Welcome to the first episode of Beauty for Ashes - in conjunction with Rhema Newcastle we are putting out a weekly radio programme and then this podcast. It will follow the same pattern as Quantum of the Wee Flea - looking at news, culture, religion, sport and music from throughout the world.

This week we look at Trump's Gaza piece; Drugs in Estonia; Indoctrination in a Dorset school; JK Rowling on Changing her mind and God; Senator Clare Chandler and Andy Cody; Country of the Week - Indonesia; the Ashes; and the Final Word from Isaiah 61 with music from the Who; the Verve; Fun Boy Three; Iwan Fals-Bongkar; Ku Nyanyi Haleluya; Booker T and the MGs; and Hillsong;

This is a special edition of the Islam special....we have removed the localised and time limited references and a bit of the music....so that it is something that can be used as an ongoing resource. Tom Holland on the incompatibility of Islam with Western liberal democracy; Douglas Murray and James Orr on Muslim immigration; Mousa Kadri; Spencer Fildes on the new blasphemy law; What happens if you leave Islam? The genocide against Christians in Nigeria; Country of the Week – Afghanistan; Israel and Gaza; Sharia Law in the UK; Islam in Australia; The Rape Gangs; Islamic Education; Christian Apologist murdered in France; The Church and Islam- Andy Bannister and Sam Green; with music from Yusuf, Karl Jenkins; Afghan Christian Worship; Bachman Turner Overdrive; Bob Dylan; and Chris Tomlin.

In this weeks final Quantum (before we change into Beauty for Ashes), we take a look at the church throughout the world including the Pope blessing a block of ice; Vishnal Mangalwadi and Christian Education; US school vouchers; Church and State; Ofcom vetting sermons; The Church in China; the Church in South Korea; Bill Maher on Nigeria and the Persecuted Church; Spanish Priest arrested for Islamaphobia; The Weak Church - Jim Davies's response to Charlie Kirk; The Apostate Church - pastor takes child to Drag Queen shows; Tony Evans; John Lennox on finishing well; The non-transcendent church; the new Archbishop of Canterbury; Sydney Anglicans plan church growth; the 2025 Westminster Declaration; Marilyn Simon; Louise Perry; Gospel music in Japan; the church amongst the 'Angsha' tribal people; the last word - Matthew 16:18

with music from Sons of Korah, Gloria Kollectiv; Ps 133 in Chinese; the Tenebrae Choir; the Cave Church; Megumi and Kenji Sato and The Kingdom Ambassadors; the 'Angsha' people; and St Peters Free Church.