Drug Helpline Gives Teens Wrong Advice

The Government’s drugs helpline is telling 13-year-olds that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol, it has been revealed. When a reporter rang the FRANK helpline posing as a teenager who was worried about the consequences of taking an ecstasy tablet, the adviser said “take a half of one and see how you go and if you are handling that ok, you can take the other half”.

The reporter was also told they would probably “be able to have spliff” after taking ecstasy without any major side-effects. Drugs experts have expressed alarm at the inaccurate information being offered by the telephone helpline, FRANK, which received £6.5 million in public funding in 2008-09.

During the calls the Sunday Telegraph reporters were told not to worry about occasionally smoking cannabis and were asked what would be achieved by telling a friend’s parents they had begun using the drug.

A reporter posing as a 13-year-old worried about a friend using cannabis was told: “If you just keep it at weekends, I don’t think it’s likely to cause him any major problems.” Neil McKeganey, professor of drug misuse research, University of Glasgow, called the advice “misplaced, pro drug propaganda, targeted at young people and dressed up as advice and support”.

He warned: “Research has shown that the younger the age at which someone starts to smoke cannabis the greater the likelihood that they will experience serious mental health problems as a result of their drug use.”

The Home Office recently referred to FRANK as “the key channel by which government communicates the dangers of drugs, including cannabis, to young people”. Responding to the weekend’s disclosures, a spokesman for the department said it was “urgently looking into the matter and will identify the person or persons involved and take action”.

When asked earlier this month about the training of FRANK advisers, health minister Dawn Primarolo said in a written answer that they were given “a comprehensive training programme” including “a number of themes such as drugs and their effects, attitudes and awareness of drugs, how problematic drug use affects children and families and child protection”. She added that only “individuals who have worked in relevant settings, for example the drugs field, counselling, nursing or social work, and who have excellent communication skills are recruited to become FRANK advisers”.

Cannabis was reclassified as a class B drug last year after a campaign by police chiefs and medical experts pointing out the harm associated with it. It had been moved down to class C in 2004. The Government came under fire earlier this year after it emerged that teenagers were being given tips on how to smoke cannabis in a booklet called Know Cannabis.

Source: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/20090420/drugs-hotline-gives-teens-wrong-advice/

Scotland’s Butterfly (Ray Comfort)

Scotland’s butterfly

When Scotland’s Susan Boyle stood in front of a cynical crowd at Britain’s equivalent of American Idol, I was reminded of how wonderful it is when that which is despised, suddenly stops the mouths of a proud and conceited world.

It is an astonishing twist of nature when the grub turns into a butterfly. Such is the case with the despised Savior of the world. No other name in history has ever been used as a cuss word to such an extent. Try and think of one. No other name has been spat out of Hollywood’s blasphemous lips with such utter contempt, as the Name of Jesus Christ.

But the time is coming when He will manifest His unspeakable glory to a God-hating, cynical and evil-loving world. Scripture (which must be fulfilled) says that every knee will bow to Him as Lord (see Philippians 2:9-11). What an unspeakable vindication that will be for those who love God and that which is right and just.

The song Susan Boyle chose was “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables.” The words are very powerful:

I dreamed a dream in time gone by,

When hope was high

And life worth living.

I dreamed that love would never die.

I dreamed that God would be forgiving.

Then I was young and unafraid

And dreams were made and used and wasted.

There was no ransom to be paid

No song unsung, no wine untasted.

But the tigers come at night

With their voices soft as thunder

As they tear your hope apart

And they turn your dream to shame.

He slept a summer by my side.

He filled my days with endless wonder.

He took my childhood in his stride,

But he was gone when autumn came.

And still I dream he’ll come to me

That we will live the years together.

But there are dreams that cannot be,

And there are storms we cannot weather.

I had a dream my life would be

So different from this hell I’m living,

So different now from what it seemed,

Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

Should you make it through to old age, this will be your song. There storms of life are coming and you cannot weather them, if you haven’t been wise and built your house upon the rock (see Matthew 7:24). A godless life will leave you disillusioned, bitter, fearful, with nothing but shattered dreams.

So many of today’s generation have grown old prematurely and are already angry and deeply cynical about life. But this need not be. We need not “dream” that God is forgiving. He is rich in mercy to all that call upon Him, but that forgiveness is alone in the One He provided as a despised Savior (see Isaiah 53:3-4). Repent and trust in Him and you will share His reproach.

Thank God, there is no ransom to be paid, because it was paid 2,000 years ago when Jesus of Nazareth suffered for our sins, rose from the dead defeating death and proving God’s love for sinners such as us. Today, make peace with Him because you are not guaranteed old age.

So Excited About Church!

I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed church as much as I have today.

Including my wife and myself there were only 4 adults present, but it was such a beautiful service. It was what I always dreamed church should be like: people are loved and are loving, people can share their deepest needs and people are stepping forward in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Please pray for us for wisdom and boldness at this time. We have applied to the local council for a hall to use starting in August and intend to have a “Wonderful News” crusade in the week preceding starting our public meetings again. All is very very exciting at the moment…

Blessings,
Ben

I am now on Twitter – does that make me a twit?!

http://twitter.com/holytwiglets

Please come and follow our Holy Twiglet’s twitter site.

Blessings,
Ben

Christianity slated on Corrie Easter special

Dozens of viewers have complained to the television regulator after an episode of Coronation Street, broadcast on Easter Sunday, featured a string of outbursts against Christianity.

The popular TV soap’s Easter special featured a series of outspoken attacks on the Christian faith by veteran character Ken Barlow.

Barlow, played by actor Bill Roach, accused Christian believers of targeting “vulnerable people”, and claimed his grandson Simon was being “indoctrinated” by Christianity at church and at his primary school.

“I went to his assembly at school last week,” he said, “and they had artwork on the wall depicting ‘the Creation’. He is being taught creationism.”

Barlow later told Simon that “Scientists, for instance, think that the universe began after a big explosion and that we don’t need religions and superstitions in our lives and that we don’t need God and heaven and hell”.

In another scene Barlow said he believed “even children should be told ‘the truth’”.

When a friend admitted to finding church “comforting” when faced with bereavement, Barlow responded: “Well of course it’s comforting; that’s how they get their hooks into you when you’re feeling vulnerable”.

Message boards on the ITV website have been inundated with comments from outraged viewers. The television regulator, Ofcom, has received dozens of complaints.

ITV responded through a spokesperson who said: “Coronation Street is a soap opera set in modern society and therefore represents views from all sides of the religious spectrum.

“At the moment we have a very positive story involving Sophie Webster and her new found interest in religion, Emily Bishop has also always been seen as a very positive representation of Christianity.

“Likewise Ken Barlow’s different views on religion have always been a strong aspect of his character”.

Last week it was reported that an imminent Coronation Street plotline will involve ‘born-again Christian’ character Sophie Webster embarking on a lesbian relationship with another girl, possibly from her Bible study group.

I Dreamed a Dream…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

This is one of the most powerful lessons on not to judge a book by its cover and a chance to enjoy a beautiful performance and see Piers Morgan dumbfounded all at once.

Blessings,
Ben

Psalm 112 (NLT)

Psalm 112

1 Praise the Lord!

How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

Africa needs Christ – so says atheist journalist!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

Found this article the other day, and thought it was really fascinating. Any comments below.

Blessings,
Ben

He is Alive!

In the end of the Resurrection season, I just want to say very clearly: JESUS IS ALIVE.

We as Christians are not looking to the teachings of a dead and buried philosopher like the Muslims and Buddhists – we have a relationship with God who became a human, was crucified for our sins, and who rose again on the third day and who is STILL ALIVE TODAY.

Jesus is still the same as He ever was: the sick are still being healed, lives are still being transformed, marriages are still being restored.

Jesus is alive and you, through the Holy Spirit, can have a relationship with Him. In fact, according to John 16.13, you can have a better relationship with Jesus than you could ever have had while He was on earth in the flesh. You, through fellowship with the Holy Spirit, can have more joy, more peace, work more miracles and have more fun than if you were one of the twelve.

You can believe that and receive that or you can doubt and do without.

Selah!

Blessings,
Ben