Bloggers given new Ten Commandments by church leaders

Just wanted to share this article, thought it very interesting……

Christian bloggers have been given a new set of 'Ten Commandments' aimed at delivering them from the temptations of online arguments.

Article from The Daily Telegraph by Alastair Jamieson

The guidelines have been drawn up at a conference in London by the Evangelical Alliance in response to concern at how religious blogs can quickly descend into vitriol.

The commandments, based on those delivered to Moses by God at the top of Mount Sinai, order bloggers not to "make an idol" of their web space, not to misuse their screen name by using anonymity to sin and to remember the Sabbath by taking one day off a week from blogging. They also order: "You shall not use the web to commit or permit adultery in your mind."

The Evangelical Alliance is an umbrella group founded in 1846 that represents thousands of churches of most denominations nationwide

Bloggers are commanded to honour their fellow bloggers and not to get too upset by their mistakes. They shall not murder the reputation of another blogger, shall not give false testimony against a fellow blogger and shall not steal the blog content of another.

Bloggers are also told to be content with their own creation and not to covet their neighbour's blog ranking. Many thousands of blogs have sprung up in the past few years, offering easy access to online opinion forums to any user of the internet.

The "instant access" nature of most blogs means people posting comments often do so in the heat of passion and rarely stop to reflect, as they would if giving a lecture or writing a letter.

The result can be intemperate and sometimes foul language aimed at either the author of the blog or other contributors.

Krish Kandiah, executive director of Churches in Mission, said: "These commandments are virtual rather than set in stone, but are offered to the blogging community as a way to link the Ten Commandments with the art of blogging.

"In the ever-changing information age, what we need is wisdom for life, and God communicates wisdom to our culture through the Bible on every issue from social justice to social networking."

Mark Meynell, senior associate minister for All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, said: "The internet is merely the latest step in the evolution of human communication – and so like any other new medium, it presents us with huge opportunities as well as challenges.

"It is essential that Christians make the most of it because we believe we have good news that is as relevant to those in cyberspace as it is for those in real space."

Ten commandments for bloggers:

1 You shall not put your blog before your integrity

2 You shall not make an idol of your blog

3 You shall not misuse your screen name by using your anonymity to sin

4 Remember the Sabbath day by taking one day off a week from your blog

5 Honour your fellow-bloggers above yourselves and do not give undue significance to their mistakes

6 You shall not murder someone else's honour, reputation or feelings

7 You shall not use the web to commit or permit adultery in your mind

8 You shall not steal another person's content

9 You shall not give false testimony against your fellow-blogger

10 You shall not covet your neighbour's blog ranking. Be content with your own content

Quote for the day (9)

There is no point in cutting off a person's nose and then giving them a rose to smell.

Indian Proverb

Bible Reading by Oscar Pistorius - Hebrews 12:1-3

Oscar Pistorius (Blade Runner) winning the 400m gold at the Bejing Paralympics 2008, thus completing his hat trick of golds.

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Quote for the day (8)

Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and schools combined; without the eloquence of schools, He spoke words of life such as never were spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of any orator or poet; without writing a single line, He has set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art and sweet songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times. Born in a manger, and crucified as a malefactor, He now controls the destinies of the civilized world, and rules a spiritual empire which embraces one-third of the inhabitants of the globe. There never was in this world a life so unpretending, modest, and lowly in its outward form and condition, and yet producing such extraordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men. The annals of history produce no other example of such complete and astonishing success in spite of the absence of those material, social, literary, and artistic powers and influences which are indispensable to success for a mere man.

Philip Schaff (1819 - 1893)

PS. I know this is not the normal short one but worth it!

Who is this knocking......?

Who is this knocking at the door of my heart?
I don’t want to let whoever it is in
I have opened the door of my heart
A thousand times before
And let people in
And all they do is rip my heart apart
And leave me bleeding and hurt
Dazed, broken and confused and wondering
Why, oh why did I ever let them in?
So I patch up my heart stitch it ever tighter
And reinforce my hearts door
But my heart keeps on bleeding out
More love and more love
And I get so little back
And feel I don’t have any love left
To give anymore…….
It’s all bled out and been sucked up
By those I’ve let in before
As I peer through the curtain of my soul
I cannot see anyone on the doorstep of my heart
But I feel that someone is just gently knocking
Knocking on the door of my heart
I’m too afraid to let them in
But just maybe this time it will be different
Why do I lie to myself in this way?
I’ve said that a thousand times before
And it’s never been good
And my heart is so fragile
Feels like it’s broken into millions of tiny pieces
I just can’t keep it together anymore
And I really don’t know what to do

Oh if only we knew
That the man who came to earth
Whose heart, soul and body
Bled and died for you
Is knocking on the door of your heart today
And only He can take your broken heart
And make it whole again
Only He can give the unconditional love
You so desperately crave
There is no one else like Him
So just open up the door of your heart
And let Him in.

Revelation 3:20 & 21
























Light of The World by William Holman Hunt 1854

Quote for the day (7)

If there were no God, there would be no Atheists.

G.K.Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

Great Christian Music - Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

The author of this hymn, William Williams, had been preparing for a career in medicine, but one Sunday morning he heard a man preaching in a Welsh churchyard. He responded in faith, and his life was drastically changed. For forty-three years, he preached and sang throughout Wales and became known as the poet laureate of the Welsh revival. Soon all Wales was singing their way to the coal mines and rugby and soccer matches, and this became their favorite marching song. (Just imagine that…..goosebumps!!)
In the hymn, Williams compares the Christian life to the Israelites trek through the wilderness. He refers to God feeding the children of Israel with manna, leading them with fire and a cloudy pillar, and finally guiding them across the Jordan River into Canaan, the promised land.

Scriptures: Exodus 13:22; Exodus 16:15; Psalm 48:14 Isaiah 58:11
Themes: Guidance, Deliverance, Security

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou are mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me now and evermore,
Feed me now and evermore,

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield,
Be Thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side;
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to Thee,
I will ever give to Thee.

Here is a version done by Robin Mark and The Mandate live at the Waterfront Hall in 2003.



William Williams (1717 – 1791)

Information taken from; The Complete Book of Hymns by William J Petersen and Ardythe Petersen.

Quote for the day (6)

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live





Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)

Jesus on (the mainline) my doorstep

So it must have been just going on eight in the evening when Allie called me to come and eat supper. I’d had a long tough day at work only getting home at six that evening and was just starting to unwind. I was looking forward to just watching something not too mentally challenging on television.

Suddenly the doorbell went. I wasn’t feeling up to being very social and I didn’t even really feel like answering the door but with a big inward sigh I went anyway. When I opened the door my heart sank even further, for there stood Portia and Claude in all their forlorn glory. Portia and Claude are a homeless couple who live on the street and they come on a semi regular basis to beg for food from either my wife or myself. “Oh Lord,” I thought as I spoke to Jesus, “do I really have to do this now?” I just wanted them to go away and to top it all they were really falling over drunk and shouting and screaming at each other.I told them to be quiet and to wait while I made them some sandwiches. I wanted to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

I went to the kitchen and Allie said that we had some chicken breyani over after she had dished up for us. So I put the breyani in two containers, heated it in the microwave, buttered some bread and got some fruit from the fridge. All the time I’m busy with the food I can hear Claude and Portia shouting and swearing at each other outside my kitchen window.

Well I opened our front door and called them to collect their food. I told them that they must go and eat their food as quickly as possible otherwise it would get cold. They then started accusing each other and telling me to pray for the others sins. So Claude was listing all Portia’s sins and saying that I really have to pray for her, and Portia was doing the same regarding Claude. I really didn’t feel like praying for either of them. I just wanted them to go and leave me in peace. I told them that they were too drunk and noisy for me to pray for them. I had no sooner uttered those words when I just ‘felt’ convicted to pray for both of them. I put one of my hands on each of their shoulders and just started praying for both of them. Suddenly amidst all the chaos and brokenness there was peace. They were both quiet and I felt at peace. It was a beautiful moment. Claude just started weeping quietly and then Portia. I prayed for a little while and then it was over. Claude and Portia thanked me, then gave some money to me for me to keep for them and then walked off into the night. It was a stunning moment with the Holy Spirit and made me reflect on the mercy, grace and love of Christ for days to come.

Then out of nowhere I got this song stuck in my head. I used to have it in my old vinyl collection so I’ll just share it here with you.



I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Wo, that line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Keep on calling Him up
And tell Him what you want

Well, if you want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
If you want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
If want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want

Well, if you're sick and wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
Well, if you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want

35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:35-40)