Toilets in the Bible

“You must have a designated area outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. Each of you must have a spade as part of your equipment. Whenever you relieve yourself, dig a hole with the spade and cover the excrement. The camp must be holy, for the Lord your God moves around in your camp to protect you and to defeat your enemies. He must not see any shameful thing among you, or he will turn away from you" Deuteronomy 23:12-14
The Bible is a surprising book. Sometime people say its irrelevant, out of date, only involved with the "spiritual" parts of our lives. But I disagree, the God who made us in the first place knows all about us, he created the digestive system after all! The Bible has a lot to say about practical things,how we are to live safely and securely, how to relate to others as well as worship Him.
This passage illustrates to me that God cares for the welfare of those he has created. Sanitation and water are essential for life, just witness the recent cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe to see how many suffered and died because of the lack of fresh water. In case we get too heavenly minded God reminds us that he is interested in all people, all of life, and that he cares about justice.
Justice for those deprived of basic needs like water and toilets. Someone quoted a figure of £17 billion to make sure everyone in the world had access to these basic needs. How little is this, compared to what we spend on so many other things?
Lets stand up for those who have so little, and so vulnerable, God cares, and so should we

Make Life Flow

Make Life Flow - Stidia's Story

JAM meeting

Next JAM meeting 20th May 7:45pm @ 2 West Avenue

World Debt Day Saturday 16th May

A year ago I remember travelling to Birmingham with Louiese to the Journey for Justice where over 1,000 campaigners marked 10 years since the G8 human chain and urged politicains to tackle the unfinished business of the debt campaign. Lots has happened since then and now there are fears that the financial crisis will lead to a new debt crisis for developing countries. This month has seen some significant steps forward for the debt movement. "Haiti and Liberia, two countries we’ve been calling to have debt cancellation for many years, have finally had some of their debts wiped out. In the UK Parliament, meanwhile, a cross-party group of MPs has demanded a law to regulate the vulture funds which profiteer from poor country debt.....At the same time, not enough has changed. Haiti and Liberia have had to wait years for a tiny fraction of the help that some of our banks have been given in a matter of days. Both countries are still waiting to complete the debt relief process and have many hoops to jump through before that can happen. " (Jubilee Debt Campaign)



I read such information and the injustice in our World makes me sick and leads me to rant. Why is there one law for the poor and another for the rich? When we fear a swine flu outbreak we can't act quickly enough or spend money more freely, and yet those trapped in extreme poverty die every three seconds. Does a child born in Africa matter less to God than one born in the UK? Was it young men and women's own fault that they die from poverty? Do we really believe that the West is doing enough? Are we really fobbed off by some action which is really only a meaningless gesture?



For me personally the isssue of debt was the beginning of my journey into understanding more about the injustice in our world. Since then I learn about more and more and more and more justice issues. I could quite easily despair, but I don't because our God is sovereign and our hope rests on him. The following passage from Psalm 37 is a personal favorite and a promise I'm clinging to. " Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Trust in him, committ your ways to him and he will do this he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.... be still and wait patiently for him."

Traidcraft Cyclone Challenge 2009

Traidcraft: Cyclone Challenge 2009
This cycling event takes place in the beautiful Northumberland countryside on Saturday 13th June. You can choose from three distances, 31 miles, 62 miles or 100 mile and ride at your own pace, whilst enjoying the countryside.
How your support helps
Traidcraft project in India aims to help cotton farmers to widen their crop base to improve soil fertility and productivity and reduce dependence on cotton alone.
Register here

MPs warn of 'slave trade' in UK

Read more of what is happening to children trafficked in Britain according to a report by the Home affairs committee of MPs here
Lets remember to act and pray on behalf of these, even in our own community who are at risk of exploitation.

Fairtrade Galaxy

Six weeks after launching STOP THE TRAFFIK's campaign March on Mars, Mars made an announcement. They have promised to make their GLOBAL product range traffik free by 2020, starting with Galaxy bars in the UK and Ireland next year.

Mars are giving us a short term commitment with Galaxy bars. Let's keep asking for evidence of long term, global change.
http://www.stopthetraffik.org

Fairtrade in India

Traidcraft video on why they are setting up a fairtrade market in India
http://www.ethical.tv/node/185

Justice for the poor and...... Radiohead

Deuteronomy 10:17-18
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. (ESV)

Psalm 68:5-6
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. (ESV)

Job 31:16-23
“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired,
or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
or have eaten my morsel alone,
and the fatherless has not eaten of it
(for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father,
and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow,
if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
or the needy without covering,
if his body has not blessed me,
and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
because I saw my help in the gate,
then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.
For I was in terror of calamity from God,
and I could not have faced his majesty. (ESV)

i'm the next act
waiting in the wings
i'm an animal
trapped in your hot car
i'm all the days
that you choose to ignore

you are all i need
you are all i need
i'm in the middle of the picture
lying in the leaves

i am a moth
who just wants to share your light
i'm just an insect
trying to get out of the night
we only stick like glue
because there are no others

you are all i need
you are all i need
i'm in the middle of the picture
lying in the leaves

it's all right
it's all wrong
it's all right
it's all wrong
it's all right
it's all wrong
it's all right


Thanks to Dr Chris Wright for this from his blog http://bibleandmission.wordpress.com/

Come and meet us

This Saturday,May 9th is the open day for the new Heaton Baptist Church Life Centre.
Please come along.There will be lots of activities and a Fairtrade stall, with information, a chance to chat and have some free samples of fairly traded goods
10-2pm Heaton Road, Heaton

Walk for water

Over 30 people walked from Tynemouth to Whitley Bay to raise money for the Samaritan's purse Turn on the Tap campaign. It was great to chat and enjoy each others' company, while remembering that the distance we walked today, is the average distance that people in Africa have to walk to get fresh water. We raised around £400.

Walk for water May 4th 2pm Tynemouth

I walked along my corridor at work, up the stairs and made myself a nice cup of tea. if I had a penny for everyone who told me it was a long way down the corridor to see me, I'd be a millionaire! It is so simple for me to quench my thirst, I never have to be without, refreshement and enjoyment on tap.
Water is a vital necessity, but not just the clean, pure stuff that comes from the tap, each day. Jesus used it as a metaphor for life. The Samaritan woman who came under the heat of the midday sun to draw water got much more than she expected from Jesus- recognition, validation of her as a person, not just a hated neighbour, and someone who looked inside her, knew all about her and loved her still. He went on to offer her life, a full life, when she would never be thirsty and have relationship with God forever
When we enable clean water and sanitation, we don't just prevent people from dying prematurely from disease and thirst, we offer the practical expression of love, that says "you matter, have dignity, are important, are human". Its not an added extra, its reflecting the love of God, in those who bear his image.
Walk for Water Monday May 4th 2pm.
We're organising a walk for water. Walkers join in the walk and agree to either be sponsored for taking part or a one-off amount of £4 towards Turn on the Tap. (£1 per mile!), 4 miles so suitable for all ages, including smaller children.
Tynemouth along the beach to Whitley Bay. We will meet at 2pm, at the Priory end of the main street in Tynemouth
http://www.turnonthetap.org.uk/walkforwater


Please contact Andy Carlisle for details andycarlisle@gmail.com