Command the Raven

Joshua 14 [show/hide]Joshua 14 The Inheritance West of the Jordan [14:1]These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit. [2]Their inheritance was by lot, just as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes. [3]For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. [4]For the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their substance. [5]The people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses; they allotted the land. Caleb's Request and Inheritance [6]Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. [7]I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. [8]But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. [9]And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' [10]And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. [11]I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. [12]So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said." [13]Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. [14]Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. [15]Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war. (ESV)
: 14

Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb, because that he wholly followed the Lord.

“We are well able to overcome” is the declaration of the man or woman whose confidence in the Lord is unqualified. He believes God’s promises are trustworthy, and that because He is with His people, victory over every foe is assured. Do you believe this? Many do, but with a faith that vacillates. They sing their song of praise, and the words are right, but there is something hesitant about the tune. With Caleb it was otherwise. He sang the right words firmly, to the right tune. Listen to their brave, ringing tones:

“Let us go up at once and possess it;

For we are well able to overcome.”

He had no doubts whatever about his God. But note too the urgency of that first clause: “Let us go up at once!” True faith brooks no delay. One who reckons God faithful to His word declares this not merely by doing His will, but by doing it instantly. – Watchman Nee: A Table in the Wilderness.

Dr. Robin Sardar, 55, is facing a possible death sentence after an envious friend claimed he made offensive remarks about the Quran and Muhammad’s beard, according to a report by the International Christian Concern, a Washington, D.C.-based human rights group.

Sardar’s former friend, Muhammad Yousaf, became jealous of the Christian’s professional success and financial status, so he filed a First Information Report May 5 with police, claiming the doctor had made derogatory statements about the prophet.

According to Sardar’s nephew, a mob of more than 200 Muslims wielding guns, sticks and kerosene oil attacked the doctor’s home and medical offices following the report to police. The men, wearing green turbans to represent their Islamic faith, broke into Sadar’s home, shattered windows and ruined the family’s furniture in their residence and clinic.

“The mob then turned on Sardar and his family,” the ICC reports. “Mr. Pervaiz Ghori, another of Sardar’s relatives, said that the mob would have killed him if the police had not intervened in the nick of time.”

The Islamic extremists protest daily on city streets, calling for the Christian doctor to be publicly executed. His nephew said Muslim clerics have been sending messages out over the mosque amplifier, urging the community to slay Sardar’s family.

Another human rights organization, the National Commission for Justice and Peace, is defending Sardar, imploring officials to drop the case and requesting that they safeguard religious minorities.

According to Pakistan’s laws against blasphemy, people who make disrespectful comments about Islam can receive punishments similar to sentences for murderers.

Former President Mohammed Zia ul-Haq added Section 295-B to Pakistan’s penal code in 1982, ordering that critical remarks about the Quran would be punishable by life in prison.

Section 295-C, commonly referred to as the blasphemy law, states “Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”

In 1990, the federal Sharia court ruled, “The penalty for contempt of the Holy Prophet … is death and nothing else.”

- From Prophecy News Watch

This smallest book of the New Testament is also, in many ways, the most provocative.

The Epistle of Jude is a tiny book, tragically neglected by students, yet overflowing with fascinating Old Testament references and allusions: lessons from Israel in the Wilderness, the angels that sinned, the strange events in Sodom and Gomorrah, Michael and Satan’s contention over the body of Moses, and other insights from Cain, Balaam, Korah, as well as the mysterious person known as Enoch.

It is surprising to learn of allusions to events in the Old Testament that are only found in the New Testament: the Second Coming prophecy of Enoch, that Noah was a preacher of righteousness, the names of the two magicians in Egypt, that Elijah prayed to stop rain for 3 1/2 years, and that the Pharaoh of the Exodus was not Egyptian.

Why study the book of Jude? Because it is written for us today. It is written for the end times, for the end of the Church Age. The beginning of the Church Age was, of course, the Acts of the Apostles. However, the end of the Church Age might be called the Acts of the Apostates. Jude is the only book devoted entirely to the great apostasy. “Shall the Son of Man find faith on the Earth?”

Jude is the “vestibule” to the book of Revelation. It includes the oldest prophecy uttered by a prophet: of the Second Coming of Christ, declared before the flood of Noah! There are four facts emphasized:

1) We know the Lord’s coming is sure;
2) We know who will accompany the Lord;
3) We know the purpose of His coming;
4) We know the result of the Lord’s coming.

This letter was written by the “brother of James,” one of four brothers of Jesus. (James was the head of the church in Jerusalem; neither James nor Jude were among The Twelve; they didn’t believe at first.)

Why did Jude write this letter? James’ epistle deals with good works as evidence of saving faith; Jude’s letter deals with evil works as evidence of apostasy. Why must we contend for the faith? Because there are tares among the wheat, false brethren have stolen into the church, and the saints are in peril, all due to the “doctrines of demons.”

It was an 11-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-Barnea, yet it took Israel 38 years! Over a million left Egypt, but only two Israelites (over 20 years of age) who left Egypt ever reached Canaan! Why? (Despite the common reckoning, Canaan is not representative of heaven; the Jordan is not representative of death. We are to leave behind the wilderness of doubt, defeat, and failures, and enter victory!) We live in exciting and challenging times, and there is much we can learn from this little book that can be applied to our lives today.

Related Links:

• Jude - MP3 Download - Koinonia House
• Jude - Audio CDs - Koinonia House
• The Joy of Teaching God’s Word - Free Online Guide! - Koinonia House

- From: Koinonia House News Letter

Proverbs 13 [show/hide]Proverbs 13 [13:1]A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. [2]From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. [3]Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. [4]The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. [5]The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. [6]Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. [7]One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. [8]The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. [9]The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. [10]By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. [11]Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. [12]Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. [13]Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. [14]The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. [15]Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. [16]In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. [17]A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. [18]Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. [19]A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. [20]Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. [21]Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. [22]A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. [23]The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. [24]Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. [25]The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
: 20

20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Note, 1. Those that would be good must keep good company, which is an evidence for them that they would be good (men’s character is known by the company they choose) and will be a means of making them good, of showing them the way and of quickening and encouraging them in it. He that would be himself wise must walk with those that are so, must choose such for his intimate acquaintance, and converse with them accordingly; must ask and receive instruction from them, and keep up pious and profitable talk with them. Miss not the discourse of the elders, for they also learned of their fathers, Ecclesiasticus viii. 9. And (Ecclesiasticus vi. 35), Be willing to hear every godly discourse, and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.

2. Multitudes are brought to ruin by bad company: A companion of fools shall be broken (so some), shall be known (so the LXX.), known to be a fool; noscitur ex socio–he is known by his company. He will be like them (so some), will be made wicked (so others); it comes all to one, for all those, and those only, that make themselves wicked, will be destroyed, and those that associate with evil-doers are debauched, and so undone, and at last ascribe their death to it.

- Matthew Henry Commentary

Hebrews 7 [show/hide]Hebrews 7 The Priestly Order of Melchizedek [7:1]For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, [2]and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. [3]He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. [4]See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! [5]And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. [6]But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. [7]It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. [8]In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. [9]One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, [10]for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Jesus Compared to Melchizedek [11]Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? [12]For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. [13]For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. [14]For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. [15]This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, [16]who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. [17]For it is witnessed of him, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." [18]For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness [19](for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. [20]And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, [21]but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" [22]This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. [23]The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, [24]but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. [25]Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. [26]For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. [27]He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. [28]For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (ESV)
: 25

He ever liveth to make intercession for those that come unto God by Him.

Now the exact implications of these words are very wonderful, and I am not sure that I understand all that is involved in them – how the Lord Jesus Christ in fact pursues His ministry of intercession, and in what particular way the Son intercedes with the Father. But I see the basic, wonderful truth here, that day by day, the Lord Jesus Christ is ministering in heaven, on my behalf, and yours. The whole concern of the high priest is for the congregation, and he acts on their behalf before God. And if that means anything at all, it means that our great high priest is not idle or inactive, but He is busy on our behalf.

May I put it very pointedly: all the aspects of your Christian life are His concern. Your great high priest is concerned about your prayer life: He Knows all about it; He is concerned about it, and His loving concern is that your prayer life might be rich and full. He is concerned about your spiritual babyhood, if that is true of you. He is also lovingly concerned that you should go on to maturity. It is His whole concern in heaven: He is the great high priest who is concerned about the whole congregation, and His ministry is on their behalf.

He is concerned about your particular problems. Maybe you think nobody is concerned about your problem: it is too difficult to share with anybody. I say that the Lord Jesus knows all about it, and He is concerned about it. He most lovingly wants that problem dealt with; and His whole ministry in heaven concerns you, in all the loneliness of your spiritual problem, which you think you can share with nobody. You have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. Doesn’t that encourage you? Open your heart to Him. – K.A.A. Weston: Our Great High Priest, 1971

- Daily Thoughts From Keswick

Honor Killing Sparks Debate in Germany - May 27, 2008
The brutal “honor killing” of a 16-year-old Afghan immigrant living in Hamburg has sparked a renewed debate in Germany over whether Islamic families can adapt to the social ways of the Western world. The girl was stabbed by her brother 20 times because he believed he had become too comfortable with Western life with her uncovered hair, makeup and short skirts. FOX News

Germany Ratifies EU Treaty - May 27, 2008
Germany has ratified the Treaty of Lisbon, which was proposed in the wake of the failed EU Constitution. Germany’s vote has tipped the scales - fourteen EU countries have now ratified the treaty, which means it needs the votes of a further thirteen before it passes into law. Times

Muslims Equate Missionaries with Terrorists - May 27, 2008
Christian missionaries are “as dangerous as terrorist activities or the illegal drug trade,” Islamic leaders in Uzbekistan declared. Uzbekistan bans missionary activity, religions that are not registered with the government and printing of faith-based literature without state consent. WND

- From: Koinonia House News Letter

A new report published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies shows that global interest in developing nuclear technology has risen significantly in recent years. Rising oil prices and other factors have prompted more than 40 countries worldwide to announce that they are either starting new or expanding existing nuclear energy programs. Included in this list is almost every country in the Middle East. In the space of less than a year, 13 nations in the Middle East have announced plans to explore atomic energy. Each of these countries has abundant oil and gas reserves, which is why some experts fear that Iran’s nuclear ambitions may have triggered the start of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, some Arab countries might be developing nuclear energy now so they will have the option of building a bomb in the future. Nuclear technology is complex and costly, and developing nuclear weapons is not something that can be done overnight. It takes time to build the necessary infrastructure. However once built, the same nuclear technology used to generate electricity can also be used to develop weapons. It would not be the first time countries (such as India and Pakistan) have claimed that they were developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, but then have used that same technology to develop nuclear weapons.

In the past year it seems the Middle East has been struck with nuclear fever: Egypt is building four nuclear power plants, while Turkey has plans for three. The United Arab Emirates, despite its vast oil wealth, has signed an agreement with France to build two nuclear reactors. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Syria and Yemen are also planning nuclear plants, as are the North African nations of Libya, Algeria and Morocco.

If the nations of the Middle East develop peaceful nuclear energy programs, how difficult would it be to use that technology to make nuclear weapons? Well, nuclear power plants need 3 to 4 percent enriched uranium for fuel, but natural uranium only contains 0.7 percent. Thus uranium must be processed in a uranium enrichment facility before it can be used as fuel for nuclear power. What most people don’t realize is the exact same technology and equipment used to enrich uranium for fuel can be used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons, it simply requires more passes through the enrichment plant. A nuclear bomb requires about 90 percent enriched uranium, which is high compared to the percentage found in fuel, but according to experts it requires more energy to convert natural uranium to fuel than it takes to convert fuel into weapons-grade uranium.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency there are more than 40 countries with peaceful nuclear programs that could modify their technology to create nuclear weapons. There are currently about 439 nuclear power plants worldwide, with 30 more under construction, and over 200 now in the planning stages.

Related Links:

• Iran Nuke Plans Could Trigger Mideast Arms Race - AFP
• UN Nuclear Wachdog Faults Iran’s Lack of Cooperation - CSM
• Iran Nuclear Crisis Refuses to Go Quiet - BBC
• Strategic Trends: Weapons Prolliferation - Koinonia House
• The Five Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Koinonia House
• The Magog Invasion - DVD
• I Will Turn Thee Back:Turkey At A Crossroads - DVD

- From: Koinonia House News Letter

PROVERBS 13: 19

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

This shows the folly of those that refuse instruction, for they might be happy and will not. 1. They might be happy. There are in man strong desires of happiness; God has provided for the accomplishment of those desires, and that would be sweet to the soul, whereas the pleasures of sense are grateful only to the carnal appetite. The desire of good men towards the favour of God and spiritual blessings brings that which is sweet to their souls; we know those that can say so by experience, Ps. iv. 6, 7.

2. Yet they will not be happy; for it is an abomination to them to depart from evil, which is necessary to their being happy. Never let those expect any thing truly sweet to their souls that will not be persuaded to leave their sins, but that roll them under their tongues as a sweet morsel.

- Matthew Henry Commentary

Acts 3 [show/hide]Acts 3 The Lame Beggar Healed [3:1]Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. [2]And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. [3]Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. [4]And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." [5]And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. [6]But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" [7]And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. [8]And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. [9]And all the people saw him walking and praising God, [10]and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico [11]While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. [12]And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? [13]The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. [14]But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15]and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. [16]And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. [17]"And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. [18]But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. [19]Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, [20]that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, [21]whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. [22]Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. [23]And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' [24]And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. [25]You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' [26]God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness." (ESV)
: 6

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.

Have you ever noticed in your New Testament how the Lord Jesus likes to deal with long-standing complaints? How many instances there are of men and women who for years had been bound by infirmity and sin, and were crippled and helpless and hopeless, until the risen Lord came. Just one instance: when Peter and John came to the man who had been lame from birth, Peter looked at him and said, ‘Silver and gold have I none’ – the Church boasted in its bankruptcy in those days – ‘but such as I have I give thee: in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ And immediately the man leaped to his feet, delivered in the power of the risen Christ.

I want to say to you in the name of the Lord Jesus, there is no habit that has gone so deep but that the power of the blood of Jesus can go deeper; and there is no entrenchment of sin that has gone so far but that the power of the risen Lord, by His Holy Spirit, can go further. The first mark of sovereignty of Christ in a life is that the habits of years, which have baffled all our struggles, and brought us in shame and confession of failure time and time again to the Lord in contrition and repentance, the power of them is broken when He is upon the throne. – Alan Redpath: When Jesus is Enthroned, 1960

- Daily Thoughts From Keswick

Big Brother database for phones and e-mails

A massive government database holding details of every phone call, e-mail and time spent on the internet by the public is being planned as part of the fight against crime and terrorism. Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies would hand over the records to the Home Office under plans put forward by officials.

The information would be held for at least 12 months and the police and security services would be able to access it if given permission from the courts.

The proposal will raise further alarm about a “Big Brother” society, as it follows plans for vast databases for the ID cards scheme and NHS patients. There will also be concern about the ability of the Government to manage a system holding billions of records. About 57 billion text messages were sent in Britain last year, while an estimated 3 billion e-mails are sent every day.

Home Office officials have discussed the option of the national database with telecommunications companies and ISPs as part of preparations for a data communications Bill to be in November’s Queen’s Speech. But the plan has not been sent to ministers yet.

Industry sources gave warning that a single database would be at greater risk of attack and abuse.

Jonathan Bamford, the assistant Information Commissioner, said: “This would give us serious concerns and may well be a step too far. We are not aware of any justification for the State to hold every UK citizen’s phone and internet records. We have real doubts that such a measure can be justified, or is proportionate or desirable. We have warned before that we are sleepwalking into a surveillance society. Holding large collections of data is always risky - the more data that is collected and stored, the bigger the problem when the data is lost, traded or stolen.”

David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: “Given ministers’ appalling record at maintaining the integrity of databases holding people’s sensitive data, this could well be more of a threat to our security, than a support.”

The proposal has emerged as part of plans to implement an EU directive developed after the July 7 bombings to bring uniformity of record-keeping. Since last October telecoms companies have been required to keep records of phone calls and text messages for 12 months. That requirement is to be extended to internet, e-mail and voice-over-internet use and included in a Communications Data Bill.

Police and the security services can access the records with a warrant issued by the courts. Rather than individual companies holding the information, Home Office officials are suggesting the records be handed over to the Government and stored on a huge database.

One of the arguments being put forward in favour of the plan is that it would make it simpler and swifter for law enforcement agencies to retrieve the information instead of having to approach hundreds of service providers. Opponents say that the scope for abuse will be greater if the records are held on one database.

A Home Office spokesman said the Bill was needed to reflect changes in communication that would “increasingly undermine our current capabilities to obtain communications data and use it to protect the public”.

- From: Prophecy News Watch