Free Christian iPhone applications

If you own an iPhone or iPod Touch then there are plenty of great Christian applications and websites that you may be interested in. You can find a range of iPhone and iPod Touch Christian applications listed in five sections on the free Christian resources website to make it easier to find exactly what you are after.

Cherish your churchyard

Thousands of growing churches are preparing to celebrate Cherishing Churchyards Week this June as part of the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity. The nationwide project is being run by conservation charity Caring for God’s Acre (CfGA) and is supported by the CofE’s national environmental campaign Shrinking the Footprint. There are an estimated 12,000 CofE churchyards.

10 moments when Britain prayed

Heaven help us : 10 moments when Britain prayed for its survival (Faith Central blog) provides a summary of a recent article in the BBC History magazine. Quoting Praying for Britain by Natalie Mears, it highlights 10 out the 540 nationwide prayer calls made by English monarchs and other leaders between the Reformation and 1947, the last time that England held a nationwide day of Prayer.

Bus driver filmed reading while driving

A bus driver has been suspended after a passenger filmed him apparently reading while driving along a dual carriageway in Birmingham. The National Express West Midlands driver was steering with his elbows while holding a small book. The passenger said they took the footage (which has since been posted on YouTube) after getting on the number 61 bus at Selly Oak at 2005 BST on Monday. National Express West Midlands said "immediate action" was taken.

We regularly post about books and reading on this blog but this is definitely not something to try yourself!

Doctor Who slays St George

From the Guardian's Comment is free blog:

"Other than that, and our crusade-inspired flag, George has not much to do with being English in the 21st century..... I suggest a new [patron saint]: The Doctor, the shape-shifting time-travelling guardian of humanity from Doctor Who. In fact, the Doctor shares many striking similarities with St George. Both are dragon-slaying outsiders, fighting on foreign shores to protect their adopted people. But we know so much more about the Doctor, and thus can proudly and sensibly sing his praises. If we as a people demand collective narrative from legend, we might as well make it a ripping yarn."

See also: Blake's Jerusalem banned

YHA Great Outdoors Challenge‏

The YHA is setting you a challenge…to turn off the TV, put that book down and get yourself, friends and family in the open-air and start enjoying the British Spring Time. The YHA is throwing down the gauntlet for you to share your photographs and any moments that capture the great outdoors.
Email the YHA your pictures and they will publish the best one in their next newsletter. It’s time to don those wellies, umbrellas and smiles, spring into action and get outside! Be creative and see if you make the top spot with your spring-time images . CLICK HERE for more info.

Leicestershire Walking Week 2010: 4-12 Sept

Leicestershire Walking Week 2010 has been announced: it will take place from 4-12 September. The Walking Week brings walking, health and fitness, social, wildlife organisations and local authorities together to provide nine days of walking oportunities, exploring the delights of Leicestershire's countryside, villages and towns.

With guided walks taking place throughout the county, the programme aimed to cater for all ages and abilities. The walks included countryside rambles, health walks, heritage trails, and guided walks with themes, such as a history tour, or wildlife wander. The full programme of walks will be available mid-summer 2010.

Internet Evangelism Day (25 April 2010)

Digital media have transformed the world in the last 15 years. We have entered a new ‘digital communication culture’ where all the rules for effective communication have changed. There are 1.7 billion web users, and over 3 billion people use mobile phones (increasingly these are web-equipped). The Web is not just another means of communication, but a hyper-medium that subsumes, links together, and enhances all previous media.

Internet Evangelism Day exists to help Christians understand the huge and growing potential to share the good news of Jesus through digital media. This involves two complementary concepts: an annual focus day on the last Sunday of April each year, and a year-round resource guide, with ideas and strategies for all types of digital evangelism

Chocolate maker gives haggis the sweet treatment

The Guardian reports that Thinking Chocolate, an Edinburgh-based chocolate maker, has given Scotland's national dish a cocoa-tinged makeover. Haggis-flavoured chocolates were originally prouced for a Burns' Night supper but the guests were so complimentary that they have started selling them commercially. However, there is no offal in the truffles. Instead, the chocolatier recreates the flavour of haggis by combining nutmeg, mace, black pepper and oatmeal.

The Towns That Chocolate Built

A blog post (from Edible Geography) discussing the impact of the Cadbury and Rowntree businesses on urban and social geography:

"chocolate’s architectural expression merits further study, as a lens through which to understand its cultural history"

The truth about Marmite

Marmite is a substance that can divide many a family or friendship. As we all know, there are two attitudes to Marmite: you either love or loathe it.

• Last month, researchers investigated a number of wondrous claims made for the brown stuff, from curing anaemia to weaning babies.
• Extra-strong Marmite is now available
  
• Checkout the Marmite NewsNetwork.com for the latest Election Developments
• Download a free Marmite Audiobook (featuring Horrid Henry)

Diocese Election website

The Diocese of Leicester has developed an Election 2010 website, with links to Events, Resources and reasons to get involved:

The challenge to our churches in today’s sectarian society is not to retract into some sort of Christian ghetto, but to be outward looking and acting, especially in the process of democratic renewal.

'This must reach out to everyone and in some areas it will require a change in attitudes and behaviour from politicians, churches and local communities. The church is charged with having a prophetic voice – not always a way to gain popularity – which shows people and communities a way forward into a more just, fair and equitable society.

The 2010 General Election is an opportunity for the Christian churches to offer neutral, safe and open space to begin this process.'

The Believers: 60s Christian pop (radio play)

The Saturday Play yesterday on Radio 4 was The Believers, by Frank Cottrell Boyce, set in Liverpool, 1963. The Merseybeat boom is about to take off. And with it, The Believers, a Christian pop band determined to spread the Word. If only they were all singing from the same hymn sheet...

You can Listen again for the next six days.

I wandered lonely as a cloud...just before I tweeted and updated Facebook‏

"Tweet if you see a blooming daffodil" was the recent message from Cumbria Tourism. But this wasn't a call to twitchers. This was a message to the social media-savvy travellers who are fluttering around in the "Twitterverse".

The aim of Cumbria's "Daffs Watch" Twitter and email campaign was to pinpoint where and when people could spot daffodils coming out of deep freeze after the cold winter.

Help make poverty an election issue

Now the General Election has finally been called, Christian Aid are asking supporters to help turn politicians’ minds to the crucial issues of tax dodging and climate change, as part of Christian Aid’s bid to keep global poverty high on the political agenda.

They are not suggesting who you should vote for! However, they hope that every new MP will have been asked, repeatedly, about his or her views on climate change and tax dodging before they enter office. Every MP should be fully aware that ambitious action to tackle these issues is exactly what many of their constituents demand.

Join the Christian Aid Election Campaign Trail and keep up with developmrents by becoming a fan of the Christian Aid Facebook page or follow on Twitter.

Hedgehogs released into the wild after dieting success

Fourteen hedgehogs that became too fat to protect themselves from predators are being returned to the wild after being put on a strict diet. Hedgehogs usually live off their fat reserves in the winter, but the creatures at at the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fife had become so big (after over-indulging on cat food) they were unable to curl into a ball to hide from predators. The 14 hedgehogs were among 70 that were rescued by animal welfare officers from the effects of this year's harsh winter.

See also: other blog posts about hedgehogs.

Artists honour Tunnock's treats in new exhibition

The Tunnock's teacake is a biscuit tin favourite and the ideal accompaniment for a fresh brew - but rather than eating it people are being encouraged to view it as art! A special exhibition celebrating "one of Scotland's genuine icons" is being held in Glasgow. Artists have been invited to honour the Tunnock's teacake, along with the caramel wafer and log and the humble snowball, in a show called Tunnocked.