Bible is Norway’s 2011 Best Seller | 310 | Report 29

The first Norwegian translation of the Bible for 30 years has topped the country’s book charts almost every week between its publication in October and the end of the year, selling almost 80,000 copies so far and hugely exceeding expectations. Its launch in the autumn saw Harry Potter-style overnight queues, with bookshops selling out on the first day as Norwegians rushed to get their hands on the new edition. “We only printed 25,000 to start with and thought it would last six to nine months, but it was launched mid-October and by the end of the year it had sold 79,000 copies – it’s just incredible,” said Stine Smemo Strachan, who worked on the project for the Norwegian Bible Society.

Source:The Guardian

BIBLE STUDY: John 5:24-30

PRAISE: God that there is still hunger for His Word. Pray that it’s truths may spread in Norway.

Can the Apostasy Laws be Abolished? | 13th Mar 2010

Islam is a one-way street. You can convert TO Islam, but you are not allowed to convert FROM Islam. Apostasy is seen as a “crime” against the rest of the Muslim community – often it is the family of the convert – not the State – that imposes the death penalty. This can happen even in non-Muslim nations where sizeable Muslim communities live.
“Hannah”, in Britain, has been forced to move house 45 times since she was converted to Christ at the age of 16. The reason? Her Muslim family has vowed to kill her unless she “returns to the fold.”
But things can change. On 22 August 2007 Christian and Muslim groups in Norway signed a joint declaration affirming the right to convert from one faith to another without fear of harassment or violence. Barnabas Fund has been campaigning hard to see an end to these attitudes the world over. It won’t be easy – old attitudes die hard! But, since the Norway declaration, others have begun to follow suite:
In 2008 a group of British Muslim academics and religious leaders began meeting in Cambridge to consider traditional views of Islam and certain aspects of Sharia. In October 2009 they published a report, Contextualising Islam in Britain. It reflects a strong and very encouraging commitment on the part of mainstream Muslim leaders in Britain to an adapted and modern Islam.
Islam does not normally distinguish between religious sins and crimes against the State. But the report argues that this distinction must be drawn and even apostates must not suffer discrimination. These are positive beginnings; it remains to be seen whether they will gradually take hold, particularly as more Muslims are absorbed into Western societies.

Source: Barnabas Trust; Revival Media

BIBLE STUDY: Matthew 22:21

PRAISE: God for small signs of change. Pray that these may snowball, and that Christians may know how to reach out to Muslims with the love of Christ.

http://revivalmedia.org/2010/03/12/can-the-apostasy-laws-be-abolished-13th-mar-2010

Can the Apostasy Laws be Abolished? | 13th Feb 2010

Islam is a one-way street. You can convert TO Islam, but you are not allowed to convert FROM Islam. Apostasy is seen as a “crime” against the rest of the Muslim community – often it is the family of the convert – not the State – that imposes the death penalty. This can happen even in non-Muslim nations where sizeable Muslim communities live.
“Hannah”, in Britain, has been forced to move house 45 times since she was converted to Christ at the age of 16. The reason? Her Muslim family has vowed to kill her unless she “returns to the fold.”
But things can change. On 22 August 2007 Christian and Muslim groups in Norway signed a joint declaration affirming the right to convert from one faith to another without fear of harassment or violence. Barnabas Fund has been campaigning hard to see an end to these attitudes the world over. It won’t be easy – old attitudes die hard! But, since the Norway declaration, others have begun to follow suite:
In 2008 a group of British Muslim academics and religious leaders began meeting in Cambridge to consider traditional views of Islam and certain aspects of Sharia. In October 2009 they published a report, Contextualising Islam in Britain. It reflects a strong and very encouraging commitment on the part of mainstream Muslim leaders in Britain to an adapted and modern Islam.
Islam does not normally distinguish between religious sins and crimes against the State. But the report argues that this distinction must be drawn and even apostates must not suffer discrimination. These are positive beginnings; it remains to be seen whether they will gradually take hold, particularly as more Muslims are absorbed into Western societies.

Source: Barnabas Trust; Revival Media

BIBLE STUDY: Matthew 22:21

PRAISE: God for small signs of change. Pray that these may snowball, and that Christians may know how to reach out to Muslims with the love of Christ.