In recent years there has been a crisis in democracy in Britain. Political analyses believe that there has been an erosion of confidence in the institutions of representative democracy. They say that the reason for this attitude and also the growing cynicism is due to the decline in conventional participation: which has discouraged electoral turnout. In 1998, the House of Commons Affairs Committee investigated electoral law and administration, argued that the participation rates in British elections have been low and effects should be made to increase them.

Increasing turnout levels are important because it is healthy for a democratic and political system that participation in the electoral process should be as high as possible. The major factors affecting turnout relates to the voters’ general perceptions of the importance of their own vote and the views of the particular candidates standing for elections. One of the problems Britain face today are a lack of good, honest candidates with traditional morals and values. Voters’ once could clearly distinguish each party’s manifesto but in recent elections, this has been unclear.

Another reason why people are losing confidence in the democratic system is because they feel that the have been ignored and it seems no matter what the majority has to say the government does its own will. Take for example, in 1999 the Labour government announced that it intended to abolish Section 28, introduced under the Conservative administration of Margaret Thatcher to prevent local government providing funding for gay and lesbian groups and discussing homosexual relations in sex education classes in schools. A campaign to keep “Section 28″, accompanied by much public debate, was funded by a rich businessman, a Free Church member, who formed an alliance with certain religious groups and conservatives. Allegedly four million ballot papers were distributed, and about forty percent returned. Not surprisingly, those against teaching about homosexuality were more likely to take part and 80% voted to keep the bill. A poll of this type has no legal effect and parliament had announced in advance that the result would be ignored.[1]

Every elections in Britain people are free and without victimization to vote for a party of their choice. The reason we all vote is because we either believe the promises that the political party’s make or we vote for the one with the philosophies we agree to. For we all want to make Britain a better place. However some governments abuse their position and become a “democratic dictator”. They have been elected by the people and for the people yet in office they represent no one but the longevity of their party in power. Such examples are of Zimbabwe and the tyranny of Robert Magabe who during election after election forces the masses to vote for him or face the consequences. Britain is not that extreme however they as controlling, for example:

In Britain we have lost our privacy and we slowly coming into the days when we lose our freedom. Our Government has given itself unbelievable new powers to listen to, read and monitor all our communications and transactions. Personal privacy, the essence of true liberty, no longer exists. And the worst is yet to come. Our ruthless and abusive Government clearly intends to extend its powers still further and to continue to take away what few rights we have left and what little privacy remains. It seems that every new piece of legislation is now introduced in the name of terrorism.

Surveillance cameras are everywhere. The Government is bringing in ID cards. New legislation reducing our civil liberties is being introduced so quickly that civil liberties groups hardly have time to express outrage at one new piece of fascist legislation before another ism being prepared.
The Government keeps detailed records of every move we make. They have introduced new legislation, which has so damaged our personal security that identity theft is now one of the fastest growing types of crime. Personal privacy for law-abiding citizens is now just a memory. The law enforcement agencies have given up protecting the public (the task for which they are paid) and now spend most of their time persecuting motorists (an easy target and a ready source of income).

“The sovereignty of Parliament is, from a legal point of view, the dominant characteristic of our political institutions. Parliament consists of the King, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons acting together. The principle, therefore, of parliamentary sovereignty means neither more nor less than this, namely that “Parliament” has “the right to make or unmake any law whatever; and further, that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament.”[2]

[1] Sources: www.eurogay.co.uk, World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org

[2] Chap. I. p. 3, post. Parliament may itself by Act of Parliament either expressly or impliedly give to some subordinate legislature or other body the power to modify or add to INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE LAW OF THE CONSTITUTION by A. V. Dicey, All Souls College, Oxford, 1885

[3] See as to arrests, Stephen, Commentaries, iv. (i4th ed.), pp. 303-312.

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Ever tried praying and felt or saw nothing happen?…such times will definitely reveal your faith. When you are seeking for an answer and when no answer comes, feel like giving-up? Job said, “Oh that I knew where I might find Him.” Job was a blameless and upright man who feared God. Yet when difficulties had arisen he too was looking for God. Job was an exceptionally God fearing man who probably heard from God daily and always sensed God’s presence guiding and protecting Him.

In Job 23:3 the Bible mentions Job’s heartache amidst his troubles, “Oh that I knew where I might find him that I might come even to his seat!” Such a statement is not foreign to me, for there are days when I am enjoying being with God and His Word. Yet there are times when I awake to find that I’m alone and despite my prayers I can’t find Him. I search frantically like a blind man trying to switch on the light yet not able to see. I grope for the door handle which will lead me out of this circumstance yet I find no door.

Where is God?  My thoughts leads off racing in remembrances to the joy I once felt in His presence, to the comforting of His Word and to the security of being with Him. However I feel so far. Could it be liken to what Jesus felt at the cross when He had discovered that the Father had turned His face away from Him because of my sin thus He cried out, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me!”

Then mulling over for a moment I wonder whether it is God who has left me or I who have abandoned my God? I was having fun and taking my relationship with Him for granted that slowly, day after day I allowed the pressures and distractions of life to slowly replace my time with God. Unlike Job who could not find God, I am in a more privileged position as the Bible teaches that God has made His home in my life. Therefore wherever I am, I am the Church building/ temple to the presence of God. The reality of the situation is that I am never alone nor abandoned. He has always been around, I have moved away! To come back to God is simple; I merely need to yield to His will and not mine be done.

Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear NO evil!

Sounds like you? Get in touch…www.BrendonNaicker.com

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The Old Testament of the Holy Scriptures often portrays man’s unfaithfulness to a faithful God. We often compare ourselves to them and think we are not nearly so bad. We certainly haven’t totally forsaken God. We certainly don’t worship golden calves.

• Maybe we don’t worship golden calves, but we have other false concepts of God and other things we seek after.
• Maybe we don’t totally forsake God, but we mix our dependence on God with our dependence on other things.

We see nothing wrong with depending on our own resources and depending on our bank account, our work, our wife, our kids, our ministry to fulfil us. We only use God as a Force or Genie to help us in our pursuits. Listen to your prayers. How many times do you ask God to “HELP” you do something. When you do that are you saying that you can do most of it … that you just need a little help to finish the task? It is man’s natural tendency to want to make it on his own.

Our natural tendency is to want to earn our salvation by being good. But even after we recognise that salvation is totally by faith, we still want to have lists of do’s and don’ts. We think if we change our behaviour we will be able to accomplish what we want. Whether it is overcoming depression or some bad habit. We are determined to pursue our own self-interests, so we redefine God. We have decided what it means to really enjoy life – for most of us that is having enough money so we can buy all the things we think will make us happy – so we expect God to bless us.

For others it might be that perfect relationship with the opposite sex, because we think that person will be able to fill our deep longings, so we expect God to bring along the perfect mate. And when He does, and the marriage is not perfect like we had planned, What do we do? What do you do? When you pray for something and you don’t get it, who do you blame? Do you blame God?

Think for a moment!

• We don’t recognise God is the source of life, and we pursue the things we think will satisfy.
• We experience dryness in our soul because our own methods do not work. They do not satisfy.
• We are proud and don’t recognise our sin.
• We expect God to bless us because we think we deserve it because we think we are good. We think He owes us.
• We blame God when things don’t go just the way we want them to.

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Christians are Disciples of Christ Jesus. The word disciple means, learners; they are called to be pilgrims. Living in preparation towards another earth, that which would be pure, loving, without pain, and tears. Therefore, Jesus’ disciples are single-minded and focused towards the quest thereby taking the road called “Narrow Way.”  However if the disciple for any moment should look way from the “cross” which marks the spot, they shall find themselves on the other road called, “Broadway.” For that reason a disciple is like a soldier on duty who doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. It is similar to the diligent farmer who gets the produce. So should a Christian who loves Jesus must keep reminding themselves that:

If we die with him, we’ll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we’ll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he’ll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—
for there’s no way he can be false to himself.

Despite our current professions, Christians are called to first be Christians wherever they are at; so if you are a lawyer, pastor, cleaner, etc. We are to be Christians first and living according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. The authority of our faith should go above that of our employer or any other opposing authority.

You will be mocked, ridiculed, and persecuted!

In 1 Timothy 5:6,  “But they that live in pleasure is dead while they live.” Therefore we can deduce that the person who lives for pleasure is dead despite them even looking alive. Our faith goes above trying to maintain our lifestyles. Christianity is a lifestyle and not a commodity.

God is Lord Almighty, Omnipotent King, Lion of Judah, Rock of Ages, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Provider, Protector, Paternal Leader, Ruling Lord and Reigning King of all the universe.   He is Father, Helper, Guardian and God. He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End. He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all He keeps. The Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.  He always was, is, and will be:  Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone.

He was bruised and brought healing. He was pierced and eased pain. He was persecuted and brought freedom.  He was dead and brought life. He is risen and brings power. He reigns and brings Peace.  The world can’t understand him, the armies can’t defeat Him, the schools can’t explain Him, and the leaders can’t ignore Him.  Herod couldn’t kill Him, the Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him, the people couldn’t hold Him! Nero couldn’t crush Him. Hitler couldn’t silence Him, the New Age can’t replace Him and Ted Turner can’t
explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, kindness, gentleness, and God. He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. His ways are right, His word is eternal, His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me! His is my redeemer, He is my Saviour, He is my guide, He is my peace, He is my Joy, He is my comfort, He is my Lord and He rules my life.  I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.  I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and the sovereign Lord of all that was, is and is to come.  And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size. His goal is a relationship with ME! He will never leave me, forsake me, mislead me, forget me, overlook me, and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up. When I fail, He forgives me. When I am weak, He is strong.  When I am lost, He is The Way.  When I am afraid, He is my courage. When I stumble, He steadies me.  When I am hurt, He heals me. When I am broken, He mends me. When I am blind, He leads me. When I am hungry, He
feeds me. When I face trials, He is with me. When I face persecution, He stills me. When I face problems, He comforts me. When I face loss, He provides for me. When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and in every way. He is God, He is faithful, I am His, and He is mine.  My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world, and so, if you’re wondering why I feel so secure, understand this: He said it, and that settles it.  God is in control, I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.

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Only a short while ago the Lord’s friends gathered around to hear Him speak of great and wonderful things. The things of God, eternal things. We hung on every word, savoring it, digesting it. Now, they are gone and I alone remain, sitting at His feet. Like a delicate fragrance, the sound of His voice seems to linger in the air. I breathe in the essence of His presence and sigh. It’s good that I should be here; I want to stay forever. For a moment He shuffles in His seat and I fear that my Lord is going to leave. My heart sinks until I realise He is leaning forward and reaching out His hands to me.  All at once the child in me comes alive as Jesus lifts me to His lap and cradles me in His arms. Tears of joy fill my eyes and overflow, cascading down my cheeks. I weep softly and bury my face in the folds of His robe as His strong arms close around me. Who am I that the Lord should hold me so tenderly? Did He hear my anguished cry for more of Him? Had He peered into the depths of my heart and dug through the sin and deeply rooted pride and greed and actually found  some good buried there? Is there any good in me? I am still so slow to learn, so quick to fall. My reasoning weaves a maze through my mind as I try to comprehend. As Jesus draws me closer to Himself, a thread of gold enters the woven maze in my mind and I understand. Jesus holds me not because of my goodness, but His; not because of my love for Him, but rather, because of His great love for me. My thoughts become a blur, struggling to grasp what is unimaginable for the human mind. He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than I think or imagine. My Lord and my God loves me. I savour this delicious morsel of truth as He gently cradles me in His strong arms like a dear beloved child, and holds me close to His chest. A favourite Scripture from Isaiah comes to mind: “You are mine, you are precious in my sight and I love you.” I ponder this, these words meant for me as well. As I listened to the Saviour’s heartbeat, He also was listening to mine. What I couldn’t put into words He heard from the cry of my heart. My desire for Him. My love for Him. My longing to be with Him. And the heartbreaking sorrow I felt for ever having done anything that put a distance between my beloved Jesus and I. For a moment He stops rocking me and I can feel His warm breath on my forehead. He tenderly says, child, look at me. I am reluctant to look up because I know that my eyes will meet His. What I have longed for, now suddenly fills me with dread. I fear what He will see in the face of this unworthy child. His fingers are beneath my chin and He raises my head until my eyes meet His. What I see is more beautiful than words can express. In His eyes there is an ocean of love, deeper, wider, and higher than all the world can contain. His eyes are the colour of mercy. For a moment I feel as if I am little more than an ant at the foot of the cross, just beginning to comprehend His love and sacrifice. The King of all the universe is gazing into my eyes and communicating His love to me. Jesus’ hand is warm against my face. He cups my cheek and wipes away my tears with His thumb. God’s thumb, wiping away my tears. He holds my face firmly for a moment and looks deep into my eyes as if to say, this is important, listen to Me. His eyes seem to plead with me as He speaks. He wants me to understand and believe it. As His eyes fill with tears, He says, “This is why I did it; so I could hold you and love you for eternity.”

Pentecostalism is arguably the most important mass religious movement of the twentieth century. This movement is currently the second largest sub-group of global Christianity; it has over 600 million followers.[1] Most believe that the history of Pentecostalism began at Azusa Street however, many do not mention the other streams of thought and practices, especially in the Black and Anabaptist churches, which also played a role in shaping Pentecostalism, but those streams were either not written down or were passed along in a very doubtful form.

BACKGROUND

Melvin Easterday Dieter notes that Pentecostalism grew out of the Holiness revival during the second half of the nineteenth century. This revival was an expression of both social and theological discontent among the nation’s lower and middle-class groups. Holiness advocates disapproved of the impiety in mainline denominations and were alienated by the growing wealth and elaborateness of their churches. Not content to remain in mainline churches, they formed new religious communities committed to the theological doctrine of perfectionism.[2] These former Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists believed that they were experiencing a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit much like the early church experienced in the book of Acts. The holiness revival spawned zeal for “Spirit Baptism” (a divine empowerment of believers) and for other gifts of the New Testament church such as healing and prophecy. Holiness leaders such as Charles Cullis, John Alexander Dowie, and Albert B. Simpson established healing missions across the America.

Like other holiness advocates they believed a new, miraculous era of the Spirit was occurring which would end in the second coming of Christ. Pentecostalism took “Spirit Baptism” and the restoration of New Testament gifts one step further. In January, 1901, holiness minister Charles Fox Parham asked the students at his Topeka Bible school to study the scriptures and determine what evidence might be given of Spirit baptism. Using the Pentecost account in Acts chapter two, they concluded that speaking in tongues was the confirmation of Holy Spirit baptism. This first wave of Pentecostalism spread in the revival that followed, but remained regional, moving into Kansas, Missouri, Texas, and Arkansas.

THE AZUSA STREET REVIVAL

The 1906 revival at Azusa Street, Los Angeles marks the second phase of the Pentecostals’ origins. William Seymour, who studied under Parham in Houston, Texas, carried the message of Pentecost to Los Angeles where the revival began in one of the poorer sections of the city. The Azusa Street revival gathered the “ethnic minority groups of Los Angeles,” who discovered a “sense of dignity and community denied them in the larger urban culture states Robert Mapes Anderson.”[3]

Frank Bartleman notes “Coloured people and a sprinkling of whites composed the congregation, and night is made hideous in the neighbourhood by the howlings of the worshippers who spend hours swaying forth and back in a nerve-racking attitude of prayer and supplication.”[4] A visiting Baptist pastor said, “The Holy Spirit fell upon me and filled me literally, as it seemed to lift me up, for indeed, I was in the air in an instant, shouting, “Praise God,” and instantly I began to speak in another language. I could not have been more surprised if at the same moment someone had handed me a million dollars.”[5] From Azusa Street the revival spread throughout the United States.

Holiness leaders from the Church of God in Christ (Memphis, Tenessee), the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), and the Pentecostal Holiness Church (Georgia and the Carolinas), were present at Azusa, and carried its message back to their churches. Diversity characterised their beliefs and theology; Pentecostals ranged from Wesleyan-holiness, to Reformed, and Unitarian comments, Edith Blumhofer.[6] The history of Pentecostalism is as multifaceted as the movement itself.

I thought I knew His love for me,
I thought I’d seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow,
I thought I’d found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark,
the storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship,
my anchor would not hold.

The ship that I had built myself
was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare,
with nowhere else to hide.
I had no strength or faith to face
the trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply prayed to Him
and bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me,
and then He helped me stand.
He said, “You still must face this storm,
but I will hold your hand.”
So through the dark and lonely night
He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day
or when the storm might wane.

Yet through the aches and endless tears,
my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
but my light began to glow.
I saw God’s love in brand new light,
His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone
could Jesus” love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes wondered, “Why?”
At times I thought, “I can’t go on.”
I’d hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife,
through fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.

And now I see as never before
how great His love can be.
How in my weakness He is strong,
how Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good,
although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear,
and then He cried, “Enough!”

He raised His hand and said, “Be still!”
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy
and flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still,
I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness,
He never did me wrong.

Now I know more storms will come,
but only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow
as naught else ever could.
I still have so much more to learn
as Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I’ll love Him more,
that’s where I want to be!

Did Paul use a Laptop
With lots of RAM and ROM?
Were his letters posted on a BBS
At Paul.Rome.Com?
Did the man from Macedonia
Send an E-Mail saying “Come?”
Did Paul use a Laptop
With lots of RAM and ROM?

Did Moses use a Joystick
at the Parting of the Sea?
And a Satellite Guidance Tracking System
To show him where to be?
Did he write the law on tablets
Or are they really on CD?
Did Moses use a joystick
At the parting of the Sea?
Did Jesus really die for us
One day upon a tree?
Or was it just a hologram
Or technical wizardry?
Can you download the Live Action Video Clip
To play on your PC?

Did Jesus really die for us
One day upon a tree?
Have the wonders of this modern age
Made you question what is true?
How a single man in a simple time
Could offer life anew?
How a sinless life, a cruel death
then a glorious life again
Could offer more to a desperate world
Than the inventions of man?

If in your life, the voice of God
Is sometimes hard to hear.
With other voices calling
His doesn’t touch your ear.
Then set aside your laptop and modem
And all your fancy gear.
And open your Bible, open your heart
And let your Father draw you near.

If I can guide some erring one to truth, inspire within his heart a sense of duty; if I can plant within my soul of rosy youth a sense of right, a love of truth and beauty; if I can teach one man that God and heaven are near, I shall not then have lived in vain while here.

If from my mind I banish doubt and fear, and keep my life attuned to love and kindness; if I can scatter light and hope and cheer, and help remove the curse of mental blindness; if I can make more joy, more hope, less pain, I shall not have lived and loved in vain.

If by life’s roadside I can plant a tree, beneath whose shade some wearied head may rest, though I may never share its beauty, I shall yet be truly blessed though no one knows my name, nor drops a flower upon my grave, I shall not have lived in vain while here.

Author Unknown