Sentamu to Send Bible to Every MP
Archbishop urges MPs to 'do nothing to change their lives' this summer - except to read the 100 Minute Bible.
Posted: Friday, August 10, 2007, 8:54 (BST)
Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, is to send every MP in the country some summer reading - the 100 Minute Bible and a guide to slowing down.
The guide, written by the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, and released earlier this year, is entitled Do Nothing to Change Your Life. The book urges its readers to create pauses in daily life to benefit their own, and society's, health and well being. The book argues this fresh perspective of relishing every moment with a greater attentiveness will improve our relationship with God.
"Do Nothing to Change Your Life is a passionate plea for the nation to ditch endless 'to do' lists, constant streams of emails, and an increasingly '24/7' culture," said the Church of England. The book was published following an international study that showed that the pace of life in our cities has increased by 10 per cent in the last decade.
"The Bishop's warning about the danger of not taking rest and play seriously is a timely one," said the Church of England.
The 100 Minute Bible gives a synopsis of every book in the Bible and takes less than two hours to read.
Dr Sentamu said: "I wanted to encourage our nation's elected representatives to slow down during their holiday and in that place of quiet and stillness to enter into the presence of God.
"One of these books is about creating that quiet in our lives. The other is an introduction to the world's best-seller which introduces the reader to Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
"There is a pressing need for more quiet and reflection than in our 24/7 culture. There has never been a more important time in our public life to discover or re-discover the importance of faith."
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 20:18 (BST)
The Archbishop is to be warmly congratulated on his initiative. My prayer is that the 100 Minute Bible will encourage the MP's to read the real thing - the Bible - for themselves and thus allow God to speak to them through his Word. I also hope the other book about creating pauses in the midst of a busy life will also give them a window to the Lord. The initiative is most timely; our leaders need to be still to hear from the Lord in these days of confusion and despair, as do we all.
Michael Kemp, Swindon, Wiltshire
Added: Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 0:49 (BST)
Praise the Lord, when is he posting them? Wow the church is actually doing something for God - that's got to work! God will honour the fact you are being obedient and promoting His true love and good name He is faithful to those who are faithful to Him! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Thank you thank you thank you and be truly blessed and keep on May their eyes be opened and deaf ears hear, and may the eyes of their hearts be enlightened forever! Amen
Jacqui, Cirencester, Glos
Added: Friday, August 10, 2007, 11:17 (BST)
Sir,
It is a nice gesture for the Archbishop to distribute that book, but it will be wiser to do a survey after the summer to see how many actually read it. Why? Because I believe there are more atheists in this Great Britain than the Church of England care to admit. When the name of God is called upon, many here, and not just MPs, will turn their hearts and minds away. Nice gesture, but I think it will fall on deaf ears!
Andrew C, London
