Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher, editor of the Mothers' Union “Families First” magazine (pictured) about the latest news from a Christian standpoint.  Today, how Prince Charles will face a challenge on his coronation, if he wants to be “defender of faiths”, how a couple lived their married life through online identities, and the teenage girl who chose to refuse a life-saving heart transplant.

Story links:

Prince Charles:

timesonline.com  Prince Charles turns 60

telegraph.co.uk  Prince Charles to be known as “defender of faith”

independent.co.uk  Prince cannot defend all faiths

Virtual marriage:

telegraph.co.uk Avatars and Second Life adultery

secondlife.com  Official site

Heart transplant girl:

ap.google.com British girl allowed to refuse heart transplant

specialchildren.about.com Girl says no to life-saving heart transplant

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Jon Hargreaves, the International Director of FEBA Radio (pictured) about the latest news from a Christian perspective.  Today, what challenges face Barack Obama as he prepares for the Presidency, how there is hope for the Democratic Republic of Congo as the international community steps up its role, and why a small remote Asian state has got better ideas than the rest of the world, when it comes to thinking about the economy.

Story links:

Barack Obama:

barackobama.com  Official site

telegraph.co.uk  Victorious president-elect picks White House team

DR Congo:

oxfam.org.uk Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo

bbc.co.uk UN Caught in new DR Congo clashes

Bhutan and national happiness:

afp.google.com Bhutan's turn to celebrate with crowning of young king

bhutan.gov.bt  Official site

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Russ Bravo, editor of Inspire Magazine,   about the latest news from a Christian perspective.  Today,  the credit squeeze on the retail trade could mean good news for churches, Sony's new video game is delayed out of respect for Muslims, but not the one that offended Christians, and Richard Dawkins' athiest adverts on buses are welcomed by the Methodist Church.

Story Links:

Retail squeeze at Christmas:

guardian.co.uk Credit crunch may mar shoppers' Christmas

channel4.com Christmas credit crisis

cofe.anglican.org Matter of Life and Debt

Sony's video game:

bbc.co.uk  Game delayed over Korean phrases

churchtimes.co.uk  Sony refuses to withdraw game

Athiest adverts:

inspiremagazine.org Methodists thank Dawkins for putting God on the buses

ekklesia.co.uk Athiest evangelism campaign

athiestcampaign.org  official site

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher editor of the Mothers' Union “Families First” magazine,   about the latest news from a Christian perspective.  Today, a survey of children find that they want more time from their parents, rather than money, and most would bring up their own children differently.  Also,  surfing the internet is as good for your brain as crossword puzzles among older people, and the main ambition among girls is to have instant fame, thanks to the messages of modern media.

Story links:

Children want time, not money:

inthenews.co.uk  Children want time, not cash

careforthefamily.org.uk  Care for the Family

The web is good for your brain:

bbc.co.uk  Internet use ‘good for the brain'

cnn.com Google does a brain good

Girls just want to have fame:

telegraph.co.uk Girls just want to win the X Factor

telegraph.co.uk  “Who are we to judge?”

barbara-follett.org.uk  Barbara Follett, MP

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Russ Bravo, editor of Inspire Magazine,   about the latest news from a Christian perspective. Today, the credit crunch leads to a rise in people looking at the Church of England's online debt pages, GCSE music has become more popular as students are encouraged to “jam” along to their favourite music, and rock legend Carlos Santana announces his plans to start a church.

Story Links:

Debt:

cofe.anglican.org  Matter of Life and Debt

cofe.anglican.org Thousands turn to online prayer and advice as financial situation worsens

GCSE Music:

independent.co.uk  GCSE's in jamming

musicalfutures.org.uk  Musical futures

Santana's church ambitions:

inspiremagazine.org.uk Santana wants to start a church

santana.com Official Site

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher, editor of  the Mothers’ Union “Families First” magazine,  about the latest news from a Christian perspective. Today, Naturalist Sir David Attenborough says female literacy will help stop decline in frog and newt population, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly puts her family before her career, and the first baby to the born under the NHS reflects on a life of free healthcare.

Story Links:

Frogs, newts and literacy:

bbc.co.uk David Attenborough on ‘Today'

Ruth Kelly:

Ruth Kelly's website

timesonline.co.uk Ruth Kelly to quite cabinet for family reasons

guardian.co.uk Minister's exit undermines Britain's Brown

NHS baby:

bbc.co.uk  First NHS baby at Labour meeting

walesonline.co.uk  First NHS baby speaks out

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher, editor of  the Mothers' Union “Families First” magazine,  about the latest news from a Christian perspective. Today, how the financial crisis was only to be expected, and provides an opportunity to watch out for your neighbours,  how politicians can easily fall from popularity, and why scientists have come up with a new way to research “near death experiences”

Story links:

Financial crisis:

tucsoncitizen.com  The Bank Meltdown-blame everybody

guardian.co.uk A financial crisis unmatched since the Great Depression

eauk.org  The Credit Crunch

Politicians and popularity:

guardian.co.uk  Tessa Jowell interview

bbc.co.uk Conference Guide

Near Death Experiences:

soton.ac.uk World's Largest-ever Study of Near Death Experiences

aglimpseofeternity.org  The Website of Ian McCormack

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Russ Bravo, editor of Inspire Magazine,   about the latest news from a Christian perspective. Today, the Hadron Collider didn't destroy the world in a black hole - but what does it achieve?  The Pacific island of Tuvalu will sink into the sea in 30 years and its head churchman calls for help, and Theo Walcott, the new England football sensation, faces a future of fame and fortune, but will it do him any good?

Story Links:

Hadron Collider:

independent.co.uk God's own particle?

Hadron Collider UK site

eauk.org  The Big Bang

Tuvalu sinking:

inspiremagazine.org.uk  “Don't give up on Tuvalu”

tuvaluislands.com official site

Theo Walcott:

telegraph.co.uk  David Beckham ready to step aside

skysports.com  Theo Walcott

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.

Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher, editor of the Mother's Union Families First Magazine,  about the latest news from a Christian perspective. Today, fewer women in the UK are getting the top jobs, couples place high importance on their wedding vows, and there's surprise at the extent of faith among young people in Scotland.

Story Links:

Women in top jobs:

guardian.co.uk  “Mummy Track” keeps women from top jobs

bbc.co.uk Women lose out in top jobs race

Wedding Vows:

Church of England  “For richer for poorer….”

youandyourwedding.co.uk vows and readings

Faith in Scotland:

churchofscotland.org.uk  Young peoples' attitude to church and religion