Why Is the Relationship between a Father and His Daughter So Special?

Why Is the Relation between a Father and His Daughter So Special?

On the first day of their marriage, wife and husband agreed not to open the door for any visitor! That same day, the husband’s parents came to see them and knocked on the door. Husband and the wife looked at each other. The husband wanted to open the door, but since they had an agreement, he did not, so his parents left. After a while, the same day, the wife’s parents came visiting. Wife and husband looked at each other, and even though they had an agreement, the wife with tears on her eyes whispered and said “I can’t do this to my parents”, and she opened the door! Husband did not say anything. Years passed and they had 2 boys. Afterwards, they had a third child which was a girl. The father planned a very big and lavish party for the newborn baby girl, and he invited everyone over. Later that night, his wife asked him what was the reason for such a big celebration for this baby, while we did not do so for the boys!

The Husband simply replied, “because she is the one who will open the door for me!”

One of the most beautiful things in this world is – A Father-Daughter relationship.

We now live in a culture where Dad is an equal partner in caregiving. From day one, dads are encouraged to be hands-on, changing diapers, giving baths, putting Baby to sleep and calming her cries. That presence and effort is the beginning of a very important relationship.

Daughters are so special. However, a daughter needs a dad to be the standard against which she will judge all men. It is also the reason why fathers are very influential in their daughter’s lives, especially when it comes to self-esteem and decision making. A father may hold his daughter’s hand for a short while, but she holds his heart forever. Their inside jokes and understanding for each other make them absolutely adorable.

“How Dad approaches life will serve as an example for his daughter to build off of in her own life, even if she chooses a different view of the world,” says Michael Austin, associate professor of philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University and editor of Fatherhood — Philosophy for Everyone: The Dao of Daddy.

Let your heart be captivated as you go through these cute and short father daughter quotes.

He is the first man she looks up to and he totally brings out the best in her. — Unknown
There is this girl who stole my heart and she calls me Daddy. — Unknown
Dear Daddy, no matter where I go in life, you’ll always be my number one man. — Unknown
Fathers, be your daughter’s 1st love and she’ll never settle for anything less. — Unknown
Husbands, love your wives well, your children are noticing how you treat her. — Unknown
Some people don’t believe in heroes but they haven’t met my dad. — Unknown
The greatest thing a father can do for his daughter is to love her mother. — Unknown
As a daughter of the king of kings, your purpose is not to turn heads but to turn hearts toward our Heavenly Father. — Unknown
He gives her the confidence to do things on her own and become independent.
It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping. —John Sinor
Behind every great daughter is a truly amazing dad. — Unknown
When it comes to careers, a father is the first person every daughter goes to for proper guidance and advice. — Unknown
A real man treats his lady the same way he wants another man to treat his daughter. — Unknown
I’m so glad when daddy comes home, I would hug him and give him a great big kiss. — Unknown
Guns don’t kill people”¦ dads with pretty daughters do. — Unknown
I am the daughter of a King who is not moved by the world for my God is with me. — Unknown
You are a daughter of an Almighty God, you are a princess destined to become a queen. — Unknown
No matter when a girl finds her Prince Charming, her father always remains the king of her life. — Unknown
A father opens doors for his daughter pulls her seat out and treats her with the utmost respect. He sets a daughter’s expectations on how a man should treat a lady and that she should not settle for anything less. — Unknown
DAD – A son’s first hero. A Daughters first love. — Unknown
Fathers give the best piggyback rides. They are ready to do anything that makes their daughter smile. — Unknown
He dreams for you and takes pride even in your smallest achievements. — Unknown
He makes you feel like the most important person, most beautiful girl and the most capable person on earth. — Unknown

Are you inspired by these cute and short father daughter quotes?

It’s ‘DAUGHTER’S WEEK’, and if you are a daughter or have a daughter who makes life worth living, by just being around – and you love her as much as your own breath. if you are proud of your daughter or being a daughter, send this to other people who have daughters or who are daughters. Daughters are angels!

December 15, 2017January 15, 2024

50 Profound Martin Luther Quotes About Faith

A lot has been written about Martin Luther’s legacy and even though he was born in 1546, the legacy of the reformer is still felt today.

Though he was a student of Scripture, Martin is probably best known for defying the Catholic Church of his day, laying some of the groundwork for protestant theology, forming the Lutheran tradition. He was both a complex, influential ”ž and controversial ”ž.

In today’s hectic world, there is much we can learn from Martin’s commitment to simple living, good stewardship and value of nature.

He had much wisdom to share, here are some of his most influential and controversial ”ž quotes that are sure to give you some food for thought:

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” – Martin Luther
“Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!” – Martin Luther
“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship” – Martin Luther
“Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.” – Martin Luther
“A person who…does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God, must be a clodhopper indeed and does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs.” – Martin Luther
“The devil, the originator of sorrowful anxieties and restless troubles, flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God….Music is a gift and grace of God, not an invention of men. Thus it drives out the devil and makes people cheerful. Then one forgets all wrath, impurity, and other devices.” – Martin Luther
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.“ – Martin Luther
“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” – Martin Luther
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.” – Martin Luther
“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my Guide.“ – Martin Luther
“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.” – Martin Luther
“Be a sinner and sin strongly, but more strongly have faith and rejoice in Christ.” – Martin Luther
“If you want to interpret well and confidently, set Christ before you, for He is the man to whom it all applies, every bit of it.” – Martin Luther
“The Gospel cannot be truly preached without offense and tumult.” – Martin Luther
“Therefore we conclude that all law, divine and human, treating of outward conduct, should not bind any further than love goes. Love is to be the interpreter of law.” – Martin Luther
“We are nothing with all our gifts be they ever so great, except God assist us.” – Martin Luther
“Those speak foolishly who ascribe their anger or their impatience to such as offend them or to tribulation. Tribulation does not make people impatient, but proves that they are impatient. So everyone may learn from tribulation how his heart is constituted.” – Martin Luther
“My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.” – Martin Luther
“True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of so fine a virtue.” – Martin Luther
“Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly.” – Martin Luther
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” – Martin Luther
“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” – Martin Luther
“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!” – Martin Luther
“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.” – Martin Luther
“To find Christ in such poverty, and what his swaddling clothes and manger signify, are explained ”¦ that his poverty teaches how we should find him in our neighbors, the lowliest and the most needy; and his swaddling clothes are the holy Scriptures; that in actual life we should incline to the needy; and in our studies and contemplative life only to the Scriptures; in order that Christ alone may become the man of both lives and that he may everywhere stand before us.” – Martin Luther
“A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone.” – Martin Luther
“I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self.” – Martin Luther
“Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved.” – Martin Luther
“God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.” – Martin Luther
“I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.” – Martin Luther
“You have as much laughter as you have faith.” – Martin Luther
“There never yet have been, nor are there now, too many good books.” – Martin Luther
“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.” – Martin Luther
“The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.” – Martin Luther
“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” – Martin Luther
“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” – Martin Luther
“Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.” – Martin Luther

November 21, 2017January 15, 2024

Pride

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. Pride will kill you, forever, and is the sin most likely to keep you from crying out to God in times of need.

As dangerous as pride is, it’s equally hard to spot. Satan fell because of his ambition to be equal with God. He desired to enter into the divine counsels and purposes, from which he was excluded by his own inability, as a created being, to comprehend the wisdom of the Infinite One. It was this ambition that led to his rebellion in heaven, and by the same means he seeks to cause the ruin of man.

“Too Many People Spend Money They Earned..to Buy Things They Don’t Want..to Impress People That They Don’t Like.” ’- Will Rogers

Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be the leader in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from God, and to win their homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God, attributing to Him the desire for self-exaltation. With his own evil characteristics he sought to dethrone the loving Creator.

“Through Pride We Are Ever Deceiving Ourselves. But Deep down Below the Surface of the Average Conscience a Still, Small Voice Says to Us, something Is out of Tune. ” ’- C.G. Jung

Had Lucifer really desired to be like the Most High, he would never have deserted his appointed place in heaven; for the spirit of the Most High is manifested in unselfish ministry. Lucifer desired God’s power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same.

“Proud People Breed Sad Sorrows for Themselves.” ’- Emily BrontÃƒ«

We can’t conclude that we don’t struggle with pride because we don’t see pride in ourselves. Whenever pride and ambition are indulged, the life is marred; for pride, feeling no need, closes the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven.

“It Is Better to Lose Your Pride with Someone You Love Rather Than to Lose That Someone You Love with Your Useless Pride.” ’- John Ruskin

Pride of heart is a fearful trait of character. “Pride goeth before destruction.” This is true in the family, the church, and the nation.

“All Men Make Mistakes, but a Good Man Yields When He Knows His Course Is Wrong, and Repairs the Evil. The Only Crime Is Pride.” ’- Sophocles, Antigone

Removing the Chains of Pride

How does one move from the chains of pride and self-obsession to the freedom of humble self-service?

A Harsh Spirit – Those who have the sickness of pride in their hearts speak of others’ sins with contempt, irritation, frustration, or judgment.
Superficiality – When pride lives in our hearts, we’re far more concerned with others’ perceptions of us than the reality of our hearts.
Defensiveness – Those who stand in the strength of Christ’s righteousness alone find a confident hiding place from the attacks of men and Satan alike.
Presumption Before God – Humility approaches God with humble assurance in Christ Jesus. If either the “humble” or the “assurance” are missing in that equation, our hearts very well might be infected with pride.
Desperation for Attention – Pride is hungry for attention, respect, and worship in all its forms.
Neglecting Others -Pride prefers some people over others. It honors those who the world deems worthy of honor, giving more weight to their words, their wants, and their needs.

Think of these as three facets as the jewel of genuine Christian humility

Who is the focus of your service?
Whose sin are you focused upon?
What is the focus of your joy, security, and contentment?

God’s people should be subject one to another. They should counsel with each other, that the lack of one be supplied by the sufficiency of the other.

“Learn of Me,” Said Christ; “For I Am Meek and Lowly in Heart: And Ye Shall Find Rest unto Your Souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

Maybe more of us struggle with pride than we thought. There’s good news for the prideful. Confession of pride signals the beginning of the end for pride.

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart! Try Me and Know My Thoughts! And See If There Be Any Grievous Way in Me, and Lead Me in the Way Everlasting! (Psalm 139:23–24)

In the end pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.

November 19, 2017July 1, 2020

Can I Be A ‘Part-Time Christian’ and Keep My Sinful Lifestyle?

Are you a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ or are you a Part-Time Christian? Does your faith in Jesus go beyond a weekend service? Do you live a double life?

“The Decline Christianity Has Become Precipitous in Recent Years”

For the first time in recorded history, those declaring themselves to have no religious affiliation have outnumbered Christians in Britain. Some 44 per cent of us regard ourselves as Christian, 8 per cent follow another religion and 48 per cent follow none. The decline of Christianity is perhaps the biggest single change in Britain over the past century. For some time, it has been a stretch to describe Britain as a Christian country. We can more accurately be categorised now as a secular nation with fading Christian institutions. More than ever before, we have an obligation to act in a Christ-like manner. Not just in church, but everywhere.

“Don’t Be A Part-Time Christian Who Demands A Full-Time God”

As Christian we can’t put our faith on a part-time schedule; as being Christian is a full-time occupation. If we don’t open our hearts to the Holy Spirit to purify and enlighten us, then our faith in God will be superficial.

“Sorry Christians, We Can’t Blame the Media Any More”

Do you know why Christians have a bad reputation today? It’s not because of CNN. It’s because of our own Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and YouTube videos! Every day, we confirm people’s worst suspicions about us. The gatekeepers are gone. With social media there’s no one filtering the information and there’s no one left to blame but ourselves.

“Jesus Has No Part-Time Disciples”

Jesus is the living word and truth that “came among us so that we could know it. Jesus’ said it all. Deny self, take up the cross and follow him. Moreover, only in losing one’s life — the primary meaning of apollymi is to destroy — one may save it. And Jesus means it. Judgment, he says, involves “repaying” people according to what they have done. At this moment we are hearing Matthew’s voice: Salvation comes not to those who call Jesus “Lord,” but to those who do what he says. It’s a matter of life and death.

“If I’m Wrong about God Then I Have Wasted My Life, But If Your Wrong about God Then You’ve Wasted Your Eternity”

So we face the chasm between Jesus’ call to discipleship and our own lives as part-time volunteers for the Gospel. Few Christians abandon everything for the Christ sake. Most of us simply fit our Christianity into the open slots on our calendars. But Jesus links the life of discipleship with his own path.

“Some Readers Hardly Need to Hear This News. Moment by Moment, Many of Us Are Constantly Mindful That We Fall Far Short of Jesus’ Standard”

Sadly exhaustion, burnout, tiredness, even breakdown are conditions that are all too common these days, not least among those involved in some kind of Christian ministry, whether full-time, part-time or voluntary.

Sometimes in striving to do our utmost for God, we can easily forget that there were many times when Jesus himself was willing to rest, to do nothing except wait for the Spirit’s prompting, so that he demonstrated the vital principle of ‘working from a place of rest’.

“Knowing and Doing What God Wants Is Simply Not Possible with Mere Human Effort — It Takes Divine Intervention and a Transformative Action of the Holy Spirit”

Take some time out to reflect on how you are living and working. Watch Jesus and see how he does it. Listen to what the Spirit may be saying to you deep within, at the centre of your being; and maybe, just maybe, God will give you some insights that will change your life and sustain your ministry over the long haul.’

If every Christian truly had faith in who they are in Christ, we would move mountains together. The longer I live on this earth, the more I long for the new one.

October 20, 2017March 9, 2019

20 Inspirational Christian Quotes

No one ever said it was easy being an Christian. Whether you’ve just started to walk with Jesus or you’ve been a Christian for years, there will always be those moments when you ask yourself if this whole Christian thing is worth it. Instead of giving up and throwing-in the proverbial white towel, keep your head up and look to the following 20 quotes to inspire and motivate you during those tough patches.

“God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” ’- Max Lucado
“We may speak about a place where there are no tears, no death, no fear, no night; but those are just the benefits of heaven. The beauty of heaven is seeing God.” ’- Max Lucado, Experiencing the Heart of Jesus: Knowing His Heart, Feeling His Love
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength. Corrie Ten Boom
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” ’- John Piper
“If God called us to a task, He will then qualify us for the job. Jack Hyles
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” ’- Augustine
“What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” ’- Hans Urs von Balthasar, Prayer
“We have a God who delights in impossibilities.” ’- Billy Sunday
“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” ’- Chuck Swindoll
“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.” ’- C.S. Lewis
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” ’- Francis Chan
“I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil can’t handle Jesus to whom I’m joined; he can’t handle the Jesus to whom I’m united; he can’t handle Jesus whose nature dwells in my nature.
“Worrying is arrogant because God knows what He’s doing.” ’- Barbara Cameron, A Time to Heal
“Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.” ’- Elisabeth Elliot, A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael
“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy… It’s not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.” ’- David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
“Experience had quickly taught her that she could not survive the storms without the anchor of the constraining love of Christ and what she called the “Rock-counsciousness” of the promise given her, “He goeth before.” ’- Elisabeth Elliot, A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael
“We fail in the work of grace and love when there is too much of us and not enough of God.” ’- Suzanne Woods Fisher, The Search
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” ’- James 1:12
“You won’t ever get ahead if you keep feeling sorry for yourself. You must stop all the negative talk and start thinking positive. You have a lot of potential but your life won’t change until you change how you think.” ’- Michele Woolley, God’s Favor – Breath Of Heaven
“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” ’- Victor Hugo

I hope you have enjoyed my list of Christian inspirational quotes for difficult times as much as I did in researching and finding them for you. What are some of your favorite inspiring quotes? Leave me a comment below and share them with me! Blessings

October 18, 2017October 4, 2021

Britain Is No Longer a Christian Country and Should be Systematically de-Christianized, Panel Said

London Mayor Boris Johnson has said Â£1.3tn of investment is needed over the next 35 years in order for London to retain its world class status

LONDON — Nearly two years ago, the “Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life” published a report on the role of religion in society. The paper made it clear that Britain is no longer a Christian country in any meaningful sense and should be systematically de-Christianized due to the decline of church-going and the rise of Islam and other beliefs.

Britain Is No Longer A Christian Country

The commission has attracted particular controversy because of the authority of those behind it. Patrons include Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury; Lord Woolf, the former chief justice; and Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the former general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain.

“Britain is no longer a Christian country and should stop acting as if it is, a major inquiry into the place of religion in modern society concluded in 2015, provoking a furious backlash from ministers and the Church of England.”

The report triggered a argument as it was condemned by cabinet ministers as “seriously misguided,” while the Church of England said it appeared to have been “hijacked” by humanists.

Remarkably, the overall decline of religion in Britain has coincided with the arrival of three million migrants who tend to have more religious belief than British Christians. In particular, the visual impact of Islam, most obviously expressed in the proposal for a 9,000-capacity ‘super-mosque’ in east London that was rejected by planners about 18 months ago, might give the impression that migration has brought a religious revival to Britain.

You Can’t Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater

Inevitably, the question of what is to be done about our national Christian institutions will soon arise. Is it appropriate that we are still invited to swear on the Bible in court?

Down The Inquiry Rabbit Hole

The Commission on Religion and Belief in Public Life document said that faith schools are “socially divisive” and the selection of children on the basis of their beliefs should be phased out. The report claimed that the number of Church of England bishops in the Lords should be replaced with imams, rabbis and other non-other non-Christian clerics as well as evangelical pastors. The report also backde moves to cut the number of Church of England bishops in the Lords and give places to imams, rabbis and other non-other non-Christian clerics as well as evangelical pastors. It also recommended that the coronation service for the monarch ought to be overhauled to include other faiths and that thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4’s should include non-religious messages. And it recommended new protections for women in Sharia courts and other religious tribunals — including a call for the government to consider requiring couples who have a non-legally binding religious marriage also to have a civil registration. Most controversially, perhaps, the report also called for a rethink of anti-terror policy, including allowing students to voice radical views on campus without fear of being reported to the security services.

Some will find this sad, others as a sign of progress, but the greater majority will view it with indifference.

Educating The Public

Given all that, why do Christians in the country have so much political and educational power?

“England has an established Church. Its bishops sit in the House of Lords. The Queen is both head of state and also supreme governor of the Church of England. One of the monarch’s titles is Defender of the Faith.”

Because of this, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has told the Daily Telegraph that claims the UK was not a Christian country ignored “both historical and constitutional reality”, its not fact. The Bible features heavily in the architecture and decoration of the Houses of Parliament, paying silent tribute to its significance in English jurisprudence. Most British law is ultimately derived from the codes of law within the Bible, of which the Ten Commandments is pre-eminent.

“The Equality of All People Before The Law is Another of The Bibles Legacies.”

In short the social institutions and safeguards, as well as many of the benefits people take for granted, were supported by the understanding of human life which was found within the Bible. In this sense, the foundations of Britain’s culture and society can truly be said to be biblical.

The report is dominated by the old-fashioned view that traditional religion is declining in importance and that non-adherence to a religion is the same as humanism or secularism.

Today, as people are facing ever more clearly the perceived threats of global war, the Bible, with its vision of man’s position within creation and responsibility under God to care properly for it, still has a major contribution to make to the future of all humankind.

October 12, 2017November 22, 2017

7 Faith Based Christian Movies Not to Miss This Year

Traditionally, faith-based films were saddled with microscopic budgets and unable to draw big-name talent, either in front of or behind the camera. However in recent years there has been some extremely well-made and executed movies with religion as a theme that have received a lot of press and positive feedback from traditionally harsher critics and viewers.

Finally faith-based films have been able to get the budgets, star power, and wide releases necessary to compete on the national level.

Films studios have created departments geared towards producing such faith-based entertainment, such as Sony’s Affirm Films, which released “War Room,” “Miracles from Heaven,” and “Risen”.

Here’s a list of the seven more notable faith-based films scheduled for release this year.

Hacksaw Ridge

“An old-fashioned story that Gibson mainlines with bleeding-edge craft and technique.”

Mel Gibson returns to his religious roots with this true life story of Desmond Doss, as conscientious objector who enlists as a medic and saves the lives of 75 without ever touching a gun. With intense battle sequences and an epic scope, Hacksaw Ridge places Mel Gibson back on the same firm cinematic ground as films like The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto.

Hacksaw Ridge DVD release was the 22nd May 2017.

The Shack

After suffering a family tragedy, Mack Phillips spirals into a deep depression that causes him to question his innermost beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to an abandoned shack in the Oregon wilderness. Despite his doubts, Mack journeys to the shack and encounters an enigmatic trio of strangers led by a woman named Papa. Through this meeting, Mack finds important truths that will transform his understanding of his tragedy and change his life forever. With star turns from Sam Worthington (Avatar) and Octavia Spencer (The Help).

“The Shack promises to be the Christian cinema event of the year.”

The Case for Christ

Lee Strobel’s investigation into the real evidence of Jesus’ life and death has been a touchstone of belief for readers the world over; it touches on the honesty of searching for meaning, and the challenges of what is confronted. Taking the story of Strobel’s journalistic pursuit, the film studio Pure Flix have crafted a cinematic and thrilling chase of one man’s Case for Christ.

Coming to DVD 29th September 2017

Do You Believe?

The creators of God’s Not Dead have changed lanes somewhat.When a pastor is shaken by the visible faith of a street-corner preacher, he is reminded that true belief always requires action. His response ignites a journey that impacts everyone it touches in ways that only God could orchestrate.

The Do You Believe UK DVD release date is 28 July 2017.

The Star

An animated nativity story, “The Star” follows a small but brave donkey who, with the help of other animal friends, becomes an unsung hero in the Christmas story. There is little known about the film for now except that “The Muppet” creators Brian and Lisa Henson from The Jim Henson Company will be producing the film and Oprah Winfrey will be one of the voice talents.

Same Kind of Different As Me

The film is about an international art dealer who builds an uncanny relationship with a homeless man in order to save his struggling marriage. The movie stars Greg Kinnear and Rene Zellweger. “Same Kind Of Different As Me”is based on a true story.

Silence

Breakout artist Andrew Garfield stars in this film about two Christian priests’ quest to find their mentor in 17th-century Japan is sometimes hard work, but is full of conviction

“The film tackles themes of religious persecution, cultural differences and the “real price” of spreading the Gospel. The movie was released last January.”

The movie has received significant praise after getting an accumulated critics score of 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Be warned the content is strong and may not be suitable for younger or more sensitive viewers.

The Resurrection of Gavin Stone

Director Dallas Jenkins brings to us this Christian comedy drama. Former child star Gavin Stone (Brett Dalton) must perform 200 hours of community service after trashing a hotel in his Illinois hometown.

“Temptation strikes when Stone learns that the church he’s assigned to clean is staging a lavish religious production.”

After landing the lead role of Jesus Christ, Gavin finds himself drawn to the show’s director (Anjelah Johnson-Reyes), a young woman who also happens to be the daughter of the affable pastor (D.B. Sweeney).

September 20, 2017January 15, 2024

Who is Jesus to You?

Who is Jesus? It is a continually recurring question and there are numerous answers to that question. Even during his life on earth, Jesus Christ’s very presence was a point of remarkable debate. Some refereed to Jesus as Emmanuel, from the Hebrew name Ã—¢Ã–´Ã—Å¾Ã–¸Ã–¼Ã— Ã—-Ã–¼Ã—Ã–µÃ—Å“ (‘Immanu’el) meaning “God is with us”, others said he was demon possessed. Some said Jesus was a good teacher, and others called him a liar. Some said he was amazing, and others labeled him insane and a false Christ. Jesus was also applauded as a prophet, and others dismissed him as a babbling blasphemer.

Today, not much has changed. Cults, politicians and even ministers and professors in religious schools still deny the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, the reconciliation of God and man through Christ’s death on the cross for our sins and his physical resurrection from the grave.

But Who Do You Say I Am – Jesus Christ

Jesus asked this question 2,000 years ago. However, today it is the most critical question you will ever answer. Virtually all modern scholars of antiquity have concluded that Jesus existed historically and the Bible is filled with many titles used to refer to Jesus, over 700 names to be precise. Here’s just some of those names, titles, and verses:

Almighty One – “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelations. 1:8
Alpha and Omega – “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelations. 22:13
Advocate – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1
Author and Perfecter of Our Faith – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews. 12:2
Authority – “Jesus said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew. 28:18
Bread of Life – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35
Beloved Son of God – “And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew. 3:17
Bridegroom – “And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matthew. 9:15
Christ – The title Christ used in the English language is from the Greek ÃŽ§ÃÃŽ¹ÃÆ’Ã”žÃÅ’Ã”š (Khristos), via the Latin Christus. It means “anointed one”.
Chief Cornerstone – Jesus is the cornerstone of the building which is His church. He cements together Jew and Gentile, male and female, all saints from all ages and places into one structure built on faith in Him which is shared by all. Ephesians 2:20
Deliverer – “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians.1:10
Emmanuel – “They shall call his name Emmanuel” provides the name Emmanuel (meaning God is with us). Emmanuel, which is taken from Isaiah 7:14, where it refers to another child born during the reign of Ahaz, does not appear elsewhere in the New Testament.
Faithful and True – “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” Revelations.19:11
Firstborn over all creation – “Not the first thing God created, as some incorrectly claim, because verse 16 says all things were created through and for Christ. Rather, the meaning is that Christ occupies the rank and pre-eminence of the first-born over all things, that He sustains the most exalted rank in the universe; He is pre-eminent above all others; He is at the head of all things.” Colossians 1:15
Good Shepherd – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Glory of God – In the words of Hebrews 1:3, we are told Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”
Great High Priest – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Hebrews. 4:14
Head of the Church – “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” Ephesians. 1:22
High Priest – The Jewish high priest entered the Temple once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people. The Lord Jesus performed that function for His people once for all at the cross. Hebrews 2:17
Holy Servant – “”¦and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:29-30
I Am – “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58
Indescribable Gift – “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” 2 Cor. 9:15
Judge – “”¦he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42
King of Kings – “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Revelations. 17:14
Lamb of God – God’s Law called for the sacrifice of a spotless, unblemished Lamb as an atonement for sin. Jesus became that Lamb led meekly to the slaughter, showing His patience in His sufferings and His readiness to die for His own. John 1:29
Light of the World – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Lion of the Tribe of Judah – “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelations. 5:5
Lord – Early Christians viewed Jesus as “the Lord” and the Greek word Kyrios (ÃŽºÃÃÃŽ¹ÃŽ¿Ã”š) which may mean God, lord or master appears over 700 times in the New Testament, referring to him.
Lord of All – “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians. 2:9-11
Mediator – A mediator is one who goes between two parties to reconcile them. Christ is the one and only Mediator who reconciles men and God. Praying to Mary or the saints is idolatry because it bypasses this most important role of Christ and ascribes the role of Mediator to another. 1 Timothy 2:5
Messiah – “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).” John 1:41
Mighty One – “Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Isaiah. 60:16
One Who Sets Free – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36
Our Hope – “”¦Christ Jesus our hope.” 1 Timothy. 1:1
Peace – “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” Ephesians. 2:14
Prophet – “And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” Mark 6:4
Redeemer – “And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” Job 19:25
Resurrection and Life – Embodied within Jesus is the means to resurrect sinners to eternal life, just as He was resurrected from the grave. Our sin is buried with Him and we are resurrected to walk in newness of life. John 11:25
Risen Lord – “”¦that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians. 15:3-4
Rock – As life-giving water flowed from the rock Moses struck in the wilderness, Jesus is the Rock from which flow the living waters of eternal life. He is the Rock upon whom we build our spiritual houses, so that no storm can shake them. 1 Corinthians 10:4
Sacrifice for Our Sins – “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
Savior – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
Son of Man – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10. The term Son of man appears many times in all four gospels, e.g. 30 times in Matthew. However, unlike the title Son of God.
Son of the Most High – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” Luke 1:32
Supreme Creator Over All – “By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”¦” 1 Corinthians. 1:16-17
Resurrection and the Life – “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25
The Door – “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9
The Way – “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
The Word – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
True Vine – “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1
Truth – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Victorious One – “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelations. 3:21
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace –“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah. 9:6
Head of the Church – Jesus Christ is the only supreme, sovereign ruler of the Church—those for whom He died and who have placed their faith in Him alone for salvation. Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23
Holy One – Christ is holy, both in his divine and human nature, and the fountain of holiness to His people. By His death, we are made holy and pure before God. Acts 3:14; Psalm 16:10
Judge – The Lord Jesus was appointed by God to judge the world and to dispense the rewards of eternity. Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:8
King of kings and Lord of lords – Jesus has dominion over all authority on the earth, over all kings and rulers, and none can prevent Him from accomplishing His purposes. He directs them as He pleases. 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16
Light of the World – Jesus came into a world darkened by sin and shed the light of life and truth through His work and His words. Those who trust in Him have their eyes opened by Him and walk in the light. John 8:12
Prince of peace – Jesus came not to bring peace to the world as in the absence of war, but peace between God and man who were separated by sin. He died to reconcile sinners to a holy God. Isaiah 9:6
Savior – He saves His people by dying to redeem them, by giving the Holy Spirit to renew them by His power, by enabling them to overcome their spiritual enemies, by sustaining them in trials and in death, and by raising them up at the last day. Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11
Son of God – Jesus is the “only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). Used 42 times in the New Testament, “Son of God” affirms the deity of Christ. Luke 1:35; John 1:49
Son of man: (John 5:27) – The phrase “Son of Man” emphasizes the humanity of Christ which exists alongside His divinity. It is also a messianic title (Daniel 7:13-14; Mark 14:63).
Word – The Word is the second Person of the triune God, who said it and it was done, who spoke all things out of nothing in the first creation, who was in the beginning with God the Father, and was God, and by whom all things were created. John 1:1; 1 John 5:7-8
Word of God – This is the name given to Christ that is unknown to all but Himself. It denotes the mystery of His divine person. Revelation 19:12-13
Word of Life – Jesus not only spoke words that lead to eternal life, but according to this verse He is the very words of life, referring to the eternal life of joy and fulfillment which He provides.
His position in the trinity 1 John 1:1
Alpha and Omega – Jesus declared Himself to be the beginning and end of all things, a reference to no one but the true God. This statement of eternality could apply only to God. Revelation 1:8; 22:13
Emmanuel – Literally “God with us.” Both Isaiah and Matthew affirm that the Christ who would be born in Bethlehem would be God Himself who came to earth in the form of a man to live among His people. Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23
I Am – When Jesus ascribed to Himself this title, the Jews tried to stone Him for blasphemy. They understood that He was declaring Himself to be the eternal God, the unchanging Yahweh of the Old Testament. John 8:58, with Exodus 3:14
Lord of All – Jesus is the sovereign ruler over the whole world and all things in it, of all the nations of the world, and particularly of the people of God’s choosing, Gentiles as well as Jews. Acts 10:36
True God – This is a direct assertion that Jesus, being the true God, is not only divine, but is the Divine. Since the Bible teaches there is only one God, this can only be describing His nature as part of the triune God. 1 John 5:20
True Vine – The True Vine supplies all that the branches (believers) need to produce the fruit of the Spirit— the living water of salvation and nourishment from the Word. John 15:1
Way, Truth, Life – Jesus is the only path to God, the only Truth in a world of lies, and the only true source of eternal life. He embodies all three in both a temporal and an eternal sense. John 14:6

Who is Jesus to you? How would you answer it? Can you answer it correctly? On the surface, it seems a simple question of identification. But God cares immensely how you answer it because your eternity is at stake. God loved you enough to get Jesus involved. Think about this: All of us would be lost except for the fact that the God of justice is also a God of love. Who is Jesus to you?

July 31, 2017January 15, 2024

Poem: The Unravelling of a Christian Marriage

Marry the wrong person, everyday is Martyrs Day.
Marry a lazy person, everyday is Labour Day.
Marry a rich person everyday is New Year’s Day.
Marry an immature person, everyday would seem like Children’s Day.
Marry a cheater or liar, everyday will become April Fool’s Day.
And if you don’t get married, everyday is Independence Day!

Marriage is the only school where you get a certificate before you start.
It’s also a school where you will never graduate.
It’s a school without a break or a free period.
It’s a school where no one is allowed to drop out.
It’s a school you will have to attend everyday of your life.
It’s a school where there is no sick leave or holidays.
It’s a school founded by God on the foundation of love.
The walls are made out of trust.
The door made out of acceptance.
The windows made out of understanding
The furniture made out of blessings
The roof made out of faith.

Be reminded that God is the only Principal and you are a student,
Even in times of storms, don’t be unwise and run outside.
Keep in mind that, this school is the safest place to be.
Never go to sleep before completing your assignments for the day.
Never forget to communicate with your classmate and with the Principal.
If you find out something about your classmate (spouse) that you do not appreciate.
Remember your classmate is also just a student, not a graduate.
God is not finished with him/her yet.
So take it as a challenge and work on it together.
Do not forget to study the Holy Book (the main textbook of this school).
Start each day with a sacred assembly and end it the same way.

Sometimes you will feel like not attending classes, yet you have to.
When tempted to quit find courage and continue.
Some tests and exams may be tough but remember,
the Principal knows how much you can bear and yet it’s a school better than any other.

It’s one of the best schools on earth;
joy, peace and happiness accompany each lesson of the day.

Different subjects are offered in this school, yet love is the major subject.
After all the years of theorising about it, now you have a chance to practice it.

To be loved is a good thing, but to love is the greatest privilege of them all.
Marriage is a place of love, so love your spouse.

Whether you’re married, engaged, or still single, we hope that you have found wisdom and encouragement in this poem about marriage.

July 25, 2017January 15, 2024

The Creationist Group Are Building a Life-size Noah’s Ark

In the rolling hills of rural Kentucky, a ship the length of nearly two football fields and the height of a five-story building is rising from the ground.

Young Earth’ Creationists Making $90m Full-scale Ark to ‘bring the Bible to Life’

This isn’t just any ship, but Noah’s Ark, as described in the book of Genesis in the Bible.

The modern-day ark designed by Indiana firm Troyer Group will open in July 2016. Ken Ham, president and founder of Answers in Genesis, the group behind the plan said that “this Ark will be one of the ‘wonders of the modern world’.

The $90 million boat, dubbed the Ark Encounter, will be the eventual centerpiece of a religious theme park aiming to illustrate the story of the legendary great flood, in which God instructs Noah to build an ark to save his family and a pair of each of the animals in the world. The first phase is expected to cost $73 million.

Ark Encounter Will Be the Largest Timber-frame Structure in the Usa When It Completes in July 2016

LeRoy Troyer, the project’s lead architect stated that, “the vessel, like an Amish barn, is being built with a technique called timber framing, which uses wooden pegs and joints in lieu of nails”.

According to LeRoy Troyer, “the sea-faring craft is being built in accordance with sound, established engineering practices of the biblical era and will be 510ft long, built using solid wood, pinned together and covered with pine tar”.

The wood being used in the construction has come from areas damaged by plagues of beetles or from sustainable forests, according to the organisation.

“We believe the construction of the Ark took about 100 years,” added Troyer. “So Noah had to have a lot of faith.”

Ark Encounter will be located near sister attraction the Creation Museum in the city of Williamstown and will feature a curved bow, stern and sides and contain three floors of exhibits.

Ken Ham, president and founder of Answers in Genesis said “the ark would open for “40 days and 40 nights” from 7 July 2016, a reference to the number of days rain is said to have fallen during the biblical flood.” Ark Encounter is expected to receive one to two million visitors in its first year.

There is also the chance to learn about how the earth was created in six days by God around 6,000 years ago. Scientists estimate the earth is actually around 4.5bn years old, but Dr Nathaniel Jeanson, a research biologist at Answers in Genesis, said some of the data leading to that conclusion could be skewed.

“A global flood would have dramatically affected geological processes worldwide,” he said. Young earth creationists believe the flood that caused Noah to set sail was around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago.

Unlike Noah’s handcrafted boat, Ark Encounter will not hold livestock. Regarding the question of how Noah would have managed to fit two of all the world’s animals into his ark, Jeanson said it was a misconception that all the animals of today were stuffed into the ship’s hull.

Instead, according to young earth creationists, it was the ancestors of modern-day species that were taken by Noah, and the animals we know today descended from these Animals. Although, scientific consensus is that animal life originated from tiny organisms billions of years ago.

The Ark Encounter’s website has a useful FAQ section for those wanting to know more about this undertaking.

Ham says “the Ark Encounter will present America and other nations with a reminder about the bible’s account of the ark as reminders in the world which helped ensure that people would not forget the truths of God’s Word are increasingly being removed from western culture, including the US”.

“Nativity scenes, Crosses, and Ten Commandments displays have been banned from many public places,” he writes. “The words ‘Merry Christmas’ are being replaced with ‘Happy Holidays’. Creation, the Bible, and prayer have been eliminated from the public education system.”

Rebuilding the Ark would provide “a sign (or a reminder) to this world that God’s Word is true”, Jeanson said.

Up to 900 staff are expected to be employed in the vast 324-hectare-park, which will also eventually feature themed restaurants, the Tower of Babel, the parting of the Red Sea and an expanded large petting zoo in later phases of the park’s development.

April 10, 2016April 5, 2024

Back to Eden – This Tubular Glass House Wraps Around a Single Tree

Almassovâ€™s tubular glass tree house, which may go into production next year, is a four-story home built around a tree.

March 17, 2016October 4, 2021

The Garden Bridge Project, London

Computer rendering of the planned bridge, created by engineers Arup

Thomas Heatherwick’s Garden Bridge has moved one step closer to reality with the appointment of building contractors Bouygues Travaux Publics and Cimolai. Building work is now scheduled to start this summer 2016, but opponents and locals are still not convinced.

Why Is London’s Garden Bridge worth as Much as Five Lancashire Museums? Ask’s Joanna Lumley

The Opponents

For those of you who aren’t aware of the project, it’s intended to be a plant-covered pedestrian bridge across the River Thames between the South Bank and Temple. The Bridge was designed by Heatherwick after being conceived by British actress Joanna Lumley.

Coined as a “wondrous green oasis floating above the River Thames”, the £175m 367-metre-long Garden Bridge, backed by London mayor Boris Johnson, has sparked a huge amount of controversy in London with calls for the project to be halted from a number of local politicians. This includes Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey and three councillors from the London Borough of Lambeth, even though planning permission was granted by both local authorities in late 2014.

Writing in the Guardian, Ian Jack contrasted the £60m taxpayer support for the project with the closure of five Lancashire museums – two of the which are nationally important and forty libraries. Jack described the bridge as unwanted and unnecessary and the closures as “cultural disembowelment.

In November 2014, it was claimed that the bridge would be off limits to groups of eight or more people and cyclists, and closed between midnight and 6am. Critiques fear that the £175m bridge, which already has £60m in official grants and loans, will require a bailout if costs rise or efforts to drum up further private money fail.

Halt London Garden Bridge Project, Says RIBA President

An study by The Architect’s Journal found that Heatherwick was present for at least five meetings with London’s mayor Boris Johnson prior to the contest. The AJ also claimed that a manager for government body Transport for London (TfL) had reported anomalies in the design competition.

“It’s Now Abundantly Clear That the Design Competition That Transport for London Held in Early 2013 Was Nothing of the Sort,” Aj Deputy Editor Will Hurst Told Dezeen

Kate Hoey, the Labour MP whose Vauxhall constituency is on the south side of the bridge, has said “it is quite clear they haven’t raised nearly as much money as they originally thought.” However, The Garden Bridge Trust which was launched on 1 November 2013 to oversee the project argued that its perfectly ordinary for large infrastructure projects to begin work while fundraising determinations continue, however, in Project Journal’s experience such ambitious construction projects commonly overrun in terms of budget and time. For example, an extension to the Tate Modern art gallery was scheduled to open in 2012 at a cost of £215m. It will instead open this year at an estimated cost of £260m.

The Garden Bridge Trust has now raised an additional £85 million.

The Project

The Garden Bridge project began as a seamlessly innocent idea, a beautiful new garden floating above the River Thames, sounds amazing. Imagine crossing a river surrounded by wildlife in the middle of London City. Imagine a morning commute through a peaceful garden. Well, the Garden Bridge Trust intends to make this a reality. However, who will benefit the most, the rich, middle class, or the poor?

The bridge is planned to be 30 metres (98 ft) across at its widest point. It would run from the roof of Temple station as a continuation of Arundel Street on the north bank to Queen’s Walk by the London Studios, where a large public green open space would be redeveloped to provide a commercial building associated with the project. The bridge will feature trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. Its construction would require 32 mature trees in the avenue on Queen’s Walk, on the South Bank.

“The Garden Bridge Will Be an Extraordinarily Special Place, Either to Race Across, Relax in or Look Back at the Rest of the City’s Sights.” Thomas Heatherwick

The bridge is officially scheduled to open late 2018. Hoey said it would be “particularly inexcusable” for any more public money to be committed when her constituency was struggling under government cuts.

If you’re wondering why the bridge is being built in the first place, or why Jane Duncan is asking for the project to be terminated, read Ian Jack’s opinion piece ‘Why is London’s Garden Bridge worth as much as five Lancashire museums? Ask Joanna Lumley’ a particularly powerful and unforgiving piece, and for us, the truth.

February 12, 2016July 1, 2022

65% of Mega-projects Fail

There’s a reason why Mega-projects are simply called “Mega-projects.” Extremely large in scale with significant impacts on communities, environment and budgets, mega-projects attract a lot of public attention and often cost more than 1 billion. Because of its grandiose, a successful mega-project requires a lot of planning, responsibility and work. Likewise, the magnificence of such projects also creates a large margin for failure.

Mega-projects Come with Big Expectations. But a Project’s Success Is Often in the Eye of the Beholder

Despite their socio-economic significance mega-projects – delivering airports, railways, power plants, Olympic parks and other long-lived assets – have a reputation for failure. It is thought that over optimism, over complexity, poor execution, and weakness in organizational design and capabilities are the most common root causes of megaproject failure.

Blinded by enthusiasm for the project, individuals and organizations involved with mega-projects often miscalculate the complexity of the project. When a mega-project is pitched, its common for costs and timelines to be underestimated while the benefits of the project are overestimated. According Danish economist Bent Flyvbjerg, its not unusual for project managers who are competing for funding to massage the data until it is deemed affordable. After all, revealing the real costs up front would make a project unappealing, he said. As a result, these projects are destined for failure.

For example, building new railways spanning multiple countries could prove to be disastrous if plans are overly complex and over-optimized. Such a large-scale project involves national and local governments, various environmental and health standards, a wide range of skills and wages, private contractors, suppliers and consumers; therefore, one issue could put an end to the project. Such was the case when two countries spent nearly a decade working out diplomatic considerations while building a hydroelectric dam.

Complications and complexities of mega-projects must be considered thoroughly before launch. One way to review the ins and outs of a project is through reference-class forecasting. This process forces decision makers to look at past cases that might reflect similar outcomes to their proposed mega-project.

Poor execution is also a cause for failure in mega-projects. Due to the overoptimism and overcomplexity of a project, it’s easy for project managers and decision makers to cut corners trying to maintain cost assumptions and protect profit margins. Project execution is then overwhelmed by problems such as incomplete design, unclear scope, and mathematical errors in risk assessment and scheduling.

Researchers at McKinsey studied 48 struggling mega-projects and found that in 73 percent of the cases, poor execution was responsible for cost and time overruns. The other 27 percent ran into issues with politics such as new governments and laws.

Low productivity is another aspect of poor execution. Even though trends show that manufacturing has nearly doubled its productivity in the last 20 years, construction productivity remains flat and in some instances has even declined. However, wages continue to increase with inflation, leading to higher costs for the same results.

According to McKinsey studies, efficiency in delivering infrastructure can reduce total costs by 15 percent. Efficiency gains in areas like approval, engineering, procurement and construction can lead to as much as 25 percent of savings on new projects without compromising quality outcomes. This proves that planning before execution is worth its weight in gold.

We Tend to Exaggerate the Importance of Contracting Approach to Project Success or Failure

Finally, weaknesses in organizational design and capabilities results in failed megaprojects. For example, organizational setups can have multiple layers and in some cases the project director falls four or five levels below the top leadership. This can lead to problems as the top tier of the organizational chain (for example, subcontractors, contractors and construction managers) tend to focus on more work and more money while the lower levels of the chain (for example, owner’s representative and project sponsors) are focused on delivery schedules and budgets.

Likewise, a lack of capabilities proves to be an issue. Because of the large-scaled, complex nature of mega-projects, there is a steep learning curve involved and the skills needed are scarce. All the problems of megaprojects are compounded by the speed at which projects are started. When starting from scratch, mega-projects may create organizations of thousands of people within 12 months. This scale of work is comparable to the significant operational and managerial challenge a new start-up might face.

In the end, it seems that if organizations take the time to thoroughly prepare and plan for their mega-projects, problems like overcomplexity and overoptimism, poor execution, and weaknesses in organizational design and capabilities could be avoided. After all, mega=projects are too large and too expensive to rush into.

January 24, 2016July 1, 2022

Small Projects Often Mean Greater Innovation

Small projects often embody more innovation than larger more costly or high profile ones.

Innovation is a wide concept that includes improvements in processes, products and services. It involves incorporating new ideas which generate changes that help solve the needs of a company and so increase its competitiveness. That’s hardly big news. But what may be surprising to some is that innovation has itself, well, innovated and it isn’t what it used to be.

New materials and energy, design approaches, as well as advances in digital technology and big data, are creating a wave of innovation within the construction industry. These new ideas are increasingly often tested and proven on smaller and agiler projects. Investing time and money is well spent on these ideas and technical improvements can then be used on large-scale developments.

Here are three exciting small projects:

Vanke Pavilion - Milan Expo 2015 / Daniel Libeskind — Vanke Pavilion – Milan Expo 2015 / Daniel Libeskind

VANKE PAVILION Milan, Italy — VANKE PAVILION
Milan, Italy

1. Vanke Pavilion – Milan Expo 2015

The corporate pavilion for Vanke China explores key issues related to the theme of the Expo Milano 2015, “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”.

Situated on the southeast edge of the Lake Arena, the 800-square meter pavilion appears to rise from the east, forming a dynamic, vertical landscape.

The original tiling pattern would have resulted in thousands of ceramic tiles of different sizes and shapes. The resulting complexity and lack of repetition could have led to high costs and a longer erection time.

Working with Architects Studio Libeskind, Format Engineers (Engineering Designers with backgrounds in structural engineering, coding, mathematics, and architecture) changed the pattern from thousands of different tiles to less than a dozen and simplified the backing structure generating huge cost savings. Format Engineers also proposed ‘slicing’ of the building and then fabrication of the primary structure of steel ribs using low tech flat steel plate elements. These were then used in a series of long span portalised frames reminiscent of the ribs and spars in traditional boat building resulting in a column-free area for the display of Chinese Cultural Heritage.

The frame was built to a budget and without difficulty ahead of the neighboring Expo buildings.

Building Size
12 meters high
740 mq gross floor area (exhibition, service & VIP levels)
130 mq roof terrace

Architect: Studio Libeskind

Engineer: Format Engineers

2. Oxford Brookes Rain Pavilion

The Rain Pavilion is an urban forest sculpture forming the front entrance to Oxford Brookes University’s Architecture Faculty.

“Rain Pavilion artwork is a sensory experience for the community.”

The complex form required extensive wind modeling and comprehensive structural analysis within a generative 3d model. This was allied with Format Engineers in-house code for the self-organization of voids and their subsequent redistribution.

.At each stage of the design process different modeling and analysis techniques were used to exploit the form and to optimise the structure. The considerable challenges posed by the slenderness of the structure and its dynamic behavior under wind were resolved by combining Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) (a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical analysis and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows) with a generative design environment. Conceptual design introduced the ideas of tubular stems and folded steel canopies, both of which were perforated by circular holes arranged to allow the interplay of light and water through the structure. The voids were generated using a self-organizing process.

Grasshopper (a graphical algorithm computer 3-D modeling tool) was used to produce a mesh that could include the voids in both the stems and the petals.

The Rain Pavilion is designed to celebrate the sound of rain, and the noise of water interacting with different sections of the installation is part of the experience of passing through it. The structure has a design life of five years and can be transported to other locations.

Architect: Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK

Engineer: Format Engineers

3. KREOD Pavilion

The KREOD pavilions were first erected on the London Greenwich Olympic site in 2012. Easily rearranged, three pod-like pavilions were formed with a wooden structural framework comprised of an open hexagonal composition.

Standing three meters tall, each double-curved wooden shell enclosed a footprint of 20 square meters, totaling 60 square meters. A waterproof tensile membrane sealed the interior from the elements fully portable with demountable joints, the individual components can be stacked for efficient transportation.

Chun Qing Li the architect required a temporary exhibition or function space that could be erected and demounted mostly by hand and by untrained staff. The quality of finish needed to echo that of handmade furniture and had to be low cost and quick to erect. The continuously changing double curved form of the enclosure meant that in theory, every nodal connection was different. A conventional bolted solution would have cost hundreds of pounds per fixing. Format Engineers suggestion of a ‘reciprocal’ jointed timber grid shell required standard bolts which equated to a fraction of the normal cost. It also allowed the structure to be built from simple and light flat timber elements.

The structure used Kebony timber throughout, a sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood. As this material had not previously been used in a structural context Format Engineers undertook load testing of the material and the connections at the University of Cambridge. The timber was fabricated using CNC routing (a computer controlled cutting machine) allowing a highly accurate fit between members and basic erection on site.

Architect: Chun Qing Li

Engineer: Format Engineers

October 21, 2015July 1, 2022

Construction Begins on Sip Sports Center in Suzhou

Images: von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (GMP)

Construction of the SIP Sports Centre has started in the Chinese city of Suzhou. The sports centre in Suzhou Industrial Park was designed by Ham burg’s star architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partner, and has been scheduled for completion in 2017.

The sports venue will be surrounded by residential quarters, a hotel and a leisure district offering community sports facilities and public spaces.

The development is being funded jointly by Sizhou City and Jiangsu Regional authorities and when complete, the complex will form part of the larger Suzhou Industrial Park.

Image: von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (GMP)

Hamburg Architects Designs for China’s Garden City

A spokesperson for architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners said: “Suzhou is famous in China for its landscape design, and the masterplan for this new sports park is based on this tradition and reputation. In a modern interpretation of the city’s traditional gardens, an informally designed park landscape flows around the podiums that rise in straight lines from the surrounding streets and support the stadiums.”

The beautiful conspicuous undulating roofs that on all three stadiums make the ensemble into a landmark visible from afar. As visitors walk along the curved pathways, various viewpoints open up to pavilion architecture, stunning water features, and a breathtaking landscape. Its curved silhouette stands out from the urban environment, blending harmoniously with the landscape and the park at the Xietang River. In addition, the succinct character of the stadiums is reinforced by a uniform faÃƒ§ade design. The faÃƒ§ades of both stadiums and the podiums are structured by horizontal lines, which follow the shape of the buildings in elegant curves.

The roof of the covered 15,000 capacity multi-purpose hall located to the north-east of the site is supported by v-shaped columns which provide a rhythm to the transparent glass faÃƒ§ade of the hall.

The Heart of the Community

The multi-functional sports centre will include three national-standard venues includes a 45,000-seat stadium, an indoor pool with 3,000 seats and a 15,000-seat indoor arena. With its wide range of functions, the park has been designed to ensure a permanent and sustainable flow of visitors.

The facility is well connected to the Metro and offers the Suzhou residents not only a park, but also various shops for day-to-day needs, thus creating an attractive centre for the new part of the city.

November 12, 2014January 15, 2024

When Images Speak Louder than Words

The pen is mightier than the sword, or so they say. We don’t know how true that is, but we will say this: Pens are certainly a lot less intimidating. How about this next one?

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words.

Photographs are one of the most powerful tools of engagement online, and is rising in importance as the digital realm takes hold and more people look to online channels for browsing, shopping and socializing. There’s something about a photograph on Godinterest, one that makes a statement or just takes your breath away with its sheer beauty. Why?

In this fast-moving world, when you have a message to convey, people hardly have time to sit down and read. But if you’re able to capture the essence of what you want to say in a photo, you’ll stand a better chance of capturing your target audience. It’s true that our attention is easily distracted by pictures. Visuals are more effective than words literally and figuratively as people tend to stop and look at compelling visuals.

Studies have found that pictures facilitate the learning process, especially when it comes to children and others who are mentally impaired. They have shown that photo’s are easier to remember and associate with facts and that they can both evoke and are able to capture emotions that words cannot, no matter how cleverly they’re used.

In a #Warzone, a Crying Child in the Midst of All the Rubble Drives Home the Pointlessness of It All Much More Than the Harshest of Write-Ups. The Picture of a Little Baby Praying Is Enough to Melt Even the Hardest of Hearts.

However, Most Often Though, It’s Not Just the Pictures Alone That Make a Point. When Combined with the Best Write-Ups, Visuals Help to Push Home the Message in the Most Powerful Way and That’s How They Ought to Be Used on #godinterest

Today Is Veterans Day, the Official Holiday in the Unitd States That Honors People Who Have Served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Here Are Nine Things You Should Know About an Oft-Overlooked Group Of#veterans. #worship #god #jesus #christianity #wordpress #blog #godinteresting

Depression Is a Doosey. a Conversation I Had with a Friend the Other Day Inspired This Post. Depression Runs Rampant and It’s Peculiar That So Many People Afflicted with This Ailment Are #Christians. Why Is That?

Fierce, Determined Hands. I Could Write for a Long Time About Grief. I Have Buried Too Many People. The Scar of Grief Was First Carved by My Parents’ Divorce. I Was Too Young to Remember, but I Know That My Father Was There…

Mercy Defined “I Asked for Love. I Asked for Mercy. I Asked for Patience; But You’re Already All of These Things.”

Life of a #Wannabe #Jesus. This Is How We Know #God Is Good; Because Even Though We Stumble and Fall and Our Sin Causes Us to Cry, God Will Take Those Tears and Build a Lake for Us to Dance On.

WAIT – Shining a Light “Don’t Team up with Those Who Are Unbelievers. How Can Righteousness Be a Partner with Wickedness? How Can Light Live with Darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)

Big Girls Do Cry: Your Tears Are Not a Sign of Weakness.

We want to know from you, when you write a message, share a photo, or a video online, which do your friends and colleagues respond to more? Share your response in the comments field below, and let us know what the most memorable picture you’ve seen online is.