I love World Cup summers.
Even though we will more than likely be taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions only to be beaten on penalties, having had a goal disallowed (and probably a star player sent off)!
I love the buildup. The excitement. The epic video montages from past tournaments with over-emotional backing tracks. I love the gatherings, the community, the food and drink, the ‘expert’ opinions devising our own master plans to ensure entry to the next round. Penciling in optimistic predictions on the wall chart, and the toilet sprint between halves during extra time.
I love World Cup summers.
But many won’t get any of this. This summer so many that share our faith but not our freedom will be trapped.

Because they love Jesus.

We are asking people to ‘Blow the Whistle’ on persecution this World Cup. Visit http://www.opendoorsuk.org/blowthewhistle to find out more.

We as humans are designed for community and communities flourish when everyone is working towards the same goal.

I find this idea intriguing. What if this was what the Church was like, really like. Every separate element being a part of one unified concept. Wow. This is what Paul was getting at in 1 Corinthians 12: “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ….The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you”…This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad.”

If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it.

Join us in London this Saturday (22nd May) for Generate Justice, as we stand together as a voice for the voiceless and blow the whistle on persecution.

Here is a quote from John F. Kennedy: “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”

This reminded me of Paul’s words in Romans chapter 12 - “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.” (v2 The Message)

It is so easy to get sucked into apathy and indifference but that is not what God has for us. Even as something like the election at the moment reminds us, in this country we have a freedom and we can use it.

May we stand up for our faith…and theirs.

SHOCKWAVE 2010 was immense! Youth and students in over 50 countries were inspired to pray for the persecuted church. We’ve heard of young people becoming Christians at SHOCKWAVE events in Norway; others shared how SHOCKWAVE was the first time they prayed for something bigger than themselves. Check out some of our SHOCKWAVE pics on Facebook

We would love you to make space in your youth group, cu and church to pray and stand with those who share our faith but not our freedom in 2011 and pray sometime over the first weekend of March! We will give your resources to help you pray (prayer passport, video clips). Be part of a huge prayer surge led by young people - email us to get praying - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

What kind of stories are we telling with our lives? A good story depicted in a book or a movie will often be a kind of condensed version of a life, with the boring and meaningless bits cut out. Here’s a challenge for us this week- what if life could be lived more like a good story in the first place? What if we could live more intentionally?

Life is remarkable. Fact. But so easily we can be sucked in by apathy, impartiality, and lies. We are part of a bigger story, we are citizens of Heaven! Donald Miller says that we are trees in a story about a forest, and the story of the forest is better than the story of the tree.
What are we giving our lives to? What stories are we telling with our lives? Stories can be all sorts- from building an orphanage to doing the washing up. One thing you can do today is committing to give just £2.50 a month which will provide a young believer with a much desired and needed bible. Get involved and give

Because the world needs for us to write something better.