Luiz has never played down his strong Christian beliefs and he has links with the Atletas de Cristo (Athletes of Christ) – a non-profit organisation that is made up of sportsmen and was started in Brazil in 1984. It is linked with the evangelical movement and counts Kaka and Lucio among its many devotees.

“My faith gives me the belief that I can go out and perform and improve as a player. It gives me strength and inspiration,” Luiz said last season.

The laying-on of hands on a team-mate is not something he practised at Benfica but he was famous there for the stickers on a van that he used to drive to training – one saying “Christ is life” and the other “God is Faith”.

When he left Portugal he nearly ended up at Real Madrid with Kaka, who he has often said inspires him “both on and off the pitch”. Asked about his future while still at the Portuguese club, Luiz said: “Everything in life belongs to God. Our purpose has already been mapped out.”

Fifa banned prayer in the last World Cup in reaction to Brazil celebrating their 2009 Confederations Cup victory in worship. The Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez gets down on his knees to pray before kick-off.

http://www.cbn.com/tv/1430469465001

U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan has shared his testimony on the Beyond the Ultimate website, which features Christian sports stars. “I think we all need Christ in our lives,” he writes. “Money, fame, all those objects, they don’t mean anything if you don’t have Jesus in your life. All of those things can be gone in the blink of an eye. We can’t get caught up in it.”

The Brazilian captain Thiago Silva, regarded by some commentators as the best defender in the world, is another strong Christian. As a young, up-and-coming footballer he played for a short time in Moscow and there he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Coming near to death, he was also at one point told by doctors that he might lose one lung, and he was forced to miss an entire season of soccer.

He has no doubts about the nature of his subsequent miraculous recovery. “God saved me,” he has declared

When God speaks we need to recognise His voice & act. (cf James and the mirror)

“Acts” follows the gospels. Jesus spoke & after Pentecost came mission.

Examples

Adam & Eve   –   “What did God say to me?”

Jonah              –    “I hear you but I don’t like what you are saying”.

Moses              –   ” hearing on holy ground” but still wanting someone else to go.

8th June Sunday am TC

Its not a word commonly used today but it does describe passion, enthusiasm and fervour towards something.

The Bible encourages us to have spiritual fervour and zeal for God and His way of life.

Its easy to fall in to the trap of working up a passion & to try hard in our own strength to do all the things we think we should do to please God.

In Galatians the Christians  had made a similar mistake. Having become Christian by spiritual new birth & life they then tried to live this life without the power of God.

We need to realise that God has given us His Holy Spirit (John 14) to enable us to live His life of Zeal in us.

Thanks  Ian  (22nd June 2014)

Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1

He is reported to be a devout  Evangelical Christian who claims to read the Bible every day.

(Source. Daily Telegraph magazine)

The Uruguayan striker, for several years it has embraced the Christian faith and came to be part of that group of professional athletes in all disciplines who share a love for Jesus Christ and recognize him as Lord and Savior of their lives . These athletes have the responsibility to live a Christian life to the unanimous will of God in the world of sport “,

Chris Evans: (MP) As the Minister will know, in conflicts such as those in
central Africa, child soldiers are open to all kinds of physical, sexual
and mental abuse. What are the Government doing to put pressure on those
countries to stop the use of child soldiers in conflicts of that nature?

Radical love might be measured by how much we are willing to give up in order  to love .

Western culture is averse to risk & sacrifice and dominated by issues such as health and safety & risk management. Those  who prepare to ‘go’ (for the gospel)can face questions that are aimed at dissuading them from venturing out for God.

To be ‘radical’ for Christ means that I see the gospel as being more important than my own well being.

1 Cor 10 v 24  “no-one should seek their own good but the good of others”

(taken in part  from editorial  of “GO”  written by national director)

Can you help?

Do you have any information with respect to the theft of groceries from the Spar store , Elm Drive, Risca at about 12.15pn on Sunday June 1st 2014.

If anyone has information they are asked to call Gwent Police on 101 quoting log 285 1/6/14.