Unsurprisingly ASBO Jesus makes me smile once more...

This morning I have been thinking about our service for Bible Sunday, about which I am quite excited.  Partly because we will be using a lot of stuff in languages that are not English and partly because some different languages (from our regular blend!) will be heard: Czech, Welsh and even Japanese are a bit passe for us!  All being well we will have something in Korean and something in one of the Nigerian languages as well as singing in a fairly usual (for us) mix of Latin and Xhosa!

What struck me this morning as I watched again the Bible Society DVD about work in Tanzania to translate the Bible into one of the tribal languages (can't seem to find it written down but it sounds like kikagooru) was how much Chinese whispers there is between the original Greek/Hebrew and the people who listen for God's voice... A Bible in Swahili (most people's second or third language) and a preacher whose words must be translated.  And the irony that to communicate all this to a UK audience it has to be translated to English.  Yet, despite all the Chinese whispers of it, people hear God's voice, albeit muffled, and respond in faith.  Pretty amazing really!

It also makes me reflect on such things as the plethora of translations available in English and the unthinking way we often approach reading the versions we like - be they KJV, NIV or any other 'V'  So plenty of ideas to play with ahead of the service - no wonder I'm excited!

What a delight to be woken this morning by the news that the last of the Chilean miners was safely above ground and that all of them were now receiving the medical care they need after their ordeal.

Lots of language of prayer and miracle has been bandied about, and rightly so.  But here's one little thought - it seems that just for a while a lot of the world managed to stop squabbling and unite in praying and hoping for these men and their families.

It is sad it seems that different brands of Christians may already claiming it was their prayers that worked rather than someone else's but it is to be hoped that all of them will remember to thank God for the safe delivery of these men from their living hell of the last few weeks.

And of course the prayers must not stop now - this is just one step on the road to 'tomorrow' for these people, that community.  As the weeks unfold and as they disappear from our screens forgotten in favour of some other news item there will still be need for hope, faith and love - may God grant these to them in abundance.

But for now, as in all things, Jubilate Deo!  Praise God.