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.

John 5:37-38 - Jesus's third witness is the big one! The Father. What does this mean?

In this Quantum I look at 12 times I have changed my mind about something.....the EU; Israel and the Jews; Democracy; Scottish Independence; Immigration; Socialism; Education; Climate Change; Islam; Transgender Ideology; Equality before the Law; Netflix. And the final word from Acts 28. with music from Europe, Dave Alvin, Leonard Cohen; Dougie Maclean, Pink Floyd; Supertramp; and Robert Plant.

This week, in our final Quantum (before we change to Beauty for Ashes) we take a deeper look at Islam. 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; The Church and Islam- Andy Bannister and Sam Green; with music from Yusuf, Led Zeppelin; Karl Jenkins; Afghan Christian Worship; Bachman Turner Overdrive; Bob Dylan; and Chris Tomlin.

This week we look at the fallout from the Charlie Kirk assassination; Yes Minister; Students in Amsterdam; the Oxford Union President; Mental Health worker in Australia; Borussia Dortmund; AI books exploit death; What does the London March mean? Sir Trevor Phillips; Net Zero in Australia; Andrew Hastie; the growth of ASEAN; The Decline of Germany; Theresa May on Euthanasia; Christians slaughtered in the Congo; Banning Prayer in New South Wales; Finnish school pupils v English Uni students; 'Man Overboard' banned; Danny Kruger joins Reform; Star Trek bissexuality; Robert Redford; and the Last Word, with music from BJ Thomas; Sons of Korah; Don Mclean; REM; The Rolling Stones; Prelude; Blink;

This week we reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk; Apocalypse Now; Iryna Zarutska; AI and medicine; Riots in Nepal; Asylum Seekers in the UK; Top restaurant in the UK - Texas Steakhouse; Zarah Sultana and Trans; Stephen Ireland and Surrey Pride; the racism of the New York Times; Country of the Week - Norway; French government collapses; UK police arrest a man for causing anxiety on social media; Peter Mandelson; Attacking Jerusalem; Hamas's wealth in Qatar; Anglican Dean of Newcastle and yet more child abuse; Elizabeth Nicholls; Silicon Valley turns to Christ; Dick Lucas's 100th birthday; with music from The Doors, Dire Straits, Robert Plant, Steph Macleod and Lou Fellingham, Antestor; Elizabeth Nicholls; and Karl Jenkins.