| The long way home |
 The long way home Rob Lilwall’s epic 35,000 mile cycle ride from Siberia to London
Have you ever longed to make an epic journey – to test yourself and learn more about the world? In 2004 geography teacher Rob Lilwall bought a one-way ticket to Siberia, equipped only with a bike and a healthy dose of fear. His goal was to cycle the long way home.
Bored with his teaching life in central London, Rob decided to pack his panniers and take his bike, a ten-year-old steel framed mount
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| Green Issues: Every Little Helps |
Green Issues Every little helps
Seascale Methodist Church, in Cumbria, is an ‘eco-congregation’. Environmental issues feature in all areas of church life, from buildings, land and church management, to mission as the congregation engages with local and global communities.
The local minister Keith Bradshaw has really encouraged the congregation at Seascale and reports on just a few of the initiatives taken:
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| 'Look what Mrs Trotman done!' |
Beverley Trotman entered the public eye in 2007, as the year 6 teacher who entered The X Factor to inspire her  pupils. Since then, she has toured with a national production of FAME and led worship at Christian conferences. Beverley explains why the next step of her journey is taking her back to Icknield Primary School, and the ministry she never truly left.
Beverley’s own story is a lesson in hope. Left with her grandparents as a baby, and raised alongside their ten other children, she
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| New Year resolutions: Aim high says J John |
 New Year resolutions: Aim high says J John
J John’s storytelling helps people to discover spiritual meaning in a way that makes sense of everyday life. He encourages us to set our sights high and dream big.
A professor prepared a test for his final-year students. The test questions were divided into three categories and the students were instructed to choose questions from only one of the categories. The first questions were the hardest and worth 100 points. The second group were ea
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| The Alpha Course - what guests say |
 The Alpha Course – what guests say
Have you seen the Alpha Course posters on buses, billboards, outside churches, even on TV?
Millions of people have taken part in the Alpha course. Many have found answers to life’s most challenging questions. Alpha gives you the opportunity to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten weekly sessions (see www.uk.alpha.org for details). Ever thought about finding out what all the fuss is about? Maybe 2010 is the year you will f
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| Cafechurch - it's church but not as you know it! |
 Cafechurch – it’s church but not as you know it!
Fans of the TV series Friends will remember just how important the coffee shop, Central Perk, was in the community. Friends socialised there, met new neighbours, and took guests there for a well-earned post-shopping break.
In these cash-strapped times, a coffee out may have become an occasional treat, but what if it had added value. What if you might discover something really important – even life-changing?
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| Never give up on your dream |
 Never give up on your dream
Some time ago I sat down one Saturday evening to watch the programme Britain’s Got Talent. I am not an avid fan, but it had been a busy week and was a time of some much-needed relaxation.
The rest of my family was out, so I settled on the sofa with a cup of coffee and the essential bar of chocolate to watch people from all walks of life: some with amazing talent – and some not!
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| How about doing somethiing amazing in 2010? |
 Perhaps summiting the highest mountain in Africa, trekking through the beautiful Rila and Pirin mountains of Bulgaria or rafting down the world famous rapids of the National White Water Centre in Bala, North Wales. How about having the experience of a lifetime while raising funds for the some of the world’s poorest and most needy people?
As a non-profit Christian organisation Trailblazers Sponsored Challenges Ltd has been operating since 1998 partnering with small and large UK charitie
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| District 9 |
 CultureWatch DVD Review
District 9
Cert. 15
A spaceship floats above Johannesburg with a million alien refugees on board. The South African government forcibly evacuates the ship, confining the aliens to District 9. It’s a slum, ruthlessly controlled by private security firm MNU. 28 years later, resentment and fear of the ‘prawns’ has grown like cancer. With obvious echoes of apartheid, the film portrays a two-tier society, with the aliens at the bottom. It’s a s...
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| Career Criminal's transformed life |
 Career criminal’s transformed life
Steve Cattell was addicted to crime. Brought up in care, he grew into an angry young man who craved the adrenalin buzz of his crimes and their material ‘rewards’ – money, clothes, holidays, jewellery, women.
He was more ‘at home’ in prison than outside. He spent twenty five years in and out of prison, much in solitary confinement. He used his wife and children and the system to make his life easier and his sentences li
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| Ask Y |
ASK Y
Where God-questions are put to the test
This month’s question…
How can Jesus be God?
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| National Gallery makes sacred tangible |
National Gallery makes sacred tangible
You almost want to reach out and touch the exhibits in London’s National Gallery’s The Sacred Made Real exhibition, though we don’t recommend it!
The hyper-realistic sculptures and vivid devotional paintings of 17th and 18th century Catholic Spain are creating a ‘marvellous and disturbing exhibition’ The Guardian reports.
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| Alcohol: thriller or killer |
 Alcohol: thriller or killer? This is the story of two men whose lives crossed first in court and then in church. Alcohol was the link that drew them together but for very different reasons. Their book, Alcohol: thriller or killer? seeks to help others in need of release from alcohol.
John Cartledge had a very promising career as a professional footballer and later played semi- professional football in Cheshire. He was in his father’s business and married Jennifer and they had three chi
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| What's New? What's Happy? |
WHAT’S NEW? WHAT’S HAPPY?
The same old greeting
Every year it’s the same. ‘Happy New Year!’ rings out. At least that is logical. The New Year begins at midnight, and why not want to see people happy? Truly happy folks are not usually thugs, muggers, or social nuisances. (Drunkards are not truly happy!)
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| Green Issues: Green resolutions |
GREEN ISSUES: Green resolutions
From Friend of the Earth www.foe.co.uk/campaigns
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| 'Try' to make it in 2010 |
‘Try’ to make it in 2010
Ireland won the 2009 Six nations by some distance from England France and Wales. Five wins out of five left Ireland champions, grand slam and Triple Crown winners. Ireland start the defence of their titles on 6 February against Italy. One change this year is the first ever Friday night game when Wales play France in Cardiff on 26 February.
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