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I saw this article from The Independent and thought it might be of interest to you John Sentamu: Is the Big Society big enough to offer shelter to refugees? The events of the first Easter were told against a social backdrop of violence, injustice, migration, and the desperate search for safety. Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Passover that week, a festival that recalled their forebears' desperate flight from Egypt as refugees. Generations before, their ancestors had gone to Egypt as economic migrants. In the past weeks, as the turmoil in the Middle East has played out, Egypt has once again found itself a refuge for those seeking sanctuary. Having made historic changes in its own political settlment, it is admitting fugitives from the conflict in neighbouring Libya. © 2009 Independent News and Media Sent from my iPod

Summary of Stage 4 - The Journey Inward - unsettles us The fact that faith development becomes more about rediscovering God is unsettling. The process of unlearning and relearning comes through the emergence of a life of faith crisis. The certainities of life and faith are lost and once daely held answers no longer provide direction. The pursuit of personal integrity in relation to God causes the paradox and ambiguity of God being released from the box alongside an apparent loss of faith. Moving on from here involves embracing the paradox and at the very least being open to the possibility of allowing for a new certainty in God. The search for self that has dominiated needs to be recogised for what it is, and moving away from ego dominated thinking opens the meaning of the true cost of obedience. While reflection is important, the consumption of self centred assesment and constant pride fueled questioning imobilises people. The letting go of spiritual ego and accepting God's pu...

Sang these words by Francis Bottome as part of Holy Week this morning and the themes of fullness, kenosis, mystical union, mission hit me between the eyes. Precious Jesus, O to love thee! O to know that thou art mine! Jesus, all my heart I give thee If thou wilt but make it thine. Chorus Glory, glory, Jesus saves me, Glory, glory to the Lamb! O the cleansing blood has reached me, Glory, glory to the Lamb! 2. Take my warmest, best affection, Take my memory, mind and will; Then with all thy loving Spirit All my emptied nature fill. 3. Bold I touch thy sacred garment, Fearless stretch my eager hand; Virtue, like a healing fountain, Freely flows at love’s command. 4. O how precious, dear Redeemer, Is the love that fills my soul! It is done, the word is spoken: Be thou every whit made whole. 5. Lo, a new creation dawning! Lo, I rise to life divine! In my soul an Easter morning; I am Christ’s and Christ is mine.

I saw this article from The Independent and thought it might be of interest to you Losing our religion: The Church of England in decline As the faithful look forward to Easter and the Archbishop of Canterbury prepares to officiate at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, it may seem inappropriate to be discussing the future of his Church. But this Easter week, I can't help feeling – more than ever – that the Church of England will not survive my children's lifetime and quite possibly not even my own. © 2009 Independent News and Media Sent from my iPod

Perhaps more a case of found lyrics rather than lost - but these words by H. Ernest Nichol caught my eye. We've a story to tell to the nations, That shall turn their hearts to the right. A story of truth and mercy, A story of peace and light, A story of peace and light. Refrain For the darkness shall turn to dawning, And the dawning to noonday bright; And Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth, The Kingdom of Love and Light. We've a song to be sung to the nations, That shall lift their hearts to the Lord, A song that shall conquer evil And shatter the spear and sword, And shatter the spear and sword. That the Lord who regins up above, Has sent us His Son to save us, And show us that God is love, And show us that God is love. We've a Saviour to show to the nations, Who the path of sorrow has trod, That all of the world's great peoples Might come to the truth of God, Might come to the truth of God.

I saw this article from The Independent and thought it might be of interest to you Johann Hari: The plan to save Ed Miliband I am worried about Ed Miliband. I backed him to be leader of the Labour Party. I badly want him to beat David Cameron at the next general election. But here's my problem. He has been leader of the Labour Party for six months now, and my mother, my father, my brother and my sister – all normal British people on average or lower incomes who swing between parties – haven't noticed him yet. He hasn't said or done anything that has jutted into their stressed and busy lives. They have no thoughts about him at all. And there's a more worrying postscript still. There isn't yet a single five-minute clip I could send them of Miliband where they would consistently understand what he was saying, or identify with it. © 2009 Independent News and Media Sent from my iPod