19th April 2014: Get some Rest

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Exodus 20:8 (NIV)Jesus said to his disciples 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest'. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. Mark 6:31-32 (NIV)

Sunday presents a real problem in hospital. Jesus was no legalist about the sabbath, but, we are told, his custom was to attend the synagogue services. He emphasised the need for the rest and change that the fourth commandment prescribed. Even if our medical duties confine us to hospital for a Sunday, we should plan to set aside part of it for worshipping God. A hospital radio or TV service will often be possible, and an hour set aside in your own room for a devotional cassette tape or prayer and Bible study. The effort may be considerable but will prove tremendously worthwhile.

The Bible's teaching on a day of rest is important and often neglected. As a result many busy Christians suffer physical, mental and spiritual problems. Often the 'sabbath' has to be on a weekday. It is a day for re-creation, for regular physical exercise, the mental refreshment of meeting friends (preferably non-medical!), for cultural activities and for Christian fellowship. Best of all we can hear Jesus say, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place'.

Many years ago I heard the Rev Sidlow Baxter say, 'In the twentieth century, with all its pressures on us, I doubt whether it is possible to maintain a Christian life on less than an hour a day spent with God'. 'Impossible in my job!' you say. Perhaps it is not so difficult as we sometimes imagine. I am more convinced than ever that he was right.

You have made known to me the path of life;

You fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Ps 16:11 NIV).

O Lord, your days were more full than mine will ever be,
more people came to you for help and healing, more needs,
more agonising cries, more calls on your time.
Yet you were often alone in your Father's presence
seeking his will, his refreshment and his renewal.
Help me to do the same.

Further reading: Ps 84.

CDA

Charities unite to express concern about distorted abortion debate (24/10/2013)

The Christian Medical Fellowship, CARE in Northern Ireland and the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland have briefed Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) this week that they are deeply concerned by the possibility of a knee-jerk legislative response based on a misunderstanding of anencephaly, abortion and Northern Ireland's abortion law....
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Failure of CPS to prosecute effectively legalises sex selection abortion in Britain, says CMF (5/9/2013)

The Christian Medical Fellowship has said that the failure of the Crown Prosecution Service to take action in recent cases of sex selection abortions and pre-signing of abortion forms raises serious questions about its role in upholding the law. The CPS has this week opted to take no further action in regard to two named doctors who sought to...
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Submission to Nuffield Council on Bioethics on the linking and use of biological and health data - 22/1/2014

This short submission proposes that routine record keeping of NHS numbers for abortion should be put in place in order to improve care, hold all providers accountable for the healthcare outcomes of their patients and to enable linkage of female patient events to any other hospital or NHS commissioned episode in their life. Read full submission

Submission to the Department of Health on guidance for Independent Sector Places for the Termination of Pregnancy - 4/1/2014

This CMF response comments on the draft Required Standard Operating Procedures (RSOPs) for independent abortion clinics. These will update the interim RSOPs. Our submission suggests amendments for the RSOPs in order to ensure that the Abortion Act is properly upheld and that women who are considering abortion are offered adequate and appropriate...

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