Last week, a 64-year-old electrician, Colin Atkinson, was threatened with a disciplinary hearing because he displayed a palm cross on the dashboard of his van. Mr Atkinson hadn't wanted to upset anybody. He had given witness to his faith, in this modest way, for 15 years without anyone complaining. Alas, one person took offence, and that was enough. (See Prayer Alert 16-2011) Thankfully, common sense prevailed, and Wakefield and District Housing, Mr Atkinson's employer, agreed to let him keep the cross on his dashboard. But the case – and the reaction to it – demonstrates once again the power of the cross, and the hold this symbol has on people's imagination. Even people who never go to church understand, at some level, that the cross represents something holy. It draws us out of the everyday world and into the divine and it is at the heart of the mystery of Easter.

Praise: God that common sense has prevailed. (Ps.94:8)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/8470164/The-power-of-the-cross-endures.html

Did you know that over one third of prisons in the United Kingdom currently run an evangelistic Alpha course? This ministry - Alpha for Prisons - has the vision to give every man and woman in prison the opportunity to come to know Christ through participating in the course and to transform society through the establishment of prison ministries. Prison Fellowship England & Wales, through its volunteers, works for the restoration of the lives of prisoners and victims, and their families. PF is a volunteer-led organisation with a small team of paid staff. There are over 1,700 volunteers throughout England and Wales who pray for prisoners, run Sycamore Tree courses, co-ordinate Angel Tree, write letters to prisoners and have various other roles to support Prison Chaplaincy. Over the past years Alpha for Prisons has also taken off in Africa.

Praise: God for all the volunteers bringing new life to those in prison. (Ac.5:20)

More: http://www.liverpool.anglican.org/index.php?p=1547

Richard Desmond's channel buys rights to series watched by more than 13 million viewers on History Channel. It is better known for Celebrity Big Brother and documentaries featuring very long trucks, but Channel 5 will also be home this autumn to a sweeping 10-hour epic, The Bible. A big-budget glossy epic, The Bible was a surprise ratings hit in the US this Easter with more than 13 million viewers on The History Channel, one of its biggest-ever shows. Producers claimed during the making of the show that it had been struck by mysterious omens which indicated the ‘hand of God’, including a sudden swarm of snakes. It remains to be seen whether it works any ratings miracles for Channel 5. The Bible, devotes five hours to the Old Testament and five hours to the New, with a mix of live action and computer generated imagery. It is billed as a production that ‘tries to stay true to the spirit of the book’. (See also Prayer Alert 13-2013)

Praise: God and pray that the response to this series will have the same result when it is shown on our TV. (Ro.8:31)

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/apr/08/channel-5-the-bible