Power of the Word

Term Paper Changes Life

 

A few years ago Marc Torchinsky (right), then a student at the University of Manitoba, faced a major assignment for a course on anti-Semitism. 'For some reason an idea popped into my head to see if the New Testament was anti-Semitic or not.'

 

Debra Feiguth - May 2006

 

Active in the Jewish student movement, Marc Torchinsky had been to Israel twice, had represented Jewish students all over western Canada and had helped raise money to move a plane load of Soviet Jews.  While much of his participation in Jewish life was more cultural than religious, he also longed for a deeper relationship with God.

 

"Something happened as I was reading," Torchinsky, now 35, remembers.  Christianity had never appealed to him.  "But as I read through the New Testament all my fears towards Christians just melted.  They fell and dropped away."

 

Although he was confused and scared, he also felt warmth and peace.  "It was as if the words jumped off the page and entered my heart," he says.  This was the most dramatic of the events that led to his eventual conversion to Christianity and his decision to become an Anglican priest.

 

Read More: http://anglicanplanet.net/TAPFront0605.html

To Stephen Harper, provincial premiers and federal opposition leaders: honour the child care agreements

http://www.buildchildcare.ca/BE_petition.php/honourthem

Periodical Evangelism - from www.salvationist.ca

20 ways to touch lives with the Gospel

1. Place Faith & Friends or Edge for Kids in mailboxes in your neighbourhood or introduce the magazines personally door-to-door. Include an invitation to a corps event.

2. With permission, place... (Read more)

Freedom of Religion

No photo required for some Hutterite drivers

Members of an Alberta Hutterite colony have won the right to carry driver's licences that don't carry their photographs.

The colony argued in a Lethbridge court that the government's rule violated its charter right to freedom of religion. Members believe the second commandment in the Bible prohibits them from willingly having their picture taken. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY

Bono and Make Poverty History React to Canada's Federal Budget

"With this budget Flaherty and Harper seem to be breaking an election pledge
to increase Canadian aid by more than the previous government. This isn't
about abstract aid targets and vague promises. This is about effective
initiatives to save lives, provide AIDS drugs, get kids in school and make a
better world. And what happened to the Canadian characteristic of good old
promise-keeping? This government has a small window to turn this around.
Many lives depend on whether it does."

Bono, May 5, 2006

"We are deeply disappointed that the world's poor did not even merit a
mention in the Finance Ministers' budget speech. Much more needs to be done
if Canada is to live up to its international obligations."

Gerry Barr, Co-chair of the Make Poverty History campaign in Canada.

http://makepovertyhistory.ca

Make Poverty History Celebrates World Fair Trade Day - May 13, 2006

World Fair Trade Day events will take place in over 60 countries and across Canada on May 13. Games will be played with soccer balls sewn without child labour, organic and fairly-traded food will be sampled, and copious amounts of delicious fairly-traded coffee will be sipped.

Read More: http://makepovertyhistory.ca/e/media/fair-trade-day-2006.html

Churches protest violence against Christians

 World Council of Churches protests Israeli violence against Christian volunteers in Hebron

Expressing "alarm and concern" the World Council of Churches (WCC) has presented a formal protest to the Israeli ambassador in Switzerland over two recent incidents involving violence by Israeli settlers against Christian... [Click HERE to read more]

"How is it that we react to a natural disaster but when there's a man-made one we ignore it?"

FRANCIE HEALY

May 9, 2006 - Kingston, Ont.
It was after his speech, when he began answering questions, that Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire became most impassioned.

He was speaking here at an annual fundraising dinner for George Bruce, bishop of the Kingston-based diocese of Ontario, on May 8.

Bill Shadforth, left, shares an animated conversation with Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire (centre) and Bishop George Bruce at a recent fundraising dinner in the diocese of Ontario. [PHOTO BY FRANCIE HEALY]

"Remember the tsunami?" he asked, referring to the natural disaster in the Indian Ocean in late 2004. "All hell broke loose. It was horrific, and we responded incredibly." He paused for a second. "At that very same time," he said, "more people were killed, raped and displaced in Darfur, and not one plug nickel went to them.

"How is it," he continued, "that we react to a natural disaster but when there's a man-made one we ignore it?"

Read More from the Anglican Journal: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/extra/news.html?newsItem=2006-05-09_a.news

Freed hostages stir pacifism debate By SUE CARELESS

Three kidnapped pacifists are being called ungrateful after allied troops risked their lives to rescue them following four months of captivity.... READ MORE

 

Interesting take on things - any thoughts?

 

Churchgoers live longer

By TERRY VANDERHAYDEN

Going to Church regularly may help you live longer, according to recently published research....READ MORE

 

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