Houses of Parliament are crumbling
In 2012 MPs were first alerted to the fact that the Grade-1 listed building needs urgent repairs. A new report warns MPs that if they stay in the buildings whilst repairs are carried out it could take 32 years and cost £7 billion. The whole structure is crumbling. Built on London clay, it is slowly sliding towards the river. There are serious problems with the roof, walls are crumbling and the foundations are cracking. MPs are facing an option to move out while the work is done, which could take 10 years and cost £3 billion. This is the surveyors' favoured option. The sorry condition of Parliament could be seen as a metaphor of Britain's crumbling moral, spiritual, economic and political state. We have undermined family life through laws allowing abortion, easy divorce, and same-sex 'marriage' and sent our soldiers to fight in wars that had little or nothing to do with our national security. We have passed laws that favour the rich and deny justice to the poor.
Nine days to ‘SOUND THE ALARM AND PROCLAIM GOD’S POWER’
The World Prayer Centre is inviting all Christian believers, churches, youth groups, intercessory groups, young and old to come and pray for our family of nations at what they believe is a significant time in our nations. You are invited to come for a National Day of Worship and Prayer at TRUMPET CALL 2015 at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Saturday 4 July 2015. Ian Cole, Founder of World Prayer Centre said, ‘If we, as the Christian Church, do not stand together and pray on behalf of our nations and their future generations, who will? At TRUMPET CALL 2015, we will release a powerful trumpet blast over the British Isles and beyond into Europe - an alarm that will alert us to the dangers we face, while at the same time opening our eyes and to heed God’s spirit within us to the opportunities we have to live out our Christian faith in actions and prayer for our nations.’ There are car parks near the venue and many cafes, restaurants and shops nearby.
Australia: Same sex marriage might put government senate seats at risk
Anti-gay marriage forces inside the Abbott government are circulating election polling surveys claiming that at least three Senate seats, and potentially five, would be at risk if MPs were allowed a conscience vote and that the Coalition would face a backlash from ethnic communities. The information is being used to fight back against a growing view that it is inevitable same-sex marriage will become law. The Senate seats could be lost if the preferences of the family and Christian parties, which are strongly against gay marriage, were redirected away from the Liberal Party. Supporters of same-sex marriage blasted the figures as propaganda and said it was too simplistic whilst acknowledging there could be ‘some potential impact at the margins’.
Pakistan: Searing heatwave
224 people are believed to have died so far during Pakistan's heatwave in southern Sindh province (nearly 1,700 people died in a similar heatwave in India last month). Most of the deaths have been in Karachi, with temperatures of 45C (113F) in recent days. The city has seen power cuts caused partly by increased electricity demand for air-conditioning. Many of Pakistan’s victims are elderly people who have been suffering from fever, dehydration and gastric problems. The morgue reports an increased number of bodies being brought in. Hundreds of patients suffering from the heatwave effects are being treated at government hospitals. The body's normal core temperature is 37-38C. If it heats to 39-40C, the brain tells the muscles to slow down and fatigue sets in. At 40-41C, heat exhaustion is likely - and above 41C, the body shuts down. Chemical processes start to be affected, body cells deteriorate and there is a risk of multiple organ failure.
