Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realise it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfil it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Teresa

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Thanks to Gareth Squire for drawing my attention to this.  

He writes: Radiohead at their best. Makes me think about what’s on our feet.
You can make a difference. Check out the link:

http://paceebene.org/blog/jarrod-mckenna/radiohead-and-righteous-boots  

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YOU MUST WATCH THIS 

I was forwarded the link below from Kay Rowbottom and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Please watch the video clip with your speakers turned up.  Make sure you get to the very end … it REALLY IS worth taking time to see.

Wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4 

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Take a look at the following link that my sister-in-law, Fiona, passed to me. 

Make sure you have your speakers on - it’s very powerful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

Could it be your welcoming committee in heaven?

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I arise today
through a mighty strength:
God’s power to guide me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s eyes to watch over me;
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to give me speech,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to shelter me,
God’s host to secure me.  Amen.

Bridgid of Gael - the Celtic Saint
(not to be confused with Brighid the pagan Goddess of the Gael)

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Thanks to Luke Penwald who sent me this link. 

Thought I would share it with you - don’t forget to turn your speakers on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzqCyt8dxPY

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Dear Lord, give me the truths which are veiled by the doctrines and articles of faith,
which are masked by the pious words of sermons and books. 
Let my eyes penetrate the veil, and tear off the mask,
that I can see your truth face to face.

Saint John of the Cross – Spanish mystic and Carmelite friar and priest (1542 - 1591)

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Colin Lowther (HCJB) is updating a list of existing Christian content on UK commercial radio for distribution at the Churches Media Council Conference commercial radio stream.  This includes specific ‘religious’ shows as well as thoughts for the day etc.

A lot can change in a year in the commercial radio industry as I’m sure you are aware…!   We already know of a number of shows that have been axed.

If you know of any infomation or changes that would be useful in the updating process, please could you send Colin ,or me, an email.  

Colin suggests using three headings:

• the future
• relationship with management
• listener feedback

There’s no need to write a lot, just a sentence or two for each will do.

If you know of the existence of other Christian material on stations that we may not know about, please could you send those details as well.

Having this information is really helpful to get a full picture of what is happening across the country.

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Bear Grylls and Ray Mears are slugging it out for the title of best TV survival expert. Meanwhile there’s no doubting who’s best to help you survive in the digital jungle.

The annual Churches’ Media Conference is just two weeks away. Have you booked yet? If not, there are so many reasons why you should be there.

Facing up to the digital future
This year’s conference has been designed to help you face up to digital the future with challenging input from industry experts, programme-makers and faith leaders. Key contributors include BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones on the digital future, broadcasting analyst Tim Gardam on safeguarding values and Clarence Mitchell on the inside story of the McCann’s and the media. Plus major sessions on digital convergence, new media ethics and new initiatives in faith broadcasting. And Labib Madanat comes to us direct from Gaza with a unique experience of working in one of the world’s most difficult places.

Click here to book your place at the Churches’ Media Conference
If that wasn’t enough there will also be…

Highly relevant strands
Tackle the issues that affect you alongside others from your own industry sector. Take part in specialist strands include communications and PR, religious broadcasting, on-line, commercial radio and local media.

The Blue Room
Get your hands on the latest digital kit inThe Blue Room, our technology playground. See and experience the very latest in gaming consoles, mobile and PC devices, and new ways of accessing content in the home, courtesy of the BBC and Sony.

Preview screenings
See previews of the year’s big films including Disney’s Prince Caspian and BBC2’s God on Trial, as well as shorts from up-coming producers.

Click here to book your place at the Churches’ Media Conference

Entertainment and refreshment
Enjoy top flight comedy from the amazing Milton Jones and cool cocktail jazz from Still Time Band. Make new contacts, meet old friends, relax in the bar or take part in the optional worship programme.

Brand new conference fringe
Join in the ad hoc debates, screenings, soapboxes and workshops”¦or offer a session of your own and get the conference talking.

Click here to book your place at the Churches’ Media Conference

There’s no other annual gathering like the Churches’ Media Conference.

I hope you will be there.

The conference is organised by the Churches’ Media Council and sponsored by Bible Society.

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Forgive them all, O Lord:
Our sins of omission and our sins of commission;
The sins of our youth and the sins of our riper years;
The sins of our souls and the sins of our bodies;
Our secret and our more open sins;
Our sins of ignorance and surprise,
And our more deliberate and presumptuous sin;
The sins we have done to please ourselves
And the sins we have done to please others;
The sins we know and remember,
And the sins we have forgotten;
The sins we have striven to hide from others
And the sins by which we have made others offend;
Forgive them, O Lord, forgive them all for his sake,
Who died for our sins and rose for our justification,
And now stands at thy right hand to make intercession for us,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

John Wesley (1703 - 1791)

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Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a right faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen.

Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
Roman Catholic friar and founder of the Order of the Friars Minor - known as the Franciscans.

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As St. John of the Cross said:

“Mission is putting love where love is not.”

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Experienced broadcasters in commercial radio will get the chance to offer tips and advice to conference delegates at a special event in Swanwick, Derbyshire in June.

The Churches Media Conference will feature a special commercial radio “stream”, showcasing examples of successful Christian programming on commercial radio, and giving tips on how to draw Christian content from the tabloid press.  Participants will also hear “things I wish they told me when I started” – with ideas for making better links and creative content.

A further session will look at how broadcasters can engage with religion in a society that doesn’t care much for it, in “Communicating Christianity Irreligiously”.

The Churches Media Conference runs from Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th June, at the Hayes Conference centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. Main speakers include Clarence Mitchell (Spokesperson for Kate and Gerry McCann), and  BBC technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones.

For details visit www.churchesmediacouncil.org.uk

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For prayer and information:

While many are struggling to get on the ground in Myanmar and China to respond to the recent catastrophes, HCJB Global Voice has been faithfully reaching these two countries via shortwave radio. The mission’s ongoing media efforts are focused on reaching those beyond the reach of traditional ministry opportunities.

Broadcasts in the Rawang language, spoken by more than 140,000 people in Myanmar, began airing from HCJB Global-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra in 2007. Two half-hour programmes in this language air daily - one slot in the morning and one in the afternoon.

A voice of hope is also going into China as the Australian station broadcasts 18 hours of Mandarin programming each week. An additional five hours of weekly programming airs in Fujian, and 10.5 hours of English programming reaches China. The latter broadcasts are designed to help Chinese listeners learn English as a second language while presenting a clear gospel message.

HCJB Global has been reaching out to listeners with the claims of Christ for more than 75 years via short-wave radio, local FM radio and now satellite radio and the Internet. We partner with churches and missions around the world to help them fulfil Christ’s Great Commission through media and medical ministries.

In Britain, rather than focus on the traditional world of Christian radio, HCJB Global (UK) has a passion to reach those outside the church who listen to mainstream radio stations. To achieve this we use the name ‘Whistling Frog Productions’ - placing our own award-winning radio material on local commercial stations, resourcing Christians already working in the radio industry and offering quality training to aspiring Christian broadcasters. HCJB Global (UK) also runs AUDIOPOT (www.audiopot.org) the UK’s on-line library of creative Christian audio. This popular website offers free access to over 1900 MP3 files of thoughts, interviews and features - easy to search and perfect for illustrating talks, starting discussions in the classroom or playing on local radio.

www.hcjb.org.uk

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‘O my God, since Thou art with me,
 and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands,
 apply my mind to these outward things,
 I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy presence;
 and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance,
 receive all my works, and possess all my affections.’

‘Lord of all pots and pans and things …
 Make me a saint by getting meals
 And washing up the plates!’

Amen.

Brother Lawrence (1605-1691)

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Received this from my colleague Jonathan Green. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrlSkU0TFLs

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There are just a few hours left to book for the Churches’ Media Conference if you don’t want to miss out on the special ‘early bookers’ rate.

The digital revolution has arrived. IPTV, social networking, blogging, gaming and mobile technology are changing all the rules. New plat forms create new possibilities. Fresh expectations from audiences demand new ways of working from producers and communicators.

This year’s Churches’ Media Conference will equip you to find your way through the digital jungle. There will be keynote sessions on convergence, media ethics, social networking, new initiatives in faith broadcasting.

We will also have challenging questions to face; who is setting the values agenda for tomorrow’s media? Does Public Service Broadcasting mean anything in the new media environment? Is Religious Broadcasting coming to an end - or is it ripe for transformation?  Thankfully we have an outstanding range of contributors to help us. They include:

former Newsnight editor Tim Gardam
BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones
theologians David Wilkinson and James Hanvey,
atheist philosopher Julian Baggini
broadcaster and church leader Bishop Nick Baines
CEO of Premier Radio Peter Kerridge
Sarah Joseph, Editor of the Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel.

We’ll also have the inside story of The McCanns and the Media from their official spokesman Clarence Mitchell. And we will have an extraordinary chance to hear from the head of the Palestinian Bible Society Labib Madanat.

We’ve also created even better opportunities to meet and work with colleagues from your particular media sector.

Of course there will also be time to network and relax. I’m delighted that BBC Radio 4 comedian Milton Jones will with us. And once again we’ll usher in the Summer with cool jazz from Still Tim e Band.

The conference will take place from Monday 9th - Wednesday 11th June 2008 at the Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire.

For more information about the conference and to book your place please click here. But remember, you must book by Friday 9th May to get the special ‘early bookers’ rate.

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Lord, take as your right, and receive as my gift,
all my freedom, my memory,
my understanding and my will.
Whatever I am and whatever I possess,
you have given to me;
I restore it all to you again,
to be at your disposal,
according to your will.
Give me only a love for you,
and the gift of your grace;
then I am rich enough,
and ask for nothing more.

Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491 - 1556)

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theMediaNet Academy is a 3-day training course in which industry professionals will work intensively with aspiring producers to give them a grounding in TV, radio and on-line production. They will work on the production of an on-line soap opera Joel Bloggs - a story about a young journalist facing a crisis of conscience. The story will be launched by the group using video, audio and the web.

Christians aged 18-35 are invited to apply for places at the academy. Training and accommodation are all provided free of charge thanks to generous support from Leicester Diocese and the Christian Evidence Society. Trainees will only be asked to cover the costs of travel and a £30 admin fee on registration. To find out more or download an application form, visit the academy website or call 0845 6520027.

theMediaNet Academy takes place in parallel with the Churches’ Media Conference at Swanwick, Derbyshire from 9 - 11 June 2008. The conference, which is sponsored by Bible Society, will focus on values in the digital environment. Industry experts including BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones will engage with theologians and church leaders.

The training academy has a strong record of helping media entrants. Previous graduates include Mark Browning (now Programme Director of Heart 106.2) and Christopher Landau (reporter for BBC Radio News).

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O blessed Jesus, give me stillness of soul in Thee.
Let Thy mighty calmness reign in me;
Rule me, O King of gentleness, king of peace.
Give me control, great power of self-control,
Control over my words, thoughts and actions.
From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, dear Lord, deliver me.
By Thine own deep patience, give me patience.
Make me in this and all things more and more like Thee.

St. John of the Cross (1542 – 1591)

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