with the shifting culture and even face the fact that they may lose a few from their flock.

"I think we're going to be surprised and heartbroken over how many people are going to capitulate to the spirit of the age," he noted. "We're going to find now that there may not be as many of us as we thought."

Nevertheless, Christians must be prepared to make marriage one of the many topics where parents have to have "the talk."

"It's interesting now that the world is so morally upside down that when we talk about marriage we have to make a distinction between natural marriage – heterosexual marriage – and this new thing that people are calling marriage," Mohler said.

"We have to prepare our children to be in a context in which they're going to be in a playground with children who have two dads or two moms or who knows what kind of combination will come."

Ultimately, the worldview or the belief that God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman only makes sense if one understands the Gospel, Mohler pointed out, which raises a critical point:

"This whole situation reminds us that we are, first of all, to be Gospel people who are fellow sinners ... saved by grace, with the responsibility to share the Gospel with others."

Choosing God over Money

I found this inspiring story at The Christian Post (emphasis added):

'The Lion King,' 'Beauty and the Beast' Animator Gave Up Six-Figure Job for God

When Davy Liu left behind a six-figure salary and a job most animators could only dream about, it was only just the beginning.

For the former Disney animator who worked on such classic films as “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “Mulan,” one mission stood above the rest – fulfilling God’s will for his life.

In an interview with The Gospel Herald, Liu shared about his new, God-given dreams, which were no longer centered on winning an Oscar, but on doing the Kingdom’s work, despite financial obstacles and family disapproval.

“Fulfilling the will of God is more important than earning worldly wealth because the treasures on earth are temporary, but the treasures stored in heaven are for an eternity,” Liu stated.

Having worked in Hollywood for over a decade ever since he was 19, the talented artist revealed why he chose to abandon such an illustrious and highly coveted job, during what appeared to be the very pinnacle of his career.

“When I worked in Disney, deep down in my heart, I was always discontent. At that time, I thought to myself, ‘Why is it that movies and artworks produced by Christian film are oftentimes made with low budgets or made in an unattractive manner?’”

“[I] asked God in my prayer and God told me that it is because good artists have given their best to the world.”

Desiring to offer his best to God instead, Liu decided to quit his job and dedicate himself to producing inspiring, character-based animated stories of faith.

“I hope to inspire young souls to experience life through faith,” he explained in a statement. “There is more to life than meets the eye.”

At 31, Liu founded Kendu Films, a unique media company dedicated to producing inspiring stories of faith. Adopted from Philippians 4:13, which states, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength,” he created the name “Kendu,” which is pronounced like “can do.”

The Taiwan-born animator, with inspiration from “The Lion King” and personal devotions spent in Scripture, developed the idea to create a series of Bible-themed animations, with each story depicting a Bible story from the perspective of an animal.

From script writing to background drawing, there is no detail that Liu is not thoroughly responsible for.

Entitled the “Invisible Tails” series, Liu plans to complete 12 stories over 12 years, culminating in an animated movie based on all 12 books. The first four books have already been published in a condensed form, hoping to garner attention for potential investors. The works include: “Giant Leaf,” “Fire Fish,” “Jordan’s Guest” and “The Royal Feast.”

“My vision is that our animated films’ final measure of success will not be the volume of Happy Meals or toys sold, but that we inspire and instill into our future generations more courage, truth, honesty, and integrity,” he relayed in a statement.

Although some of his stories have been published as children’s books, the Herald explains that Liu actually produced the animations for adults.

“The truth is that grown-ups really enjoy watching animations – little children do not understand the hidden message. The recent box-office hits such as ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Up’ produced by Pixar all have very touching messages.”

“Most people have misconceptions of Jesus and don’t understand the culture from within, let alone, understand the Bible,” he added. By watching the Bible stories in theaters, Liu hopes that audiences everywhere will be able to relate to the characters and experience the power of God.

With no regrets about giving up his Hollywood career, having also worked with George Lucas, the Warner Brothers Animation, and other notable corporations, Liu finds every day joyful.

“Even though I may die tomorrow, I won’t regret it. Because every day of my life is living in God’s will. In face of the life in eternity, the present life is only a short-lived hundred years. I hope to use my talents to glorify God and to store up treasures in heaven.”

He continued, “Before God, I’ve prayed to willingly dedicate myself at the time when I’m most youthful and healthy to do God’s work. God deserves the best. I don’t want to wait until retirement at age 65 before doing all this, for I want to give the best to God.”

One of his stories, “The Giant Leaf,” has already begun pre-production, and will be the first of several feature animated 3D films from his “Invisible Tails” series. The film is set to release in 2013, followed by “Fire Fish,” two years later.

With “The Giant Leaf,” the story of Noah’s Ark seen through the perspective of Kendu, a fox, Liu desires that people will see that God is always in control.

“[God’s] quiet, He’s faithful, He may not have a hundred answers for you, but you can trust that He will be there to catch you every single day.”

Once a boy who felt worthless, Liu, now a successful animator, encourages everyone to find what God has commissioned for them and live out a life of eternal value, the Herald reported.

“I once thought that I was a worthless marble, but God allowed me to know that in His eyes I am a sparkling diamond.”

The Whale: Fear Not!

A story I had long forgotten ... a true story! ... sent recently by a dear friend. 

One of the divers on the rescue team works on the crab pot lines that held the female humpback whale near the Farallon Islands. The weight of the crab pots was pulling the animal down. Marine Mammal Center photo via Associated Press

The Whale

If you read a recent front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso and a line tugging in her mouth.

A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate ) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.

When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them.

Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.

[If you're interested in reading the original December 2005 story, here it is from The San Francisco Chronicle:  Daring Rescue of whale off Farallones]

P's e-mail arrived at a good time -- providence?  I was once again going through my "Tasmanian Devil" spinning and fretting over some things to the point of sorrow and tears.  But, P's story of The Whale reminded me of the necessity of turning my burdens to friends, rather than just keeping it all to myself to deal with alone.

It seems we all have things we get tangled in, burdens that worry us and pull us down, at times barely keeping our noses above the edge of the water, swimming for all we're worth in a sea of troubles.   Fortunately, the Lord sends special friends -- like angels -- into our lives to help cut us free from our bonds and traps.  I think of the many times in the Bible where God speaks to various individuals or sends an angel to deliver His message.  It is interesting -- and instructive -- how each time God, or the angel, begins with these words: "Fear not." 

Genesis 15:1 "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

Deuteronomy 31:8  "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."

Isaiah 54:4  "Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more."

Matthew 10:28  "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Luke 2:10  "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

Luke 8:50  "But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole."
 
Luke 12:7  "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."
 
Luke 12:32  "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
 
John 12:15  "Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt."
 
Acts 27:24  "Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee."

Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last."

When the Lord draws near, we must not fear.  And He is always near.  Fear not!

King James Bible Celebrates 400 Years

From FoxNews ... (emphasis added) ...

Happy 400th Birthday to the King James Bible -- The Most Influential Book in the English Language

By Larry Stone

The poetic power of the King James Bible is part of our heritage. Around the world people have been comforted by the words, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” They have been challenged by, “Be strong and of good courage.” They have celebrated with the proclamation, “Fear not . . . For unto you is born in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

The early 16th century was a tumultuous time in Britain. England had been Catholic for more than 1,000 years, but when Pope Clement refused to annul the marriage of King Henry VIII, Henry separated the Church of England from the Church in Rome.

While Henry was still Catholic, William Tyndale sought permission to translate the Bible into English so that even “a boy who drives the plow” might know Scripture. Permission was denied, and Tyndale moved to Germany where he completed the first translation of the English New Testament made from Greek. It was published in 1526, and over the next ten years 50,000 copies were smuggled into England. Tyndale was betrayed, captured, and in 1536 killed for the crime of publishing the New Testament in English.

Although his body was burned at the stake, Tyndale had unleashed an enormous demand for Bibles in “the vulgar English tongue.” A number of translations were printed, including the Bishops’ Bible and the immensely popular Geneva Bible, which was the Bible Shakespeare read and the Bible Puritans carried to New England.

Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558 to 1603, sought to bring peace among religious factions. But more importantly for our story, varied creative forces came together then to form the most splendid age in English literature. James VI of Scotland was a product of this season of creativity. When James VI became king of all Great Britain and Ireland in 1603, he called a conference to try to settle differences between Anglicans and Puritans. Out of this conference came the decision to create a new translation of the Bible.

Fifty-four scholars labored nearly seven years. In spite of its title page saying that the KJV was “newly translated,” the committees were instructed to follow the Bishops’ Bible when possible. Because the Bishops’ Bible depended on the work of Tyndale, more than 80% of the KJV is Tyndale’s wording. The KJV was published in 1611 and within 50 years it was the dominant English translation of the Bible—a position it held for 300 years.

Wherever the British went to build an empire—either for their monarch or for their God—the King James Version went too. When a clergyman in Scotland read the Scripture, when a student in America memorized a Bible verse, when a speaker in India or Australia told a story from the Bible, they all used the same words from the King James Version.

The King James Bible is the best-selling English-language book of all time. It has been in print continuously for 400 years. It has helped form our language; it has given context to our literature; it has inspired our music; and for centuries it was the one book a family would own and read before all others.

Larry Stone, is author of "The Story of the Bible: The Fascinating History of Its Writing, Translation & Effect on Civilization" (Thomas Nelson).

What an inspiring story!  Whenever we hold a Bible in our hands, we must pause to give God thanks for the brave people who literally fought so hard to bring it to us and to make so easily available today.  It is truly covered in the blood of martyrs.  I prefer other more modern translations of the Bible, such as the NIV and the newer ESV; but, no version can hold a candle to the beauty of the KJV.  It is poetry.

National Day of Prayer Ruling Overturned: Alienation Is Not Injury

I caught this good piece of news over at Christianity Today (emphasis added):

National Day of Prayer Ruling Overturned

A federal appeals court today ruled 3-0 that dismisses a lawsuit against the National Day of Prayer. The decision overturns last year's ruling by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb that ruled that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Freedom From Religion Foundation did not have standing to bring the lawsuit against President Obama. "But unless all limits on standing are to be abandoned, a feeling of alienation cannot suffice as injury in fact," the court said in its opinion opinion.

President Truman signed into law in 1952 a Congressional resolution establishing a National Day of Prayer. The Justice Department had appealed Judge Crabb's decision.

So, I guess prayer is a protected right still ... for a while.  I wonder when the next attack on religious freedom will occur.

When Christians Hate: Fighting The Black Eye We Give God

I don't believe in Mormonism, but I certainly do NOT believe in persecuting its adherents.  Hate is hate.  Check out this article from Lillian Kwon in last week's The Christian Post (emphasis added):

Christians Counter Hate, Offer Love to Mormons

Tue, Apr. 05, 2011 Posted: 11:07 AM EDT

---

Mormons who gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah, for their 181st Annual General Conference this past weekend were again met by a small group of Christians shouting "repent," among other things.

The group is a regular presence at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conferences, often hurling insults and dragging the Book of Mormon on the ground.  [Comment: What a hideous thing to do!  We should at all times remain respectful!]

Countering the protesters this year, however, was another group of Christians who offered "free hugs" and some "Jesus style" love for the Mormons.

"Jesus didn’t scream and hold signs at the Samaritan well," said Charles Hill, pastor of One Community Church in South Jordan, Utah, in a statement. "We are called to love each other."

Hill moved to South Jordan in 2009 to start a church in a predominantly Mormon community. He has made clear that his mission is not to "defeat" the LDS Church, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, but to simply reach those who need Jesus.

Over the past two years he has built relationships with many Mormons. He often opens his house up to his neighbors, almost all of whom are part of the LDS Church. But again, he has clarified that he's not out to convert them to his Christian faith, but rather to simply love them.

So when he sees other Christians protesting at LDS conferences, he's compelled to respond.

He brought out his church to the conference on Saturday, the opening day of the two-day event, to give out some love. "HUGS not THUGS" was their marching orders. They handed out free hugs to those who needed "a boost after walking past our brothers and sisters in Jesus who just gave them an ear full. We will give them an arm full."

Meanwhile, he has a message for the protesters: "Dear Thugs: stop driving the wedge between our relationships that we seek to build that much deeper. I bet most of you aren’t even from this city. If you really knew someone who was LDS and loved them, you would never be doing this. And for those that are in our cities here…there is a reason your church is '50 soldiers in the Army of the Lord' strong every Sunday morning and has been for years."

The LDS Church continues to grow in membership in the U.S. and worldwide. According to statistics revealed at the convention on Saturday, total LDS membership at the end of 2010 was 14.1 million. The religious body also reported 272,814 converts baptized in 2010, 134 temples (with three new ones planned for this year), and 52,225 missionaries serving in 340 missions.

Additionally, LDS leaders boasted service and aid to the poor. Mormons logged in over 40,000 hours of service through more than 4,000 volunteers in Japan relief efforts, Thomas S. Monson, president of the LDS Church, reported.

Monson, whom Mormons view as a modern-day prophet, delivered a charge that likely resonated with Hill – to be good citizens and good neighbors, and examples of honesty and integrity "wherever we go and in whatever we do."

Hill acknowledges that there are fundamental theological differences between Mormons and evangelical Christians. And he would rejoice if his Mormon neighbors came to a saving knowledge of Christ.

But he disagrees with treating them as a "conversion project."

"Jesus did not say: 'Win them with scare tactics and by acting like thugs when you disagree with someone.' He said, 'They will know you by your LOVE.' Jesus said: 'LOVE your neighbor as yourself.'

"He also said, 'By this will everyone know you are my disciples when you have LOVE one for another.' All of the law and the prophets hang on the 2 commands to LOVE! Can I get a witness?"

Reminding Christians of both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, Hill encourages believers to reach out in their own context – whether it's a GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) parade, a porn convention or an atheist convention – with Jesus' love.

"Maybe we can start a revolution that shows what we are FOR [love and the gospel] rather than just the press we get on what we are AGAINST," he pondered.

I love Hill's ideas! ... Gee, kinda takin' things back to Jesus.  A novel approach to witnessing to the world, eh?

Sadly, and to our embarrassment, our press seems to only print the ugly side of Christianity ... rarely does one fine mention of the good.  We need more "HUGS" not "THUGS!"

Exchanging the Truth for A Lie

He nervously paced the floor, like an Olympian athlete engaged in visual imagery, going through the motions of the huge challenge before him. He waited outside the courtroom, his own attorney's gaze following the frenetic path of his client. Kevin occasionally reached inside his coat pocket, fingering the rosary he had bought long ago in Mexico. His mind groped for reassurance and comfort as his fingers searched for the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe that was attached to the rosary. In the other pocket nestled a scallop shell from his pilgrimage he had made along the Way of St. James in Spain -- "el Camino de Santiago de Compostela."

Kevin had brought these trinkets with him on the day he had been dreading: the day of a deposition involving an angry neighbor and his nasty lawyer. They were hell bent on intimidating Kevin with a long and drawn out deposition at the courthouse. It was an annoying and ridiculous property dispute ... a matter he tried to settle with his neighbor but to no avail. He had been dragged into court.

I have known Kevin for many years. He is a family man, married many years to the same sweet woman and the proud father of two -- a teenage son and a younger daughter with Down syndrome. His wife had battled some serious health crises herself over the years and, coupled with the extra trials a special needs child brings, Kevin's home life was filled with additional burdens and emergencies many other families do not face. But, he never showed bitterness or resentment toward the seemingly harsh and unfair chain of events that comprised his life, instead choosing to be jovial and a ball of fire in the workplace.

Over the years and through the numerous trials, crises and close calls, Kevin understandably wondered the same question any of us would: WHY?  Raised Catholic, yet having chosen to slip "the bonds" that Kevin felt Catholicism presented, he delved into various New Age philosophies and gurus to soothe his aching soul, seeking a spirituality that brought him comfort but not the "control" he believed religion forced upon its adherents.

One day at lunch, some of us were discussing religion ... the precise topic of the discussion escapes me now. But, I clearly recall Kevin interrupting the conversation, announcing to the group with pride: "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual." I asked him what he meant by "spiritual."

He talked about having a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe in his garden, a statue he had brought back with him on one of his winter trips to Cancun. He said that he found meditating before the statue in his garden brought him peace. He stated that spiritual means he does things that help him connect with the world and "a higher being" without the trappings of religion. He read books by such authors as are featured of Oprah. He said it helped him feel better and that it made him a better person.  I replied that it seemed very self-focused .... very selfish. Did his meditations lead him to reach out to his community to make the world better and not just himself?  I tried to be as kind as possible in choosing my words, but such a challenge is never welcome.

That conversation was years ago, perhaps not handled by me as best as it could have been. And now he was preparing for the dreadful deposition. His pronouncement of having his pilgrim's shell and rosary with him -- what I would deem his "good luck charms" -- only brought me sadness. He had exchanged the truth for a lie. He sought support and comfort from two small inanimate objects. They were not souvenirs from Christ-centered pilgrimages. I could understand their importance if they were accompanied by a Christ-centered faith. But, rather than using them to help bring himself closer to Christ, they were used no differently than a rabbit's foot -- mere good luck charms to help connect him to the universe. No relationship. No different from reading one's horoscope. No different from knocking on wood.

The "New Age", my friends, ain't nothin' new.  It's the same ancient paganism that's been around for millenia.  In the past two decades it has been repackaged, revamped, and been presented in a sleek Madison Fifth Avenue PR campaign.  

Ironically, in Kevin's revolt against the "control" of religion, he failed to see his own desire for control, for what is the purpose of superstition but to give us a sense of some control over our out-of-control lives -- our destiny?  If I throw a pinch of salt over my shoulder, I'll ward off evil ... that would vengefully attack me for spilling salt.  If I cower at the number 13, I believe I'm warding off misfortune, but I miss out on the full engagement in one day a month and the lovely "baker's dozen" at the bakery.  If I bury a statue of St. Joseph in my front yard in hopes that my house will sell faster, I worry that maybe I buried "him" the wrong way ... and I wind up putting my faith in a cheap trinket rather than connecting in close communion with my Lord.

Do these items drive me closer to God ... or do they serve to distract me from God, naively placing my faith in inanimate objects and rituals?  In my feeble attempts to control my life, I shut the door to the true Author of Life.  I exchange Him and His Truth for a life of cheap grace -- fruitless rituals, charms, and charlatans.

Fukushima 50: Pray for These Brave Heroes!!

Such courage is rarely seen ... please keep the Fukushima 50, Japan, and all relief workers and relief efforts in your prayers!!!!

Fukushima 50 Stay Behind to Prevent Nuclear Meltdown

They are known as the Fukushima 50, the workers who stayed behind at the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in order to prevent a meltdown in Japan.

Between 50 and 70 plant engineers -- who have not been identified and are being hailed as heroes -- continue to work around the clock in dangerous conditions, as hundreds of thousands have evacuated the area, fearing a meltdown.

Two of the workers are missing after an explosion and fire at the Unit 4 reactor, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Workers have since resumed operations, Reuters reports.

"The longer they stay, the more dangerous it becomes for them," Margaret Harding of the American Nuclear Society told CBS News.

The engineers are trying to cool nuclear reactors with seawater, while trying to avoid fires and explosions.

"You are the only ones who can resolve a crisis. Retreat is unthinkable," Japanese Prime Minister Naota Kan told them, the Financial Times reported.

The workers have exposed themselves to high doses of radiation, which could cause cancer.

"These workers, in a few hours, are getting fairly high doses I would say by contemporary standards for worker protection, and that's likely to pose some risks down the line," David Richardson, a professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina, told the BBC. He added that the radiation the Fukushima 50 would receive in an hour is the same amount a U.S. nuclear worker would be exposed to over an entire career.

Last Friday's magnitude 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami have left 11,000 dead or missing.

Steve Harvey: "Don't Trip: He Ain't Through with Me Yet"

Last night I happened to catch comedian Steve Harvey and his 2009 comedy routine "Don't Trip, He Ain't Through with Me Yet."  This was a line he used throughout his routine, frequently after making some mean comment about another person.  Many of his jokes were about the Christian struggle -- his own as well as of others.  I laughed at one of his lines, so much so that I copied it down:

"I just ain't that good a Christian yet.  I been workng on them commandments, but I ain't that good at it.  There are ten of them, you know.  I'm good for about six or seven of 'em, but them other three ... I be strugglin' with a lot of them."

He would occasionally include comments to being a Christian, although struggling ... which we all can identify with.   At one point, he told the audience about how he had come from nothing ... that he had been in jail ... that he had even been shot.

At the end of his routine, he proudly announced that he had been "cuss-free" throughout the routine, which given the level of humor these days, is a pretty amazing feat!  How he ended the night, though, was the most stunning.  He talked about all the famous people he has introduced over the years at various award shows.  But, he then talked about the ultimate introduction he would love to make one day:



What an amazing and courageous thing to do in Hollywood!  The audience's reaction is equally amazing.  Go Steve Harvey!!!!

The 21st Century: The Age of Fear?

As my friend pointed out to me, we are already a decade into the 21st century.  My, how the time has flown!  I sometimes catch my mind thinking we're just barely into the 2000's, not quite "up to speed" with being in the 2010's.  As we babyboomers thought back on the 20th, we pondered the question of what that century should be called.  "The Age of Science?"  "The Age of Innovation?"  "The Age of War?"  "The Age of Medicine?"  So many labels could easily and accurately be applied to the 1900's, because so many amazing ... and horrifying ... things occurred.

But, what would one nickname this current century?  My first thought was "The Age of IT" or "Social networking."  But, I was told that many have knighted it "The Age of Fear."  The monicker brought to mind so many discussions over the past decade: how parents are hesitant to let their children play outside, instead choosing to arrange "play dates."  The 9/11 attacks still claim a heavy burden on Americans' hearts ... and the hearts of those since dragged into its wake.  Headlines besiege our minds and spirits with a daily onslaught of horrendous news: children murdered, teachers molesting kids, epidemics, asteroids or volcanoes that could destroy our planet, solar radiation, cancer, terrorism, cybercrime, life spinning at an ever increasing speed, obsession about the pitiful lives of Hollywood elite, escalating reports on crime although FBI statistics prove the trend is the other direction, economic woes ('the worst recession' since the Great Depression ... bunk!), etc., etc., etc. 

It all makes you want to hide in a foxhole somedays to ride out the storm.

Lord, teach us to pray ... especially in times such as these.  Help us to focus on whom and what truly matters in life.  And help us pray. 

I am reminded of the story of Jesus healing Jairus' daughter.  This synagogue leader -- a man of God -- had been struck with tragedy with the death of his daughter.  Tragedy comes to all.  No one is spared.  But, in Luke 8:50 we read: Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

We, too, must believe Jesus' promise of always being with us ... even unto the end of the Age (Matthew 28:20).  He will come to us ... and heal us.  Like Jairus' daughter, we are not dead but sleeping.  He will take us by the hand and say "My child, get up!"  

We must take His hand everyday ... and get up.

Let us love.  Let us pray.  Let us live.  Let us serve. 

 ⁴⁰And as Jesus returned, the people welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.

   ⁴¹And there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus' feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house;

   ⁴²for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.

   ⁴³And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,

   ⁴⁴came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.

   ⁴⁵And Jesus said, "Who is the one who touched Me?" And while they were all denying it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You."

   ⁴⁶But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me."

   ⁴⁷When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.

   ⁴⁸And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

   ⁴⁹While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of  the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore."

   ⁵⁰But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, " Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well."

   ⁵¹When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl's father and mother.

   ⁵²Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep."

   ⁵³And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.

   ⁵⁴He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!"

   ⁵⁵And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat.

   ⁵⁶Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

[Luke 8:40-56, NASB]

"Generation Ex-Christian": Today's Atheists, Agnostics & Spiritual Seekers

There are conflicting studies about whether the Church is declining in America; however, just the question itself begs a study of why people leave the Church in the first place.  Several studies show that these individuals are former Christians.

Drew Dyck, editorial manager of The Christian Post, has published a book that studies this phenomenon.  "Generation Ex-Christian: Why Young Adults Are Leaving The Church and How To Bring Them Back." In it, the journalist analyzes the results of 100 interviews Dyck conducted, breaking these "leavers" down into six categories: postmodern leavers, recoilers, modern leavers, neo-pagans, rebels, and drifters.

The Christian Post article continues (emphasis added):

While much is known about the challenges in reaching a postmodern and modern (think Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens) audience with the gospel, little if anything has been said about the other four categories in Dyck’s book.

The recoilers are not easily identifiable as a leaver category because they tend to avoid talking about their painful childhood or teenage experiences with the church that are the primary reasons they left the faith. If pressed to explain why they left the faith, many recoilers will find intellectual reasons to back up their emotional reasons, Dyck writes.

“For a child who suffers some form of ‘sanctified’ abuse, the resulting spiritual damage can haunt that person for a lifetime,” he explains in the book. “Such is the case for many recoilers – they often have experienced some form of abuse in the name of God.”

“They have become disillusioned with faith because the people they sanctified let them down. God is guilty by association.”

The author suggests finding out if a leaver is a recoiler by asking questions about their experience with the faith community, but avoiding to put them on the defensive. If someone is a recoiler, then concentrate on listening to the person’s story and empathizing with his/her pain. It is important to establish a friendship and earn trust with recoilers, Dyck writes, and to help them to reconcile with God before His people.

For neo-pagan leavers, the author spotlights Wicca, which is the fastest growing religion in the United States. Out of all the categories, Dyck reports that neo-pagan leavers have “the strongest emotional reaction to Christian faith.” Although neo-pagans are not as verbally combative as modernist leavers, if they do open up it is usually “a river of molten rage.”

Wiccans have negative feelings toward Christians because they have been repeatedly portrayed by believers as Satan-worshippers and accused of sacrificing animals and rumored to murder babies. Dyck says the first step in having a meaningful relationship with Wiccans is to defuse their negative feelings by showing familiarity with their basic beliefs and asking them what attracted them to Wicca and what problems they have with Christianity.

“Reaching neo-pagans begins with showing an appreciation for nature and a desire to protect it, all while directing them to the God of whom nature is a grand reflection,” writes Dyck.

Also, neo-pagans are attracted to spirituality so it is helpful for Christians to not be shy about talking about their own spiritual experiences.

Drifters, meanwhile, are those Christians whose faith was never that deep to begin with and it is hard to pinpoint when they actually left. These drifters, like their name suggests, just gradually drifted away without notice. They do not argue against Christianity and do not have emotional baggage from the faith. They still identify as Christians, but their life in no way reflects a commitment to Christ.

“They’re the kind who blend in, go with the flow. They were likely swept up in the faith in the first place because it was what everyone else around them was doing. Then they left for the same reason. They found themselves in a new context where Christian faith wasn’t the norm,” Dyck writes.

The author suggests challenging drifters with the hard demands of the gospel and to emphasize that church is not a social club but an “all-or-nothing proposition.” Also, it is good for drifters to form intergenerational bonds within the church instead of only being associated with the youth group.

In the interview with The Christian Post, Dyck said that he thinks the hardest leaver to bring back to Jesus Christ is the spiritual rebel. Spiritual rebels are those that have a hard time accepting the divine authority of God. They do not have an intellectual objection but a heart issue, observes Dyck. The only suggestions he has for reaching spiritual rebels is to pray a lot for them and to form relationships with them.

The other type of rebel is the one that loves to party. This type of rebel does not have an intellectual or emotional problem with the faith, but they are just unwilling to abide to Christian morality.

“A lot of young people are walking away not only from the church, but from their faith,” says Dyck. “And I don’t think that they will come back automatically. I don’t think we can count on that - some automatic return to the faith.”

The author urges older members in the church to build relationships with young people.

“Often what I found is the break from their faith came in the context of relationships, something went wrong with either a youth pastor, a parent, or some other spiritual authority. If they are going to be reconciled, come back to the church, it is going to have to happen in the context of relationships.”

Pope Calls for Christian Names

I am not a Catholic and so rarely lend an eye to proclamations made by the Pope.  (Although, I really should, especially the words of Pope John Paul, a real hero.)  I did today, however, take notice of a news story about Pope Benedict XVI calling upon parents to stop using non-Christian names and turn to those names that reflect the Faith.  This from The Telegraph: (emphasis added):

Pope Urges Parents to Stop Giving Children Non-Christian Names 

The Pope has warned parents against giving children celebrity-inspired names and urged them to turn to the Bible for inspiration instead.

While names such as Sienna and Scarlett have become fashionable in recent years, Pope Benedict XVI called for a return to tradition.

During Mass at the Sistine Chapel, he said: "Every baptised child acquires the character of the son of God, beginning with their Christian name, an unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit causes man to be born anew in the womb of the Church." He added that a name was an "indelible seal" that set children off on a lifelong "journey of religious faith".

According to the Office for National Statistics, celebrity names such as Ashton – after the actor Ashton Kutcher – and Lily – after the singer Lily Allen – are among the most popular in England and Wales. The names celebrities give their own children can be even more exotic.

Sir Bob Geldof has daughters named Pixie and Peaches, while Victoria and David Beckham called their first son Brooklyn, after the district of New York. Katie Price, the glamour model, named her daughter Princess Tiaamii.

In Italy, the name of a child has particular significance. Children are often named after saints, who are considered a guiding force in their life.

The tradition, however, is increasingly under threat. Francesco Totti, the footballer, recently decided to call his daughter Chanel, while Flavio Briatore, the Formula One boss, named his newborn son Falso Nathan.

Cristina Odone, a former editor of The Catholic Herald who grew up in Italy, said: "There are so many of the church's traditions which we have come to ignore and which are actually meaningful and have a big spiritual significance. To deprive our children of that sense of having a protecting saint is to rob them of something very significant. Many of today's names are not just un-Christian but they are also crass and consumerist."

According to official statistics, the most popular name for newborns in Britain is Mohammed, after the Islamic prophet. A total of 7,549 newborns were given variations of the name last year. It overtook Jack, which topped the list for 14 years.

Monsignor Andrew Faley, the assistant general secretary to the Catholic Bishops' Conference, said: "The name is not just a label but it moves us into a deeper significance of what it means to be human as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.

"Naming children after perfumes, bicycles and countries is putting a limit on their potential. They are not merchandise or commodities. 

"When I was a parish priest, if I didn't agree with the name I'd suggest they should give the second name of a saint."

In 2008, Italy's highest court banned a couple from naming their son Venerdi – Friday – saying it was "ridiculous" and would expose him to mockery from his classmates.

Judges from the Cassation Court in Rome ordered that the boy instead be christened Gregorio, after the saint's day on which he was born. The parents, from Genoa, had drawn inspiration from Robinson Crusoe's manservant.

Now, that is scary that a court can step in and order parents to name their child how it sees fit. (Luckily, that's in Italy and not here.)  "Venerdi" is unusual, but not as bizarre as others we've heard in the news.