It wasn’t all bad...

As we all stop this weekend to ponder and celebrate the most wonderful news of all – that the Son of God died to save us from sin and redeem us back to him, and that he rose from the grave, defeating that foe of foes, death itself – it’s encouraging to realise that amidst all the bad news we imbibe daily, there is yet much good to report on in the world.

The war is won, but the battles rage on – and amidst the many losses also come many victories, though these don’t make the headlines quite as easily. The Lord is building his Kingdom; it is a truly phenomenal era in which to be alive. Be encouraged by the news below (and please note the paragraph at the bottom).

Society & Politics

• Central London to replay Easter story: The 90-minute production of The Passion of Jesus by Wintershall will take place in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday. Attendance is free. Saturday performances will take place in Guildford. Find out more here!
• Opportunity in college chapels: New figures suggest that over a fifth of students at Oxford, Cambridge and Durham colleges participate regularly in chapel services – a much higher figure than anticipated. Read more here.
• ‘Truth to Power’ initiative on target: The project, to declare the whole of Scripture aloud in Parliament Square, is almost 25% underway. Reading slots are still available for April – click here to find out more.
  

World Scene

• North and South Korea prepare for joint summit: The up-coming talks being agreed between the leaders of the two countries will be the first in more than a decade, and only the third since the end of the Korean War. The talks will be held in late April. Read more here.
  
• San Francisco State University apologises to Jews: The university President apologised publicly over allegations of anti-Semitism, affirming that “Zionists are welcome on our campus”. Read more here.
  
• Wheaton College wins important legal case: After a five-year battle, the famous Bible college has won its freedom to not provide healthcare insurance that covers abortion-inducing drugs. It follows similar legal wins by Christian businesses in recent years. Read more here.
  
• Hundreds of thousands march for life in Argentina: Huge crowds poured onto the streets this week in the Catholic nation to protest against a bill to legalise abortion, currently being considered by its Congress. Read more here.
  

Israel & Middle East

• US pledges record $705 million towards Israeli defence: Congress has dramatically upped its pledge of aid towards Israel’s military defence systems for 2018, bringing the total US investment in Israeli defence to $6.5 billion. Read more here.
  
• Megiddo mosaic proclaims Jesus is God: A Roman mosaic uncovered beneath a British-built prison in Megiddo, dating to the 3rd Century AD, is one of the earliest Christian places of worship to be uncovered in Israel. Read more here.
  
• Military probe finds disabled man NOT killed by IDF: The death of a double amputee during Gaza border clashes last December was reported in the Western media as murder by the IDF. The official investigation has found otherwise. Read more here.

Request for Prayer

Whilst we celebrate the Good News this weekend, please bear up the IDF and the Israeli people in your prayers. It is expected that the Passover holiday in this, Israel’s 70^th year, will bring with it a spike in Palestinian violence, with high-profile protests at the Gaza border being planned.