Walk to Work Week (27 April - 1 May)

Between 27 April to 1 May, thousands of employees across the nation will be trying to fit more walking into their working day as part of Walk to Work Week 2009, organised by the Living Streets campaign. You can set up a quick and easy profile on the brand new Walk to Work Week micro-site, and take the Walk to Work Week challenges with your friends and colleagues.

The mathematical formula for happiness‏

Ben Pfahlert, a Christian commentator in Australia, has pondered the mathematical formula for happiness‏. He noted that a murder mystery novel, Numbered Account written by Christopher Reicht, includes the statement “Happiness is equal to reality divided by expectations”. Pfahlert thinks this is a helpful observation or formula because it assists us in working out what either increases or diminishes our happiness or joy. According to the formula, happiness can decrease because either reality gets worse or our expectations are unrealistic.Pfahlert encourages us to filter our expectations through the word of God, and avoid losing heart (i.e. succumbing to helplessness) or losing our mind (i.e. succumbing to hopelessness) by obeying Philippians 4:4-7.

Frugal food from the sea

In If you go down to the sea today, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall introduces a wealth of food to be found for free on the beach, including leafy greens, seaweeds, herbs and shellfish. The article includes top tips and inspiring recipes from John Wright, and concludes with six tips for safe eating!

Cafédirect competition

This month Cafédirect celebrate a new look (and a new milestone in their history) and are giving away ten fantastic prizes! Each prize contains a Cafédirect tea caddy and some delicious Gold Tea. Three lucky winners will also receive a new look pack of Everyday Teadirect and a classic Cafédirect tea towel.

To enter all you have to do is answer a simple question.

Memorise more Bible

Eighteen tips to help you memorise more Scripture. These include:

• Read it repeatedly
• Visualize what you are reading
• Recognize patterns
• Start with the easy
• Build memorable associations
• Sing it
• Try mnemonic devices
• Type it
• Listen to it

Going into ecological debt

A study from the New Economics Foundation (Nef) think tank reveals that Britain is living beyond its environmental means and is increasingly dependent on the rest of the world for its natural resources. Although the recession may have slowed consumption, we still make extensive use of the natural resources of other countries.

The research also shows that by Easter Sunday this year Britain had used the levels of resources it should consume in an entire year if it were to be ecologically self-sufficient. As our ecosystems become more stressed the day in the year on which we effectively go beyond our environmental means, and move into ecological debt, is moving ever earlier in the year. In 1961 the date was 9 July, but in 2009 it fell on 12 April (Easter Sunday).

The Narnia Code

I missed The Narnia Code on BBC1 last night but am pleased I will be able to watch it on BBC iPlayer. In it CS Lewis expert Dr Michael Ward explains the hidden meaning behind the Narnia Chronicles.

See Narnia in the News for a link to a review of Ward's book, Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis.

Hymns in decline at funerals

Last year Co-operative Funeralcare conducted a survey of 242 funeral homes and 30,000 services which showed 58% of people in England and Wales chose pop music to be played / sung at their funeral services and only 35% included hymns. However, the Scots are bucking this trend as more people are choosing traditional hymns: the number of funerals with hymns rose from 54% to 56% last year. The story on the BBC website also lists the top ten pop songs and hymns sung at funerals, and notes that the study also revealed that around 10% of requests for pieces of music were rejected as the clergy conducting the funeral felt the choice was inappropriate.

Practical poetry

Noting that sales of poetry books are down, the BBC website suggests that one way to reinvigorate interest in poetry could be to make it functional. They invited poets to reinterpret the familiar, humdrum procedures of daily life, in verse form. The poems relate to changing a plug and using an ATM.

Walking the Charnwood Peaks

On Saturday a reduced group of four tackled the Charnwood Peaks walk. This 15-mile walk takes in the four peaks that define Charnwood Forest. We varied the route by starting at Woodhouse Eaves, so that we reached Bradgate Park at an appropriate time for a tea shop!

The Charnwood Peaks route can be downloaded from the National Forest website; and PDFs of other National Forest walks are also available for download.

GCR Walking Festival

The Great Central Railway is running a Walking Festival over the Easter Weekend (10-14 April), offering a selection of self guided treasure hunt walks running alongside the line. Walkers join the railway at Loughborough, Quorn or Rothley station, and pick up a leaflet with a walk. They spot the clues on the way and get to the next station - then take the train back! Enthusiasts can walk full circle.

Anyone who completes a walk will get a complimentary cup of tea and one walker with the right answers will be drawn out of the hat to win a pair of Saturday lunchtime dining tickets. There are eight walks to chose from of different lengths. You must buy a travel ticket to receive a walks sheet. Walks will be available from Loughborough, Quorn and Rothley booking offices from Friday morning. Some of the paths on the walks might be muddy, so proper footwear is advised.

The GCR also offers more walks in a dedicated guide, on sale at all stations for £2.99.

Remembering the Bigger Picture

Were you in Loughborough on Easter Monday last year to watch or help with the Bigger Picture? The churches in Loughborough worked together to create a world record breaking community picture and reach out to the town.

Easter Sunday: Jesus Christ is risen today

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Christ in the Centre 2009

Over the past six years, the Christ in the Centre production has reached out to the people of Leicester. The 2009 event starts at 10.30am in St. Peter's Square in the new Highcross Centre. The theme this year is The Cross, and this first section includes short scenes showing the lives of Christians who have followed Jesus - some with connections to Leicester like William Wilberforce and Lady Jane Grey.

These will be followed by a procession following the cross, along the pedestrianised High Street to Humberstone Gate, where the remaining events of this year's production will unfold on the main stage after about 11.15am. After several scenes of Jesus' ministry, linked to his words from the cross, the passion story will tell of Jesus' final hours from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem , the Last Supper, his arrest, trial and death on the cross, before we see his glorious resurrection and appearance to his followers.

• Timetable and route map
• Photos from 2008

Get your hands dirty!

Spring is here and the time is right to start growing your own herb and veg - here are some links on self-sufficiency from the Guardian:

• Get your hands dirty! (spring gardening advice for beginners)
• Jane Perrone's 10 tips for growing your own
• The four veg everyone should grow

The rules of pizza‏

First we are told that pizza is the ideal credit crunch food, now Bishop Nick Baines blogs on the rules of pizza and offers a case study on pizza eating.

Palm Sunday

Outside the Holy City
Unnumbered footsteps throng,
And crowded mart and streets of trade
Fling back a swelling song.
The voices echo nearer,
In flaming hope they sing:
“Throw down your branches at His feet!
Hosanna to the King!”

Once more beside a city
The Son of David waits,
Once more the children throng to bring
A welcome at the gates.
Within are hearts sore burdened
And feet that go astray;
O Christ of God, come near and walk
Our city streets today!

The branches that we offer
Are no unmeaning sign;
Take Thou the hands we lift on high
And make them wholly Thine.
No songs of shallow welcome
Are these we raise to Thee;
O give us faith to face the cross
And set Thy city free!

A distant music mingles
With all our songs today,
The chorale from a city fair
Where sin has passed away.
There rides the Christ triumphant
And victor songs ring clear;
O God, give us the strength to build
With Christ that city here!

(Outside the Holy City, James G. Gilkey)

Students swear off Facebook for Lent

From an academic blog comes the news that some students have given up Facebook for Lent. Students nonplussed by the absence of certain friends from their Facebook news feeds in the last month may have the church calendar to blame. During the season of Lent some students at Texas Tech and elsewhere have reportedly sworn off social-networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.
The pope has lauded such Web sites in the past for helping to strengthen friendship and understanding, but many students acknowledge that they offer hazardously convenient ways to waste time.

Reading for Holy Week

Last year I blogged about the e-book Lenten Lights - a collection of readings that can to be used daily during Holy Week.

Another e-book appropriate for meditation during Lent is Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die by John Piper. It is a book of fifty short readings about the meaning of Jesus' death, and can be downloaded for free here.

Big Garden Birdwatch: results

Over the Big Garden Birdwatch 2009 weekend 73 different species were recorded. Well over half a million people took part in the 30th year of the Birdwatch, making this the biggest bird survey in the world. This year's survey took place on a chilly weekend and garden birds are heavily reliant on our supplementary feeding in the cold - it seems we were suitably paid back for our efforts. See the full results on the RSPB website.

Many of the birds that we're seeing will visit any habitat that provides food. Gardens will actually become even more important for wildlife if some areas of the countryside become poorer sources of food. This year's survey took place on a chilly weekend and garden birds are heavily reliant on our supplementary feeding in the cold - it seems we were suitably paid back for our efforts.

Carbon Fast Day 36: travelling light

Today's Carbon Fast action is to travel light. We are encouraged to think before we drive and seek to cycle, share lifts with colleagues, or use public transport. Find out more about cycle routes in the UK at http://www.sustrans.org.uk/

We are further challenged to travel light with our possessions and the value we give them. Where may we have more than we need? How can we bless others in need through our abundance? And where we may have need, we should remember God's faithfulness and ask him to be our provider.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:19-21

Preparing for hiking

[Above: Summit of High Raise, Grasmere weekend 2005]

Those of us planning on tackling one or more of the Three Peaks are beginning to step up our training. Here are some useful links on preparing for strenuous hikes:

• Hiking Preparations - How to Prepare for a Hike
• Hiking Physical Fitness Training - Exercises for Hiking
• Pre-Hike Training - Training before a Hike
• How To Take Care Of Your Feet When Hiking
• How to Prevent Walking Injuries

Religious people less anxious

Despite the uncertain times, recent research into brain activity shows that "religious people" are less anxious. The survey team tested 50 university students from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Christians made up most participants, but they also tested Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists. Researchers found religious people exhibit lower activity than non-believers in a brain region linked to anxiety when erring on a simple test. This is concluded to be because "religion offers an interpretative framework to understand the world. It lets you know when to act, how to act, and what to do in specific situation.... It provides a kind of blueprint on how to interact with the world".

Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." [John 14:27]

Be still my soul...

Life is uncertain for many, particularly as the recession begins to impact on many areas. I recently stuck a CD into the player in my car while pondering some of these uncertainties and heard again this hymn, with the timely reminder that God is faithful in every change - our part is to "bear patiently" the discomfort while we wait for Him "to order and provide":

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
(Ka­tha­ri­na A. von Schle­gel / Jane L. Borth­wick)

Can a fleece ever be fashionable?

The synthetic fleece is 30 years old and can be found in almost every walk of life - except the world of high fashion. The BBC took this humble, workaday garment to London Fashion Week last month to see what the style tribe made of it.

Despite its near total absence from the catwalks, since polarfleece first went on sale in 1979, it has become the nation's outerwear of choice, whether for pottering in the garden or out on a bracing walk. It is practical, cheap, lightweight, and dries quickly. But stylish it is not! However, the gratifying thing about a fleece - aside from the warmth - is that it simply never has to look good.

20 best travel books of all time

The credit crunch means many people are scaling down summer holiday plans - or not going away at all. However, armchair travel is free - at least, if you borrow your books from the public library. Earlier this month, on World Book Day, the Telegraph published a list of twenty of the most inspiring travel books of all time: the 20 best travel books of all time.

Time management and social media

After the recent blog posts on the growth of social media ( blogs, Facebook, twitter etc), it's good to come across some advice on time management in the age of social media. In this article, productivity guru David Allen talks about ways you can make Facebook and Twitter work for you on the job.

Quizaid

Q: What’s the smartest way to help people in the world’s poorest communities help themselves?
A: Quizaid.

It's the best quiz night in town – and it’s organised by you. Quizaid forms part of Christian Aid Week 2009, which will run from 10-16 May. Last year, the first Quizaid raised £185,000 for Christian Aid's overseas development work. This year Quizaid aims to raise £225,000 with your help!

You can put on a quiz anywhere you like – at home, at your local church hall, up the road, over at your mate’s or in your local pub. Wherever you hold it, you'll be helping to raise money for the world’s poorest people.

The Quizaid question pack is bursting with hints and tips on how to make Quizaid a fun and memorable event. Quiz questions are included, covering up-to-the minute topical questions. Question rounds include brainteasers on: history, music, geography, maths, pot luck and much, much more. Christian Aid have thought of everything – so you don’t have to. Order your Quizaid pack online now!

Three Peaks revisted

Pen-y-ghent [Photo: Sigrun]

Ever since Infusion walked Ingleton last August, the more energetic of the group have wanted to try to "do" the Three Peaks in a day! So Ingleton Youth Hostel has been booked again and Infusion is in training. Though some of us are more realistic and will only attempt one or two of the peaks in a day.....

Economic lessons from the Wizard of Oz?

A story on the BBC website claims that the story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, is used as an economic parable. It is one of the world's best-loved fairytales, and the 1939 film is the most famous evocation of the story. However, the story has underlying economic and political references that make it a popular tool for teaching university and high school students - mainly in the United States but also in the UK - about the economic depression of the late 19th Century. But not everyone believes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz includes any hidden meanings - and it is unlikely any young fans will think about deflation and monetary policy when they view it.

The Archbishop twitters

After the growth in blogging and social networks, what next? Twitter is a free social messaging utility for staying connected in real-time and is often described as "micro-blogging". Updates are known as "tweets" - text-based posts of up to 140 bytes in length

Dave Walker reports that the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, now has his own page on the Twitter social networking site. Find him here: @JohnSentamu. Almost certainly the first Twittering archbishop?

Listen to wildlife

The British wildlife recordings collection offers the opportunity to listen to over 600 recordings of wildlife from around the UK. Captured by three British wildlife enthusiasts from the 1960s to the 1990s, most are published online for the first time.

The selection of sound recordings of all kinds of wildlife from around Britain is from the British Library's Sound Archive's unrivalled natural sounds collection. Made for the most part in nature reserves and wild locations, the recordings often have special significance in documenting ancient habitats that are gradually vanishing.

Some habitats continue to dwindle under the pressure of development: peat bogs, old Caledonian forest and lowland heaths are all slowly disappearing. In others, wildlife populations have increased: on the Scottish moors, for example, as a consequence of the extensive re-planting of forests there. Every shift in the balance alters the sound of the countryside. The recordings selected here include not only the familiar noises of country gardens and suburban parks, but also the increasingly elusive cries of some of the country''s rarest creatures. Together, they paint a fascinating sound picture of Britain''s ever evolving landscape. Further information here.

Member communities: top Internet trend

A recent report indicates that social networks and blogs are more popular than e-mail. Time spent on these sites is growing three times faster than the overall Internet rate, accounting for almost 10% of all Internet time. “Member Communities” which includes both social networks and blogs, have become the fourth most popular online activity - ahead of personal e-mail. It is growing twice as fast as any of the other four largest sectors, according to Global Faces and Networked Places, a comprehensive report revealing the new global footprint of social networking.

One in every 11 minutes online globally is accounted for by social network and blogging sites. The social network and blogging audience is becoming more diverse in terms of age: the biggest increase in visitors during 2008 to “Member Community” Web sites globally came from the 35–49 year old age group (over 11.3 million).

So if you read this blog and belong to the Infusion Facebook group, you are right on trend!

Outdoors Show (27-29 March)

The Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show will take place from 27-29 March at the NEC, Birmingham. The NEC will be filled with with high ropes, scuba diving, mountain bike tracks, surfing, woodland trails, canoeing, climbing walls, a music festival and it’s all free, once you've paid for entry. They say that if you enjoy the great oudoors, you'll love the show! You can sign up to the Outdoors Show newsletter for updates and competitions.

Bishop's Lent Pilgrimage

During Lent 2008 Bishop Tim undertook a pilgrimage of 215 miles, visiting 114 churches in the Leicester Diocese. In 2009 he is focussing his thoughts and actions on the communities where people are struggling most, sharing in acts of care and service as well as taking time to listen.

The theme of this time of action is ‘Strengthen our Hands’, a theme taken from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah (see Neh. 6:9). A manual has been produced for the pilgrimage to enable everyone to share in the experience through prayer and an increasing understanding of the problems. You can download the Bishop's pilgrimage manual online at www.leicester.anglican.org and read his blog here.

Acting on the Biblical imperative to care for the poor, the widowed, the orphaned and the exiled, Bishop Tim will spend time visiting communities where people are struggling the most. He will visit the elderly, the sick, the young, the unemployed and the addicted during an extended timetable of action in the six weeks of Lent, including ten full days of visits. Where possible the Bishop will use public transport to travel to the days’ venue where, in addition to service users, he will meet with local clergy, volunteers and the professionals working in the community.

Travel games

A number of Infusion members enjoy board games, and travel. Nomad Travel have brought together these two passions in the Backpacker Travel Game and the Travelproof Bandana Gameboard.

The End of the Internet?

The End of the Internet

Tea4health

Tea4health is a website from the UK Tea Council dedicated to bringing facts about how tea, the world’s favourite drink, can help you maintain your health as part of a balanced diet and healthy, active lifestyle. The website provides: the science behind the facts, background articles, how to make a perfect brew, interactive games, and a section on tea at work, including a special tea chart to remind colleagues of how you take your tipple!

Isn't it good to know that "drinking at least 4 cups of tea a day is a good way for you to help maintain your health"?

Fasting and feasting

As Fairtrade Fortnight ends, check out the cartoon from Dave Walker on how Lent and Fairtrade Fortnight cancel out each other.

Guilt and chocolate

Last year we discovered a church that encouraged its parishioners to buy chocolate during Lent! This year, it is scientific research on guilt and chocolate bars. The Development of the Attitudes to Chocolate Questionnaire is a cheap, fairly accurate way to measure chocolate craving and also to measure guilt. Reporting on the use of this tool, the researchers announce that they made an exciting new psychological discovery: that "craving but not guilt was associated with the eating of chocolate bars".

Washing up to the glory of God

Here's a post currently doing the rounds in the blogosphere. Tim Chester says he is passionate about "connecting theology with everyday life", and posts on How to wash up to the glory of God (plus washing up tips).

Intrigued? Check out his his paragraph headings:

• When a legalist does the washing up
• Finding joy in washing up
• Idolatry and washing up
• Your kitchen sink is a holy place
• Top tips for good washing up
• The evils of dish washers

The UK's reading secrets

Today is World Book Day. Earlier this year over 1,300 people took part in an online survey about their reading habits. They were given a list of 10 books and asked which they had lied about reading. Two out of three people admitted lying about reading a particular book to impress someone, the survey released to mark World Book Day found. George Orwell's 1984 and Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace are among the books people are most likely to have lied about reading, according to the poll.

In addition, 41% of respondents confessed to turning to the back of a book to read the end before finishing the story and 48% admitted to buying a book for someone else and reading it first.

Top-selling chocolate to go Fairtrade

Cadbury and the Fairtrade Foundation today announced yesterday their plans to achieve Fairtrade certification for Cadbury Dairy Milk, the nation’s top selling chocolate bar, by end of Summer 2009. This groundbreaking move will result in the tripling of sales of cocoa under Fairtrade terms for cocoa farmers in Ghana, both increasing Fairtrade cocoa sales for existing certified farming groups, as well as opening up new opportunities for thousands more farmers to benefit from the Fairtrade system.

More posts on Fairtrade matters

Credit crunch pizzas

Apparently, "in our hour of financial need, we're all heading for cheap and cheerful high-street pizzerias" . Matthew Fort of the Guardian reviews the leading pizza chains - and doesn't find anything very authentic.

If you want to do a taste test yourself, the MoneySavingExpert website has links to vouchers for:

• Pizza Express 2for1
• Pizza Hut Delivery 50% off
• Prezzo 2for1
• Strada 2for1
  

Carbon Fast Day 8

Today's Carbon Fast challenge follows on from recognising that the world's poorest people are suffering the most from climate change yet they have contributed the least to the problem. It is to go to www.tearfund.org/carbonfastaction to speak up for action in the UK and other rich countries to cut their emissions and for help for poor communities to adapt to the changing climate.

We are futher encouraged to "tell one friend about the Carbon Fast and encourage them to take today's campaign action" - hence this post!

Father, thank you for being a God who searches out the poor and vulnerable. Help me to put a face to climate change, so that it is not just an issue, but it's about a person who You created. Remind me of these people impacted by climate change whenever I feel unmotivated to make changes in my life.

20% off Fairtrade products

During Fairtrade Fortnight, the Co-op is offering 20% of all Fairtrade products. The Co-op was the first UK supermarket to launch anown brand Fairtrade product back in 2000, and stocks around 150 own brand products and over 50 branded Fairtrade products, providing the largest range of Fairtrade products in any UK supermarket.

Drink Fairtrade

Don't read on if you have given up alcohol for Lent...

Fairtrade wine used to be regarded as inferior but it's now seen as good value, fruity and easily drinkable. Check out Worthy, but tasty, an article about Fairtrade wine. Maybe you should try one of these bottles during Fairtrade Fortnight?

See also: Fairtrade communion wine

Borrow books and save money

Did you take advantage of the Library Free Day last weekend? Here's another credit-crunch offer: just borrow 6 books on your ticket and save money with a free loan of any CD, DVD or talking book. This seasonal special offer is available in all Leicestershire libraries from 23 February until 6 March.

The truth about recycling

Taking part in the Carbon Fast for Lent? If so, this article from today's Guardian on The truth about recycling should reassure you to keep going, despite the growing backlash against recycling and the collapse in demand for recycled materials.

Lent devotionals

This Lent IVP is running a free online devotionals service. Each day for 40 days, you will be able to log on and read a short extract from an IVP book which the publishers hope will encourage you and teach you more about our great God and saviour. Visit the service and bookmark it at http://www.ivpbooks.com/lent.

See also all Lent-related blog posts.

Pancake Day!

...or rather, Shrove Tuesday.

Stuck for a recipe? You can opt for the traditional pancake recipe, alternative recipes (from Lakeland Limited), or Michelin-starred pancakes (from the Guardian).

Looking Good Being Bad

A group of us have booked to see Looking Good Being Bad - the subtle art of churchmanship with Adrian Plass and Saltmine Theatre Company at Loughborough URC next week. This is billed as "comedy, theatre, and churchmanship all in one hilarious and thought-provoking evening".

Not sure whether it's your cup of tea? Check out the Adrian Plass website for more about this writer and speaker who has produced over thirty books in the last twenty years. "Adrian's central motivation continues to be his love for Jesus. His passion is to communicate the need for reality in faith, and a truth that he learned during a difficult stage in his life: God is nice and he likes me..."

A credit crunch text from the Bible

Have you listened to "What Is the Recession For?" yet? In it John Piper suggests that 2 Corinthians 8:12 might be the clearest "recession text" in the Bible, as it describes the roots of the joy of the Macedonian believers in their "recession".

In their "severe test of affliction" and "extreme poverty" their abundant joy "overflowed in a wealth of generosity". Their generosity didn't come from prosperity but from God's grace - and this grace rooted in "our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Fairtrade Fortnight 2009

Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 will be launched on London's South Bank on 22 February 2009. One of the activities will be Go Bananas! on 6-7 March when supporters are encouraged to eat a Fairtrade banana and be part of the world’s biggest banana event.

Carbon Fast for Lent

Ash Wednesday falls in a week's time, so it's a good time to publicise the Carbon Fast campaign that Tearfund are encouraging us to consider this Lent - cutting our carbon use and helping protect poor people from climate change. You can sign up to receive daily emails during the Carbon Fast - each email includes the daily action, facts, prayers and reflection.

'Love does no harm to its neighbour' (Romans 13:10). Climate change can mean our neighbours go hungry because of drought, or lose their homes because of floods. Faced with that reality, there are many things we can do, acting as part of the global church's response, to change the way our lives impact poor communities.

Students need to know Bible's 'great stories': poet laureate

Children should be taught the Bible throughout their education because it is an "essential piece of cultural luggage" without which they will struggle to fully understand literature, according to the poet laureate, Andrew Motion in the article students need to know Bible's 'great stories'. Try the quiz: How much do you know about the Bible? and see also:

• Interview with Andrew Motion
• Poems which passeth understanding
• The essential Bible stories

Library Free Day: Sat 21 Feb

A special event is being held across libraries in Leicestershire where literally everything is FREE! On Saturday 21st February, until 5pm, if you’ve forgotten to take a book back recently or if you’ve been too scared to take it back for a while, now’s your chance, as you won’t have to pay a penny in overdue charges.

The event celebrates the free nature of libraries - everybody knows it’s free to join the library, you can borrow books for free and most people know libraries have computers, with access to the internet via broadband which is also free, but what else can you get for nothing that day? No overdue charges, free DVD hire, free CD hire, free talking book loans, free requests, and free printing (note: some conditions apply).

Link: Find your local library

What is the recession for?

Have you heard a sermon preached on the recession yet? If not, listen to "What Is the Recession For?" for a reminder that God is sovereign over all finances and when the economy plummets, God has His purposes.

Some of His purposes made known in the Bible include: "waking us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world where there is always and only recession of the worst kind; and relocating the roots of our joy in His grace rather than in our goods - in His mercy rather than our money, in His worth rather than our wealth".

Ethical foods backed despite downturn

A recent poll has discovered that consumers are buying more Fairtrade and locally produced products despite the tough economic climate. In addition to locally-produced and Fairtrade foods, shoppers are concerned to purchase goods with higher animal welfare standards. Only organic foods have suffered a decline, food and grocery researchers IGD found in a poll of 1,051 shoppers conducted in December.

Remember the LOAF principle? It encourages people to choose food that meets at least one of the following criteria: Locally produced, Organically grown, Animal friendly or Fairly traded.

Anglican website survey

Just after posting about the God.com radio feature, I have discovered that the webmasters from the national Church of England web-site have launched an on-line survey to gather visitors’ views, recognising the need to engage directly with visitors to the site. It is available now at http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/cofe/cofeweb and will be there until the end of March. The survey questions will help the Church discover who is accessing the site (and why), whatpeople think about the Church of England site compared with those of other large organisations, and how the site can be improved.

Also worth noting is that, following the success of the Church of England’s monthly podcast People and Places, the website is now featuring a weekly podcast.

God.com

In God.com (broadcast yesterday on Radio 4), Dr Robert Beckford examines the popularity of religion on the internet. Every traditional religion and their denominations within has a web site as do a fast-growing number of individual churches, mosques and synagogues. In the programme, a podcasting priest, a blogging rabbi and an imam whether on-line religion is replacing more traditional forms.

Language Cafes

Language Cafés are being set up all over Europe to take language learning in an exciting direction. In a Language Café you can meet people to practise speaking other languages, share cultural interests or just simply socialise. Language Cafés can be found in real cafes and also in cinemas, bookshops, libraries and even online. They haven't reached Leicestershire yet, but its a great idea...

Checkout other blog posts on languages

Google Earth dives under the sea‏

Google has upgraded its global mapping software, Google Earth, to include large swathes of the ocean floor and abyssal plain. Google Ocean lets users "dive" beneath a dynamic water surface to explore the 3D sea floor terrain. You can visit locations including underwater volcanoes, as well as running videos on marine life, shipwrecks and clips of favourite surf and dive spots.

The alternative office

The Google chaps have got to have the most hilariously fun office ever at their European HQ. It's like a giant kiddies' playground. It seems too silly to be a workplace, but wouldn't it just cheer you up to see your boss arrive in the canteen via the helterskelter?

The idea is that Google's employees become more creative in their interactive workspace.

Reminds me too of a Clive Anderson article in the Beeb's online Magazine about creative workspaces - check out the clutter!

Still more on buses as billboards

See Let there be adverts: Christians hit back at the atheist bus for details about three Christian groups which have created their own series of advertisements to run across London buses - the "medium of choice for the battle of beliefs, it seems".

Out of the mouths.....

Thought-provoking cartoon by Ros Asquith from guardian.co.uk.

Bus Slogan

I tried out the Bus Slogan Generator... how about this for an answer to the atheists' campaign of there being 'no cod'?

Happy Birthday, Facebook

Facebook is giving its 150 million users a mystery virtual gift to celebrate its fifth birthday. In five short years, Facebook has helped a global change in the way people keep in touch with one another.
Infusion Facebook group
Learning what makes Facebook tick

Bus slogan generator

If you have been following the news story about the Atheist Bus Campaign , you may be interested to discover that now you can add your own message on the side of a bus using the Bus slogan generator.

Snowfall in Leicestershire

The BBC Leicester website has a great photo gallery of shots taken round the county: Your (Leicestershire) Snow Pictures.

Presenter breaks snow teapot

On video, weather presenter Carol Kirkwood breaks a snow sculpture of a teapot.

Literary snow

This is the biggest blizzard in parts of the UK for 18 years, so the Guardian recommends that you wrap up well and exercise your grey matter with some quiz questions about literary snow.

Hope for Planet Earth: Coventry meeting

After the advance notice about the 2009 Hope for Planet Earth Tour, the nearest event will be held at Blue Coats School, Coventry on Wednesday 4th March (tickets £6 or £3 in advance). Supported by Tearfund, A Rocha, Share Jesus International and John Ray Institute. Further information from http://www.hopeforplanetearth.co.uk.

Faith, hope and charity shops

Just got to blog about an article with such a great headline! Read Faith, hope and charity shops for a reminder of the benefits of using charity shops. It is extremely ethical:recycling what would otherwise have been discarded; it makes no global, third-world-sweat-shop-exploiting company richer; it releases funds for a range of needy causes. Charity shopping is also thrifty, and it restricts choice and thereby strikes a blow at consumerism.

The 10 most redeeming films of 2008?

What do irresistible robots, racist curmudgeons, and sensitive pachyderms have in common? They're all key characters in the ten films that Christianity Today has nominated as last year's best redemptive movies.

Espresso: the ideal beverage for a recession

The espresso is Italy's gift to the world and the ideal stimulant for the creative mind, writes Graham Farmelo in the Times Higher. I learned a number of new facts in this essay on the joys of espresso including the fact that the word "coffee" derives from the ancient Arabic "qahwat", meaning "wine of the bean".

I stand by my conviction that the espresso is, when well prepared, one modern culinary component that is impossible to better. Come to think of it, at around £1.30 a cup, it is probably the cheapest of all uplifting gastronomic treats, making it the ideal beverage for a recession.

Last year, Britons spent about £750 million on coffee, but only a small fraction of this on espressos. Think of the huge amount of money that would be saved if the majority of coffee-bar patrons switched to espressos from cappuccinos. The country's milk bill would fall and its carbon footprint would shrink too. Better yet, millions would appreciate the joy of savouring in a single shot Italy's greatest gift to the modern world.

Bible for Barack after Scripture-less swearing in

The Evangelical Alliance UK is sending President Barack Obama a new Bible after reports that one was mysteriously absent from his second swearing in. The new US President is being sent a copy of an edition of the Bible that highlights issues of poverty and justice: The Poverty and Justice Bible, published by Bible Society. This edition highlights more than 2,000 passages that speak of God’s attitude to poverty and justice. Prime Minister Gordon Brown was recently presented with The Poverty and Justice Bible at Downing Street, while in July 2008, hundreds of Bishops carried copies as they marched across Westminster in a campaign against world poverty.

Love Life Live Lent 2009 launched

Suggested acts of kindness in the third instalment of the Church of England’s Love Life Live Lent programme (launched last week) include having a clear out of unwanted clothes and toys and donating them to a charity shop, producing simple home-made gifts for Mothering Sunday, creating a prayer space in the understairs cupboard, making a bird cake or learning some basic first aid skills.

Checkout the Love Life Live Lent website to:
Find out more about Love Life Live Lent
Download support for churches
Download support for schools
Buy copies of the booklets

Reusable bags for Leics residents

Thanks to Helen for drawing our attention to Leicestershire County Council offering free reusable bags to residents of the county. The conditions are: limited of one bag per household; subject to availability; and offer available to Leicestershire residents only (excluding Leicester City residents).

For more posts on resusing bags, see: Wrapsacks ; A new way to bins the bags ; and Alternatives to the plastic bag.

The CyberHymnal website

The Cyber Hymnal has moved! Check out the new Cyber Hymnal website for lyr­ics, scores, MI­DI files, pic­tures, his­to­ry, and more for over 7,300 Christ­ian hymns & Gos­pel songs from ma­ny de­nom­in­a­tions.

Antidote to Blue Monday

The BBC reports today is "Blue Monday"- the date in January when psychologists estimate that post-Christmas gloom is at its worst. Surfing the Web, I found that the Daily Mail claims it is "going to be the most depressing day in history", with the credit crunch adding to the misery of cold weather, fading Christmas memories and broken New Year resolutions.

But for the Christian, Lamentations 3:22-24 gives the promise:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.

Big Garden Birdwatch 2009

The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world's biggest bird survey, providing a vital snapshot of the UK's birds each winter. Help celebrate the Big Garden Birdwatch's 30th birthday over the weekend of 24-25 January.

All you need to do is watch your garden or local park for an hour on either Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 January 2009. Simply record the highest number of each species seen in your garden (not flying over) at any one time. You can download and print the counting sheet to help you keep a tally of what you see.

Checkout the Big Garden Birdwatch website for more resources.

A book a week in 2009?

Have you ignored the warning against making New Year resolutions? Did you decide that you wanted to "read more books" in 2009? If so, Penguin books have selected 52 "top titles to get you excited about reading all throughout the year".
Each month has suggestions in each of four categories: Must Read, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. Visit the 52 Books website or download and print off the reading list.

Ethical guide to fish

Last year it was reported that the anchovy is now a "fish to avoid" due to low stocks. In the perfect catch, Allegra McEvedy offers a definitive guide to which species of fish are safe to buy.

She recommends gurnard, black bream, coley (saithe), flounder and dab, as well as the more familiar mackerel, herring, sardines and pilchards. She also offers a recipe for a sustainable fish stew.

Hallucinations more common in heavy coffee drinkers

A study from Durham University reveals that people who drink more than seven cups of instant coffee a day are three times more likely to hallucinate than those who just drink one. Read the article 'Visions link' to coffee intake for the full story. Don't forget you can check out how much caffeine is in your cup.

Two Google searches equals one pot of tea

A physicist at Harvard University who researches the environmental impact of computing, has equated the environmental impact of running two searches using Google and bringing a kettle of water to boil. About 200 million Google searches are performed every day. Dr Wissner-Gross's study claims that two Google searches on a desktop computer produces 14g of CO2, which is the roughly the equivalent of boiling an electric kettle. So how many kettles of water have you boiled today?

Burns' big birthday

Two years ago Infusion organised a Burns meal - a introduction to the annual celebration of Rabbie Burns' birthday (and an introduction to haggis for some present!).

This year would be Robert Burns' 250th Birthday, and Scotland will be celebrating! If you'd like to find out more, check out these websites:

• The World Burns Club
• Robert Burns Country
• Robert Burns (National Library of Scotland)
• The World Famous Burns Supper website (warning: this is sponsored by a whisky manufacturer)

Public are still giving despite recession

Researchers at the ESRC Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy report that the latest figures show that people are still supporting charities, despite the credit crunch. They conclude: "donors may have less money to spend, but all spending decisions are questions of priorities and they may not automatically tighten their altruistic belts first". For Christians, this time remains an opporunity to show where our treasure lies.

See also: Bad times are good for missions

Let it snow!

Fed up with the cold weather and having to defrost the car and/or watch your footing on icy pavements? Charlie English is someone who is obsessed with snow. In an article in today's Guardian, Secret lives of snowflakes revealed, he reviews a new book from a leading snow crystal scientist, published in a bid to persuade the world that no two flakes are exactly alike: Snowflakes by Kenneth Libbrecht. Check out the accompanying gallery of snowflake images.

Reflecting on the uniqueness of snowflakes (and ourselves) brought to mind:

Who has told every lightning bolt

Where it should go

Or seen heavenly storehouses

Laden with snow?

Who imagined the sun

And gives source to its light

Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night?

None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable

You placed the stars in the sky

And You know them by name

You are amazing, God

Incomparable, unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart And you love me the same

You are amazing God

Love Food Hate Waste recipe competition

As part of the Love Food Hate Waste Campaign, Leicestershire County Council is running a recipe competition to rescue your leftovers. The competition is looking for inspirational ideas to turn leftovers into gourmet cuisine.

There are five Categories in the competition; starters, main courses, desserts, snacks/light bites and Vegetarian. All recipes submitted must include at least one ingredient which is either a leftover or a forgotten food languishing at the back of your cupboard or fridge. The top 50 entries will be made into a recipe book and will all receive a goody bag, and there are shopping vouchers for the top three recipes.

All recipes will be judged on their innovative use of the ingredients and must be original. You can enter up to three recipes with a maximum of one in any category. Full details online here. The closing date is 13th February 2009.

Prayer on being made redundant

In response to the growing number of job losses, the C of E has followed up a Prayer for the current financial situation by publishing a Prayer on being made redundant:

Hear me as I cry out in confusion,
help me to think clearly,
and calm my soul.

As life carries on,
may I know your presence with me
each and every day.

Doing church differently

Cartoonist Dave Walker blogs about his recent visit to an alternative temple of worship: At the Apple store:

I went to the Apple store in London.

The worship space was brightly lit, and row upon row of devotees stood at wooden benches gazing in adoration at white machines of varying shapes and sizes. A glass staircase lead upwards, where further rows of worshippers were doing much the same as those downstairs. People wearing bright shirts stood behind other desks, and names appeared on large screens. In the upper sanctuary a gathering of the faithful sat on wide comfortable pews and listened to a sermon.

I found the whole experience quite baffling. I could not see any orders of service anywhere, so it was rather difficult to know what I should be doing. Eventually I plucked up the courage to approach a sidesman, who explained what the worshippers were all doing and answered some of my questions about the basic tenets of the faith. He took me over to one of the white machines and explained some of the ways in which I too could become a follower should I choose. There would of course be very real costs involved.

Wary of making a commitment on my first visit I thanked the sideman and explained that I was in a bit of a hurry. To his credit he did not seem to mind.

I left clutching a parish magazine and thinking that returning on another occasion might not be entirely out of the question.

On faith and faithfulness at the start of the year

On the first Sunday of the New Year my tiredness (and frozen limbs) gave way to anticipation as we started a sermon series on Joshua and sang songs of faith and commitment:

Lord will You be my vision, Lord will You be my guide? Be my hope, be my life, and the Way
And I’ll look not for riches, nor praises on the earth Only You’ll be the first of my heart

Everlasting God The years go by but you’re unchanging In this fragile world You are the only firm foundation

Though I feel afraid of territory unknown I know that I can say that I do not stand alone
For Jesus You have promised Your presence in my heart
I cannot see the ending but it’s here that I must start
And all I know is You have called me And that I will follow is all I can say
I will go where You will send me And Your fire lights my way

Resolutions 'bad for your health'‏

The BBC website warns that deciding to turn over a new leaf in the new year could do more harm than good. However, the chief executive of Mind, Paul Farmer, suggests that we focus on a few steps to improve all-round mental health in 2009:

• Being active - exercise releases endorphins and even a gentle stroll is beneficial for mental well-being
• Going green - evidence has shown that connecting with nature can boost moods
• Learn something new - it will keep minds stimulated and give confidence
• Give back to the community - it can be just as rewarding for you as those you choose to help

Sounds a bit like the focus of Infusion....