Venturing into unreported China

China has pledged more freedoms for reporters ahead of next year's Olympics, but when the BBC's Dan Griffiths travelled to the countryside to investigate reports of unrest he was detained and questioned.

China wants to keep reports of rural unrest under wraps

The village of Shengyou is a three hour drive south of Beijing, deep in the countryside surrounded by fields of maize.

A traditional landscape found across this vast nation - but everything is not as it seems.
My taxi driver tells me that the police have set up checkpoints round the village. He refuses to go any further - so I go the rest of the way on foot. I walk down a narrow lane with broad poplar trees on either side. A small tractor chugs by, the driver stares at me - foreigners are rarely seen around here.

Round a bend in the road, I see two white vans. Several policemen are standing beside them. They look as out of place in rural China as I do. The questions come thick and fast. What am I doing? Where have I come from? Who is my contact in the village?

Over the course of the next few hours they will ask me this last question again and again. From nowhere a black car pulls up and I am ushered inside.

Read More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6983247.stm from the BBC News Website.

Comment:

Although China is an economic powerhouse of the World Economy, it's still not a democracy, and although in theory a Communist Country, there is a great deal of underhand and dishonest dealings both in Public and Private life, and as we see in this story from the BBC News Website, a great deal of unrest is occuring in China, due to amongest other things greed.

According to the World Governance Indicators report, Chinese citizens have very little freedom, out of a scale of 100%, they have a freedom indicator of 4.8%, compared to other countries freedom indicators for example Cuba at 7.2%, Russia at 24%, Canada at 94.2% and Denmark at 100%.

The Writing is on the Wall

Daft burglar writes name on wall

The two youths vandalised a children's campsiteAn 18-year-old burglar who vandalised a children's campsite building was caught because he wrote his name on a wall at the scene, a court has heard. Peter Addison, of Heaton Mersey, Stockport, and his friend Mark Ridgeway of Poynton, Cheshire, smashed crockery and let off fire extinguishers.

Addison received a conditional discharge. Ridgeway, 18, must carry out 60 hours' unpaid work.
Both pleaded guilty to burglary at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court.

Addison was ordered to pay £725 compensation and £20 costs. Ridgeway has to pay £20 costs.

Read more from the BBC News website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6981558.stm

Todays Word from Joel Osteen "Your Time is Coming."

Your Time is Coming

Today's Scripture

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Your time is coming! The dreams and desires, the things you want to accomplish, the situations you want to see changed will happen. Just because it has taken a long time, or because you’ve tried and failed, don’t give up on those dreams. Don’t be complacent about pursuing what God has placed in your heart. I encourage you today — get your fire back! It may be taking a long time, but God is a faithful God. No matter how long it’s been, no matter how impossible it looks, if you’ll stay in faith, your time is coming. Every dream that’s in your heart, every promise that has taken root, God not only put it there, but He has every intention of bringing it to pass. Start declaring today, “My time is coming… God is working behind the scenes on my behalf… I will fulfill my destiny… I will fulfill the plan God has for my life!” As you declare and expect and wait for the appointed time, your faith will grow. Your hope will grow. And you’ll step into the destiny God has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, I receive Your truth today. I receive Your promises today. I ask that You ignite my heart with Your holy fire so that I can pursue Your perfect plan for my life. Make my thoughts and words agreeable to Your will.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen Ministries, 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston TX 77027.

Copyright © 2007 by Joel Osteen Ministries

Today's Word from Joel Osteen

Free from Condemnation

Today's Scripture

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit” (Romans 8:1 AMP).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are free from condemnation! Is there something that you feel guilty about? If you have repented, the Bible says He takes your sin and throws it as far as the east is from the west. He casts your sins into the sea of forgetfulness. God actually chooses to forget your sins! That means your sins are completely removed. In fact, they aren’t even yours anymore. Don’t let the enemy dig up your past or try to make you feel guilty for something that happened a long time ago, or even yesterday. The enemy is called the “accuser of the brethren”, and he works overtime to bring you down with false accusations. Be confident that God doesn’t remember your past. You are free from condemnation through the blood of Jesus Christ. The next time the enemy brings up your past, declare that you are free from condemnation in Jesus’ Name!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free in Jesus! Thank You for forgiveness. Thank You washing me clean and making me new today. I receive your grace and mercy so that I can be a vessel used by You today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen Ministries, 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston TX 77027

Copyright © 2007 by Joel Osteen Ministries

College Update , God's Favour

With being a Student today, there are various finance options, including things like Student Loans and if you live and study in Wales, The Welsh Assembly Government give you a Tuition Fee Grant of up to £1,845, which just over 55% of the Tuition Fee of £3,070 a year, they also give you an Assembly Learning Grant of £2,765 a year, from which you pay £1,225 to top your Tuition Fee. * All depending on your income.* There's also a Student Loan for Maintenance costs of around £3,495

Because I only applied to go on the HND Computing (Information Systems) course, last week. I applied to Student Finance Wales online Friday evening, although I did request a Finance Application pack. Once I completed my online Application Form, I had a message to take some ID to my local Student Finance Dept, once I had done that, I needed someone to complete the form, to confirm that I'm actually who I say that I'm. (Thanks to my elders there, Mick Walford) I then posted the form back to my local Student Finance Dept. I was told it would take around 2 weeks to process the form, and my course starts in 2 weeks

* If you also think Mick is a great bloke,then join the Mick Walford Appreciation Society on Facebook*

I had already emailed some friends to ask them to pray about the Finances going through on time, I rang the Student Finance section, yesterday morning to see if they had received the ID Form and enclosed ID. I was asked to call back around 2pm, I rang some friends, yesterday morning to ask them to pray. I then called the Student Finance Dept, who then processed and assessed my application with me on the Telephone, and advised that I had been successful.

I then emailed and phoned all the friends I asked to pray, yesterday and today. I believe, as one of my friends said earlier, "It was a sign of God's Favour", that my application for finance was done in 2 days, not in 2 weeks.


Blessings

Blair

Todays Word from Joel Osteen " Release the Debt"

Release the Debt

Today's Scripture

“Do not say, ‘I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did’” (Proverbs 24:29).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Is there someone in your life who has wronged you? Maybe a family member didn’t treat you right, or a boss was unfair. The Bible tells us that we need to release and forgive others so God can forgive us. If we harbor unforgiveness or bitterness towards anyone, God cannot forgive us. He cannot even hear our prayers. Forgiveness starts with a decision. It doesn’t mean you excuse another person’s behavior; it only means that you are releasing the debt they owe you. Forgiveness puts God in charge of that situation instead of you. A true sign that you have forgiven is that when you think about the other person, or see them somewhere, you are at peace. The Bible says that we should also pray for those who may be against us. Pray that God will change that person’s heart. As you release the debt of others, God will release you, and you will walk in freedom and peace in every area of your life.

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, I humbly come to You and ask You to show me any unforgiveness that may be in my heart. I forgive and release the debt of others so that You can forgive me. I bless Your Holy Name today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen Ministries, 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston TX 77027

Copyright © 2007 by Joel Osteen Ministries

Today's Word from Joel Osteen "Speak what you See."

Speak What You Seek

Today's Scripture

“And God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God wanted there to be light, so He spoke it into existence. He wanted there to be water, land, and plants, so He declared them to be. Did you know, as a believer, that same creative power lives inside of you by the Holy Spirit? What are you speaking into existence in your life? Are you declaring the truth of God's Word that says you are the head and not the tail - that you are above only and not beneath? Listen to the words that come out of your mouth and speak what you seek! If you seek good health, declare that God is your Healer and that you will live strong and healthy all the days of your life. If you need provision for something, declare that God is your Provider. Be proactive and speak peace into your home. Speak God's protection over your family. Speak favor over your job. Decide and declare that today will be your best day to the Glory of God!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, today I submit my words to You. I invite You to search my mind and heart so that I may speak Your truth. Teach me what to say so that I can live the life of victory You have in store for me today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen Ministries, 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston TX 77027

Copyright © 2007 by Joel Osteen Ministries