The Word on the Week

Buried Alive 5th September 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:49:25 GMT

Most of us have at one time or another imagined what it would be like to be buried alive. The feelings of claustrophobia this engenders make it all the harder to understand how the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground since 5^th August can cope.

Miners on the surface say it will take 3 to 4 months to drill an escape shaft through the 2,300feet of rock that lies between them and freedom.

When the men were discovered alive some 17 days after the rock-fall, a 4 inch bore hole was drilled to their chamber permitting communication, food and medicines to be passed daily. A video link has also been established so relatives can see that their husband/parents are well.

Leadership of the group is shared by the 3 oldest men. Mario Gómez (62) has been in mining accidents abroad when some of the fingers were sliced off his left hand. A year after that accident, Mr. Gómez returned to Brazil, stowing away on a ship and hiding in the cargo hold for 11 days. In those moments of quiet desperation, he found solace in a small Bible, though he had never been very religious before his ordeal.

Gómez has now become their spiritual leader. Rather like Moses he has organised the group into threes and has 2 other leaders working along side him. The men will be required to remove over 3,000 tons of rock which will fall into the chamber as boring of the escape shaft continues.

There is a similar incident recorded in the Bible when the ship St Paul was sailing on was hit by a severe storm and the 276 on board were likely to drown. Read St Luke’s account of it in Acts 27 verses 20/25. “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”

And so it worked out! St Paul’s faith was not in himself, nor in the sailors’ abilities but in the word of assurance spoken to him by an angel. God had kept his promise that St Paul would get to Rome to bring the Gospel to Caesar’s court – the very heart of the empire.

Let’s pray for the 33 miners that they may be saved both physically and spiritually by our gracious God.

Civil Religion 28th August 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:49:23 GMT

The President of the country, the Archbishop of Dublin and Journalist John Waters all attend the Communion and Liberation gathering in Italy this week. The President commended the Archbishop for doing a good job. The Journalist commended the gathering for providing liberty to speak and the Archbishop exercised that liberty in a penetrating way not always possible when speaking on his home turf!

Using the opportunity of the late Cardinal Newman’s Irish associations he delivered a trenchant expose of the ills of his church and lamented over the fact that after 15 years of catechesis, young people remain theologically illiterate.

But it was his use of the term “Civil Religion” that was so helpful in revealing to a large extent how things are. Referring to the Irish situation he said, “The Church provides a unique space in which people, even though secularised, can share the events of their lives and find a ritual to express the more profound human experiences of joy, sorrow or fear. However, if the Church becomes just a place where lay persons gather to celebrate human experiences without a deep reference to God, then this civil religion ends up by being empty and does not respond to the search for God who is missing in the lives of many.”

The flip side of this is the bane of the “nominal” Protestant. This is the secular person who pays for his religious events as they take place and, like the Baron’s will, bequeathed “100 guineas for the repose of this eternal soul”!

What does the Bible have to say about all this?

It is hard to find in the pages of Scripture anything to address this muddle. The Bible speaks of those who heard the message of the Gospel and were saved. It speaks of those who were not and others who followed but went back into the world. In all of this language there is clarity of where people stood before God.

With the advent of infant baptism the lines have been blurred. Multitudes have been swept into the churches in a numerical competition makes the recent Bankers scramble for clients seem elementary! The result was foreseen by Jesus when he wondered, on his return, if he would find faith on earth. (Luke chapter 18 verse 8).

It is faith that precedes baptism (Colossians chapter 2 verse 12) that safeguards the ordinance from misuse. The result might be a much smaller church numerically but it is the way of the Bible. (1Corinthians 1 verses 26/30).

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Nominal or civil religion has no place in God’s kingdom. Put your faith in Jesus.

Release from Prison. 14th August 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:09:57 GMT

So the prison system doesn’t work! At least not for sex offenders. It simply removes them from circulation for a time then returns them as marked men under surveillance by the authorities. The early release, for good conduct i.e. not breaking the prison rules, of Larry Murphy created media frenzy as reporters tried to trace his movements.

Needless to say this had a knock-on effect in society which was enhanced by graphic details of his original conviction and the innuendo that he may have been accountable for other women who disappeared without trace. The fact of his refusing all forms of remedial treatment over the last 10 years does not augur well for the future neither does his absence of remorse.

In a country awash with pornography and sexually explicit clothing we can look forward to many more Larry Murphy’s in the future.

What has the Bible to say on these things?

It advocates the Gospel of grace as the only remedy for sinners. Therapy and self improvement courses may keep people occupied but only the word of God can change people’s hearts. The Bible does not have a scale to grade sins but it has a remedy which wipes the slate clean from all sin. The remedy is there for all who turn away from their futile ways so that the word of God may be planted in their lives.

Listen to St Peter as he writes commending the work of Jesus to believers reminding them of what they once were.

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were ransomed from the futile ways handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

"All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1Peter chapter 1 verses 14 to 25.)

That’s the only remedy for Larry Murphy, for you and for me that will last for time and eternity.

Blood Diamonds. 7th August 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:11:16 GMT

A couple of uncut diamonds or two “dirty looking stones” as the supermodel described them displaying a naivety which must have surprised the international war crimes tribunal sitting in The Hague. Even more surprising was the fact that two men coming to her hotel bedroom door after dark with a package was nothing unusual. The fact that she often received anonymous gifts from unknown fans did not arouse her curiosity and it was not until breakfast that she opened the pouch.

They were identified as diamonds and had possibly come from Charles Taylor the Liberian President who was present at the dinner party the night before. She obviously preferred the cut variety of diamond as she passed them over to the director of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund telling the tribunal they had only been six hours in her possession.

The director retained the diamonds to protect the supermodel from the law, as possession of uncut diamonds without a licence is illegal in South Africa, and only handed them over to the police this week having kept them for 13 years.

All this would amount to very little were it not for the suspicion that these were diamonds, mined by inhumane practices by corrupt governments to buy weapons. These weapons were used in conflicts such as the war against Liberia’s neighbours creating a civil war which caused dreadful carnage in Serra Leone.

The release of the Leonardo DiCaprio film Blood Diamond in 2006 highlighted the butchery, the title of the film permanently staining the reputation of diamond mining.

Taylor, 62, is accused of receiving illegally mined diamonds in return for arming rebels who murdered, raped and maimed civilians in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

The Bible does not mention blood diamonds but there is a well-known incident of blood money. This was the name the Chief Priests gave to the 30 pieces of silver which they paid to Judas to get him to betray Jesus into their hands. When Judas had done the act of betrayal he changed his mind and returned the money. The Priests could not put it back into the Treasury as it was “blood money”. They recognised the truth of Judas’s confession, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (St Matthew 27 verse 4) and used it to buy a field as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah.

Judas killed himself out of remorse for what he had done. There was no evidence of a change of heart, no repentance but a worldly sorrow for what he had done. St Paul writes, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2Corinthians ch.7 verse 10)

Even repentance may not save Taylor from the verdict of this court but it could make all the difference at the bar of heaven.

Crude Oil. 31st July 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:56:32 GMT

There is an old tale of a leaking horse trough which had served the community well and refreshed many horses in its day. The leak had become worse and the villagers got together to decide what to do about it. After some discussion it was decided not to repair the tank but to shoot the horse!

This story came to mind when I heard of the sacking of Tony Haywood the Chief Executive Officer of British Petroleum. He had been in the job for a couple of years having been dealt a bad hand by his predecessor whose dramatic career had been powered by going for the big oil fields which were in dangerous drilling locations. Safety had been sacrificed for speed and the net result was that Tony found himself with a burned out oil rig and a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on the 20^th April, which has only now been plugged.

True, Public Relation skills were not Tony’s strong point but no one had tried to seal a gushing well one mile down on the sea bed before. His predictions were at best “guestimates” and the media made sport of him.

Of course BP has resources and the US Government has made sure they use them! In addition to two other rigs drilling down into the oil well to seal it with cement, BP has employed up to 4,000 ships in clean-up activities on the surface and countless people picking up tar-balls on the beaches.

Now that the end is in sight BP have replaced Tony with an American CEO who may be better at repairing relationships than wells!

What comment can the Bible make on this man made disaster?

Perhaps the greatest ever man made disaster was the crucifixion of Christ. The Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity visits the world he had created and the world rejects, rubbishes and repudiates His ministry.

This was the same world which in the beginning was declared to be very good. The pollution of sin which came into the world, rather like escaping crude oil, contaminated everything it touched.

The clean-up, Jesus said, starts with repentance. This is not being sorry because we have been careless. Nor is it sorry because we have been caught. But the recognition that the pollution starts with me, is my responsibility – I need to stop the flow.

It is not a pretty sight to be shown ourselves from God’s perspective and so rather than repair the horse-trough, rather than turn from our sins and trust Jesus – we shoot the horse; fire the CEO, crucify the Christ!

But even this disaster God turned around and the risen Christ sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples changing them from cowering creatures hiding in an upper room to fearless witnesses who have brought the message of the cross to the whole world. Listen to Saint Peter’s preaching less than a couple of months after the crucifixion:- “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Acts chapter 2 verses 36/39.

Repent and be baptized – the invitation remains valid – accept it today.

Marian Activity 24th July 2010

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:37:59 GMT

This is the 25^th Anniversary of the moving statue of the Blessed Virgin at Ballinspittle.

That was a year when we had many moving statues but few, if any, interpretations. Sightings and messages from the Blessed Virgin are not uncommon – indeed they are to be expected by Marian devotees at the various Marian shrines.

One of these places, our own Knock got a bit of publicity recently when Dublin faith healer, Joe Coleman claimed that Mary would appear at Knock and named the day and the hour. After several of these predictions, all of which attract crowds, RTE did a programme this week entitled “Apparitions”. This explored, in a somewhat sceptical way, the events at Knock with contributions from journalists, medical people, priests and devotees.

Apparently Mary appears in the sun which makes her hard to see and she is also hard to hear. However Joe both sees and hears her and many of his followers confirm that the sun “danced” in the sky.

There is a hunger for the supernatural and Joe is meeting this need to the best of his ability. Folk Catholicism provides a fertile ground for the paranormal to flourish. Knock shrine itself was founded on such activities.

What has the Bible to say about all this?

It’s hard to find in it any supernatural appearance which did not say something sensible. The prophets prophesied and their prophesies were fulfilled mainly with the coming of Christ.

Those surrounding his birth involve Mary, a virgin from the remnant of the peasant stock of Israel and were very explicit and clearly understood. Indeed they had been predicted in the past and were eagerly expected.

References to Mary in Scripture are rather sparse but this is more than made up for by the body of theology built around her over the centuries. This in turn has created something of a parallel universe to that of the life and work of Christ.

Out of it has come a climate for “folk driven” experiences and this partly explains the popularity of Joe’s channelling of Mary. People without the Bible want an authoritative word and one way or another they get it.

The existing authorities are caught in a bind. If they say Mary has not spoken the people will react against them. If they say Mary has spoken, Joe would be perfectly entitled to ask why they do not support him. As Jesus would say it’s all a matter of where the authority comes from. (See Saint Matthew Chapter 21 verses 24 to 27.)

I think it best to follow the One who has the authority.

“Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Saint Matthew chapter 28 verses 18 to 20.

Seanie’s Sums. 17th July 2010

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:28:39 GMT

So the figures don’t add up! The ace Banker and “brains” of the Irish financial world ran out of options this week. Just when we thought he would never be caught he declared himself bankrupt. His liabilities exceeded his assets by a cool €96.7 million.

Such was his confidence in his abilities during the “good times” that he not only loaned generously the banks money but took a stake in many of these investments himself.

How did he do it? One financial source quaintly put it that he had a “piggy bank” within the bank with which he indulged himself. In fact it seems that he had become a “deal junkie” drawing down funding from four other financial institutions in addition to his activities in Anglo-Irish. As one developer put it, you could put a proposition to him in the morning and get an acceptance by the afternoon!

Sadly competition drew our other banks into the lending spree as they tried to retain their clients and in an environment of lax supervision and a government which was enjoying the ride, the bubble burst.

Now in damage limitation mode Seanie has been able to tap into his very considerable pension and reinvest in joint names of himself and his wife. Indeed his six homes have also joint ownership so he had better be good to Triona as his half share (in both pension and houses) has now gone to his creditors.

The Bible puts it simply, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1Timothy ch.6 verses 6/10.

Sadly there may not be much faith around to wander away from. St Paul sums up the scene in his day by concluding, “There is no fear of God before their eyes”. Romans Ch.3 verse 18. This fear is healthy as it recognises the fact of judgement to come.

St Paul goes on to write that we are all debtors and cannot meet the demands of God’s bankruptcy court. The good news of the Gospel is not that I can pay my way but that God has provided a perfect surety in Jesus Christ. This is the news we need to hear whether it is Seanie or you or me! Listen to it again!

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this….so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Put your faith in Jesus.

H2O 10th July 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:33:34 GMT

After many months of drought (we had lambs this year that never got wet) the rain came yesterday right on cue for the Oxygen Music Festival. There must be something about the name O₂ which attracts the rain! Its not just rain but real Irish rain – the wetting, fine droplet variety that penetrates the best of raingear in a matter of minutes.

The sound blasters got going yesterday at Punchestown some 3 miles away and as I write the drums are still pounding away impervious to the weather. Of course the only dry people there are the performers but even they must find their guitars slippery in the humid conditions.

An addition to the cacophony this year has been the invasive South African horn – the vuvuzela! The one note horn makes up for its lack of versatility by being easy to play!

Designer wellies are all the rage. About the only one not wearing them was the hip hop superstar Jay Z. The Brooklyn man did not disappoint with a performance that featured hits Run This Town, 99 Problems and Encore.

The tent town created on the racecourse gave some brightness to the scene. The tents could be embellished by spray painting artists from the Art College who, for a reasonable fee, could add their designs to the waterproofing of the fabric!

It brings to mind the great Festival of Tabernacles observed by Israel to commemorate their 40 year journey through the wilderness from Egypt to the Promised Land. The building of Tabernacles or Booths reminded the Jewish people of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It was also a thanksgiving for the harvest with numerous sacrifices being offered over the 7 days of the celebration.

On the 7^th day the ritual of pouring a pitcher of water seven times onto the ground took place. This libation was prophet and messianic in its hope. It looked towards the outpouring of the Holy Spirit not only upon Israel but also on believers under the reign of Messiah, Jesus. Jesus now directs the ritual to Himself as its fulfillment.

The Bible records, on the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”. (St John Ch 7 V 37/38).

No longer do we build Booths (unless we are at a wet Oxygen Festival) as the prophecy has been fulfilled in Jesus who now offers us this living water.

Come in faith to the living Jesus today.

Signs of the Times. 3rd July 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:33:21 GMT

The men of Issachar were commended because they understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do” 1 Chronicles ch.12 v 32. We could do with some of these men today to show us what Ireland ought to do!

An attempt was made this week by a letter writer to a National newspaper. His letter quoted Archbishop Fulton J Sheen who wrote the following some 50 years ago.

“It is a characteristic of any decaying civilisation that the great masses of the people are unaware of the tragedy. Humanity in a crisis is generally insensitive to the gravity of the times in which it lives. Men do not want to believe their own times are wicked, partly because they have no standard outside of themselves by which to measure their times.

If there is no fixed concept of justice, how shall men know it is violated? Only those who live by faith really know what is happening in the world; the great masses without faith are unconscious of the destructive processes going on, because they have lost the vision of the heights from which they have fallen.”

Predictably, the next day, a letter was printed aimed at silencing churchmen on the basis that the abuse, which was concealed within their ranks, had removed their right to make critical comment. The Archbishop’s comments were said to be more appropriately applied to the church. The “Liberal agenda”, it was claimed, had rescued Ireland from such people and to prove it the law is being changed along liberal lines.

We are back into Biblical territory; the Word versus the World. The problem is that few understand the Word. As the Archbishop said; “only those who live by faith know what is happening”. His final sentence goes on to quote from The Revelation to John ch.2 v 4/5 writing to the church at Ephesus; “But I have this against you that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first”.

What were these works? They heard the Gospel, were converted to Jesus and destroyed their idols. It’s all in Acts ch.19. If the men of Issachar were here today they might well be saying, repent, turn to Jesus and burn the liberal agenda!

It is only as people come to faith in Christ that they can see the idols that they had been blindly following. May the Spirit of the living God open eyes in Ireland in these times.

Democracy

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:54:18 GMT

I think it was Winston Churchill who said "Democracy is the worst form of government with the exception of all the others"! It is founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, who vote for them on the basis of their stated views.

We have been able to avoid the grosser sins of widespread vote rigging, or the more brutal treatment of the military regime in Myanmar where Aug San Su Kyi has to be kept under house arrest to prevent her party getting into government. However the power vested in our representatives, once elected, can be engineered to ensure their continuing in office, irrespective of the people’s wishes.

Shades of this were seen in the Banking Reports where, over a lengthy period, government appointed watch-dogs forgot to bark. The environment in which they were kept was not conducive to the sound of barking!

The leader of the “Greens” barked at the Catholic Church to be quiet about the Civil Partnership Bill and advocated they stick to “spiritual matters”. Perhaps he forgot that most people get married in church taking their vows before God. In fact the Bill he is promoting is designed to get gays to the altar although that’s the last place most of them would have in mind.

His colleague in Cabinet, Dermot Ahern, on the same subject is reported to have said “he would not allow his religious beliefs to cloud his judgement”. Clearly he is not influenced by the Bible which prohibits the practice he is legislating for.

It may seem strange to some to find that democracy is not in the Bible! Stranger still for our government to find it written, “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God”. (Romans ch.13V1). This does not mean that they are to act like God but that their authority comes from God. This in turn makes them accountable to God and for this good reason we are called to pray for them.

The problem today is unbelief. Rulers do not behave as those who have to give an account to God. Therefore there is no fear of judgement from a heavenly court but only an earthly one – and they think they can handle that! The Psalmist put it so well,

“If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared”.

And that healthy fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom for all who believe both leaders and those they lead.

The Horn of Africa. 19th June 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:10:05 GMT

The host nation for the soccer World Cup, South Africa, has introduced us to the modern horn of Africa – the vuvuzela. This instrument, blown with vigour, is responsible for the incessant noise which has blighted the opening matches of the competition. Heard on the telly, it resembles a swarm of bees in the room. Experienced in the stadium, each horn producing up to 135 decibels, the noise must be mind numbing.

At least that is the only explanation I can offer for the miserable standard of football being played on the pitch. The players are cut off from each other so that familiar calls at key moments in the game go unheard. Encouragement or advice from supporters, for so long an integral component in the enjoyment of the game, has been neutralised. Communication, by radio between the referee and his officials, has been rendered impossible so that yellow cards have been substituted for the referees “word of advice”!

Broadcasters like BBC have turned to technology to tune out the vuvuzela from interfering with reception. The unfortunate supporters have had to purchase earplugs, being sold at stalls by opportunistic vendors, on their way to the games!

What has the Bible to say about horns? Quite a lot!

The word is used with a range of meanings. There is the ram’s horn blown at the destruction of the walls of Jericho. Then we hear of the Prophet Samuel anointing young David with a horn of oil. In the Book of Daniel the horn represents the might of nations as he prophesies their rise and fall. It is this `mighty` aspect of the horn, applied to salvation which John the Baptist’s father Zechariah prophesied at the birth of his son, that characterised King David and now applies to King Jesus.

Zechariah used the expression in St Luke’s Gospel chapter 1 verse 69 - “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David….and you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God.

That salvation is available today to all who look to the risen Jesus – even to those who blow the vuvuzela!

Killing Spree. 12th June 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:52:28 GMT

This week, the first of the dozen funerals which must take place to bury Derrick Bird's victims provided a focus for a grieving Cumbrian community, still raw from the shock of last week's tragic events.

Bird was normal taxi driver, a sociable man. He lived a simple life, a regular at his local pub where he enjoyed a pint days before he turned his gun on neighbours, colleagues and his twin. What made his crime so chilling was the lust for blood which seemed to take over after the original premeditated killings of brother, colleagues and solicitor took place.

Bird, a divorced father of two who had recently become a grandfather, had been a man of hidden anger – an anger fuelled, it seems, by worries about a tax bill on €72,000 of undeclared income, his mother’s cancer and breaches of taxi-rank rules. Crucially, he was also bitter and paranoid about what would happen to the estate of his mother, after her death, believing that his twin brother, David, had gained unfair advantage with the help of Commons the solicitor.

It has emerged that Bird, who murdered 12 people before taking his own life, watched Steven Seagal’s movie “On Deadly Ground” the night before launching his murderous spree. The violence in this 1994 film is considerably less that many more recent movies but the ease with which lives are taken makes killing seem normal in the fantasy world of cinema.

What has the Bible to say about such a tragedy?

The best know premeditated murder in scripture was as St Matthew records, “all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death”. Here was premeditated murder by those who had a vested interest in taking out someone who threatened their corrupt way of life.

Did they know who this Jesus was? Did their hatred blind them to His identity? Had they any idea that He was the fulfillment of all that their law and prophets spoke of?

Even in his death the common criminal next to Him recognised Jesus as the King about to come into His kingdom and at that moment the thief became a citizen of it.

Sadly the death of Derrick Bird is more akin to Judas who, having betrayed Jesus, hung himself.

Two deaths, two destinies. The fate of the 12 victims only reinforces the need to be prepared. Recognise Jesus for who He is and put your trust in Him.

MV Rachel Corrie 6th June 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:48:52 GMT

Following the failure of the flotilla of 9 Turkish ships sailing out of Istanbul for Gaza came the Motor Vessel Rachel Corrie to add an Irish dimension to the humanitarian aid effort. The result was as predictable as the fate of the flotilla with the exception that those on board were not of the Islamic jihadists’ frame of mind and actually assisted the boarders to come onto the ship.

Its cargo will be checked out at the Israeli port of Ashdod before being sent into Gaza to ensure that it does not contain material which could be used in the Hamas war effort against Israel. Apparently in a bizarre development Hamas have not permitted the flotilla’s cargo to proceed into Gaza overland so the Israelis’ have asked Nobel Prize Laureate Mairead Maguire, who was on the “Rachel Corrie”, to head up its cargo into Gaza!

It is hard not to view the whole episode as a massive game of brinkmanship. Public relations people on both sides work on the events to gain the sympathetic ear of the world’s press and perhaps obtain some advantage for their cause. The deaths which occurred on the flotilla and which are to be condemned, provide Hamas with somewhat higher moral ground which they do not wish to lose by the easy transportation of the cargoes overland into Gaza. The latest news from Cyprus is that four more boats are being prepared to test the blockade. There has to be a better way!

The Bible has plenty to say about the fate of Israel and the two lines of descendants – the Jews through Jacob and the Arabs through Esau. Their implacable animosity was predicted in God’s sovereign purposes and copper-fastened in their two opposing religious systems of Judaism and Islam. Their desire to see the destruction of the other finds credence in Jesus words referring to the last days; “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that its desolation has come near”. St Luke ch.21:20.

In the meantime we are still in the day of God’s grace. Judgement has not yet fallen.

Whilst some may laud the efforts of the “Rachel Corrie” God has provided a Man to stand in the gap between those who perpetuate division. Writing about Jesus to the church at Ephesus he says; Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Jesus has done the work. The Holy Spirit is applying it today to every repentant heart. Blockades are lifted at Calvary!

Lost 29th May 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 29 May 2010 21:20:32 GMT

For those following, even sporadically, the TV series Lost over its 6 years of existence right up to its finale this week, when it almost dominated the airwaves as US channels released it early in an effort to win rival audiences, the end was surprisingly reconciliation not slaughter.

It started well with flight Oceanic 815 crash-landing on a tropical island but neither the passengers nor the island were what they seemed. The island was inhabited by scientists and brigands. It had a labyrinth of underground passages and caverns that housed equipment which operated the islands electromagnetic system.

The passengers on the flight were all interconnected. The relationships were not at first apparent but their earlier lives were unfolded in a series of flashbacks. To spice up the series flash-forwards were introduced and if that was not confusing enough, parallel episodes were shown where the characters were both on the island and back in their home country.

To complete the intrigue the theme of death stalked the series since 2004. However there were random resurrections and in the later scenes distinctions were blurred as to who were dead and who were alive as both behaved in a similar fashion!

Included in the mix was a satanic character who appeared as black smoke and was connected to a blazing inferno in the centre of the island. In order to overcome this evil, the hero Jack had to drink water from a stream which emanated from a bright shining light. The liquid made him “fireproof” and he was able to plug the opening, extinguish the fire, save the island and possibly all of humankind.

If you are still with me you will appreciate the person who said the series should be re-named “Totally Lost”!

The Authors of the tale claim to be Christians and the entire series can be thought of as a six-year meditation on how human beings approach death. There were plenty of burials on the beach but those who made it to the finale appeared to be reconciled at least to each other in a church type of building called “home”.

God only came into the picture in the symbolism on the stained glass window, which showed Christian as well as occultist imagery. This was where Jack Shepherd’s father (now resurrected) helped his son to find his way “home”. Jack’s number was 23 hinting at Psalm 23 – the Shepherd psalm - but that was as good as it got!

In the Bible death is the product of sin. It is not “natural” but an aberration resulting from the fall. To attempt to sanitise death is to ignore the work of Christ in dying for lost sinners. His salvation is God’s gift: - the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans Ch.6 verse 23. It’s the receiving of this gift that brings the sinner into God’s family: - to all who did receive him, (Jesus) who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. St John Ch.1 verse 12.

It is through faith in Jesus that the lost are reconciled to God and to one another and are brought “home” to heaven.

Summertime 22nd May 2010

saibc@iol.ie — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:57:36 GMT

“Summertime and the living is easy” as the words of the lullaby from the cotton plantations in the US goes. Well summertime has arrived and for the last 24hours we have experienced what for us is a heat-wave.

“Fish are jumping and the cotton is high.” I haven’t heard if the mayfly have hatched but the grass is growing high.

“Your daddy’s rich and your mamma’s good looking”. Nothing like some reassuring words to lull a baby to sleep – the reality may be somewhat different!

“One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing, you spread your wings and take to the sky.” The future is beautiful from the perspective of the innocence of youth.

“But until that morning there is nothing can harm you with your daddy and mommy standing by - they are standing by, I know, don't cry.” Safe and secure in a parents love.

It’s only a lullaby but it captures a lot of our dreams of a world where the harshness of reality often feels more like wintertime!

The Bible promises us the seasons: - “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8 verse 22)

The writer of Ecclesiastes reckons there is a time for every human event or activity: -
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” And in his famous poem in Chapter 3 ranges widely over human activity.

From the pen of Jeremiah we have his lament over the faithlessness of Judah: - “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

On the mission of Jesus to earth the Apostle Paul writes: - “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

(Galatians 4 verse 4)

Redemption completed! Security in God’s family - not in a lullaby but in real time.

I am reminded of the words of the dying Highland crofter, who was asked concerning his salvation replied, “I thatched my roof in the summertime”! There is no better time to prepare than now.

Trust Jesus.

Race to the Bottom. 15th May 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 16 May 2010 08:17:23 GMT

Imagine a land where marriage ceased to be a picture of Jesus relationship with His church. Fidelity and permanency are gone. Where the legislators deny that God has spoken by enacting laws contrary to His word. The boundary stones have been removed and replaced by lawyers. A land where the new trinity of tolerance, equality and individual freedom have replaced the old communities where needs could be met by shared responsibility. You are looking at Ireland today.

Imagine a land where the people never want to grow up, where their sexual relationships with both male and female are “open” meaning partners consent to each other having sex with other people. Where advocates of this type of “freedom” want to produce “varied, creative, and adaptive contours, including small group marriages”.

You are looking at USA tomorrow – and Ireland the day after tomorrow.

Recently a number of Evangelicals had a letter printed in the Irish Times describing the Biblical boundaries for sexual activity. The responses which the paper printed either ignored scripture or else mangled it. The Government are deaf to the plea for a conscience clause to be incorporated into the Civil Partnership Bill which is soon to be passed into law. Are we making too much of a fuss about this matter?

What does the Bible say?

The Bible tells it like it is. King David was an adulterer and King Solomon a womaniser. When we read the Bible we need to discern when the characters are sinning and when they are acting in obedience to God’s wishes. Kings were supposed to enact God’s laws and to govern in accordance with them. The majority of them failed and we read again and again that they “did evil in the sight of the Lord”. In Solomon’s case he was not punished because of God’s promise to David but after his death the kingdom was divided and 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel were lost.

In the New Testament the sins which we are about to enshrine into law are embedded in lists but not singled out as being particularly heinous. The legalising of them will not affect the church but it will give a false sense of legitimacy to behaviour which God condemns. The speed with which change is taking place means that even at a sociological level there is not enough data to ring the alarm bells and by the time there is – it will be too late to reverse the engine.

Apostasy, as in Solomon’s case, impacts the next generation. It’s the children who will inherit the fruit of disobedience. But there is a better way. It’s the way of Love, joy and peace with God. It’s the way of security for this life and the next. It comes not by trying but by trusting in the work of Jesus on the cross.

None need join the “race to the bottom” by following the liberal agenda. It can never satisfy. It will always sell you short. Turn to your Maker, who has promised to all who do, to make you a new creation. (2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 17).

Live Microphone

saibc@iol.ie — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:56:31 GMT

It’s not the first time a live microphone has caught an aside made by a celebrity when he or she thought it was switched off!

Prime Minister Brown’s doorstep chat with Labour supporter Gillian Duffy appeared to go reasonably well, that is until Brown was being driven away in his ministerial car. In its relative seclusion he allowed himself to express his true feelings about the interview. He thought Gillian was a bad choice and wanted to know who had arranged it. He feared the media would show him in a bad light then unwittingly ensured that this would happen by calling her a “bigoted woman”!

All of which was broadcast over the on-site loudspeakers.

The journalists covering the event had their story handed to them on a plate. Brown had the tape of his off the record words played to him in the studio a short time later. This caused the ministerial car to make a second journey to Mrs Duffy’s house where the now contrite Prime Minister spent the next hour inside with Mrs Duffy. Unfortunately the microphone was not left on this time and we can only guess at the word games which ensued!

What has the Bible to say about our words?

Can those asides, those throw away lines, be of any consequence to God?

It seems that they are because they reflect our thoughts more accurately than our more nuanced words.

When the Pharisees tried to discredit Jesus ministry by saying he was a blasphemer he countered them with a severe warning; “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” St Matthew ch.12 verses 36/7.

Careless words revealed the condition of the heart of the thief on the cross who despised Jesus.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Fortunately for us the microphone was left on so to speak and we heard him being rebuked by the other thief who then cried out to Jesus. Notice he didn’t cry to the Priests at the foot of the cross though they had just heard his confession. He didn't cry to the Apostle John though doubtless he recognised him. He didn't cry to the Blessed Virgin Mary though she was present. He cried to the only one who was able to help. His words revealed his hearts desire and he put his faith in Jesus, the only one who could save him for all eternity. St Luke ch.23 verses 37/43.

We don’t need to have a microphone around our neck to remind us that we are so like Brown. Heaven hears and when the accounts are given we will be like the crucified thieves. May God grant us the grace to place our faith in Jesus that we too, like the confessing thief, may be with Him in paradise.

Eyjafjallajokull.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:41:34 GMT

Dear Friends,

This last week has been a reminder that we live in God’s world and, although fallen, is not out of control. All events lie within his permitted will. At present we know in part; then we shall know fully as we are fully known – 1Cor.13:12.

In Christ,

George.

Eyjafjallajokull. Word on the Week 24^th April 2010.

Earthquakes have been occurring in South America and China but it has taken the Icelandic eruption to wake up Europe to their horror. Of course we knew about Haiti and Peru. We had even read about China. This one was different. This one hit us!

True there was no loss of life and only a little brown dust to wash off the car – but the disruption to air travel! Paralysed we were. Cut off from the homeland in our holiday retreats. Stopped in our tracks for 6 whole days. Much weeping and wailing at the airports while the ferries never had it so good! The more macho among us had tales of buses, trains and automobiles to tell and those with an equestrian interest made the annual pilgrimage to Punchestown Race Course a do or die affair.

All in all a bit of escapism to get our minds off the economy!

What about places where ‘quakes are a common occurrence? Take Muslim Iran for instance. A leading Iranian cleric has told the faithful they must pray and give to the poor to avoid the earthquakes that have often ravaged the country, a Tehran daily reported on Saturday.

The comments by hardliner Ayatollah Ahmad Janati in his sermon at the main weekly Muslim prayers in Tehran on Friday came a week after a fellow cleric warned that immodestly dressed women were causing quakes.

"No-one can predict earthquakes with certainty, except those who are pious," the reformist Aftab e-Yazd newspaper quoted Janati as saying.

So now we know!

What does the Bible say about earthquakes?

Quite a lot. In all three synoptic Gospels Jesus is recorded in saying they would be a regular part of this age (not in the age to come) until the return of Jesus to redeem all of creation. Earthquakes, as you would expect, feature strongly in Revelation – a book which ushers in the end times.

Earthquakes have the ability to concentrate the mind like nothing else. It is significant that they featured at both the Cross and Resurrection; St Matthew 27:54 & 28:2.

The first of these events powerfully affected the Centurion in charge of Christ’s crucifixion. The scripture says he was filled with awe and said of Jesus, “Truly this was the Son of God”.

The second heralded the moving of the stone to reveal to Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and John the triumph of the resurrection – so well captured in the paraphrase of Psalm 48: -

The Saviour died, but rose again triumphant from the grave;

And pleads our cause at God’s right hand omnipotent to save.

Earthquakes? They strike terror into the heart of man but hold another message for the Believer. Put your faith in the risen Christ. He is returning soon.

Authority.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:31:42 GMT

Dear Friends,

Repentance is commanded in Scripture. Some say repentance is hard – the Bible says it’s impossible!

Augustine got a handle on this conundrum when he said; “God gives us commands we cannot perform that we may know what we ought to request from Him”.

Pray to the Lord to show you your sin (not just what bugs you) then take it to Jesus.

In Him,

George.

Authority. Word on the Week. 17^th April 2010.

In Roman times in Palestine there was no difficulty in recognising where the authority lay. Her soldiers used crucifixion. 2,000 in one day makes a pretty clear statement as to who is in charge.

In ecclesiastical matters excommunication, with its attendant fear of hell, enabled the church to establish its authority. Add superstition and the withholding of scripture and authority was relatively easily imposed on the people.

Today in our secular society, democracy has hampered those in government from abusing power – in case they lose it!

In ecclesiastical societies, the ability of churches to abuse has been dramatically reduced by the availability of an open Bible.

No longer do people look at large buildings and fine vestments and think, “that is where the power lies”. This week the epitome of all that in Vatican City has begun to be exposed. The ability to self-destruct simply by failing to own up to error is built into the human physic. Add the notion of infallibility and you have burned the bridge to Gospel country.

What does the Bible say to all this?

In Psalm 51 David realises that covering up his sins may fool man but cannot deceive God.

“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

The Bible is not selective when it comes to exposing sin. The Apostle Paul proclaims that “God is telling everyone everywhere that they must repent” Acts 17 verse 30. There are no exceptions. We must look back to the cross where God’s Lamb took the sins of the world. There were no sins too sinful. As St John wrote in his 1^st letter “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin.”

Where does authority come from? Authority comes from the God of the Word who has all authority and the faithful application of the Word of God by His redeemed servants. May God grant the grace to truly repent and trust in the work of Jesus.

Offence of the Other. 10th April 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:28:00 GMT

Cast your mind back to the playground. You are 4 and already well versed in name-calling. It was a gift to your art if the other’s name rhymed with a rude word. Now imagine you have a Nigerian classmate called Toyosi Shitta-bey!

You are glad you are Irish, white and speak with the local accent. Even so you don’t like it when you are called names, when you have done something different, stood out from the pack. Then you crave the anonymity of the herd. The safety of sameness!

Roll on 11 years and your classmate has survived the name calling. This would have become more sophisticated, developing along ethnic lines. Toyosi has now become a talented footballer. His ability distinguished him from the rest and a note of jealousy has added flavour to the language. His colour meant that his friends tended to be black and this provided an easy pigeon hole in which white prejudice could be placed. His 5 friends could only look on with astonishment as Toyosi was fatally knifed on Good Friday by two older Irishmen.

We may never know what was said, what gesture provoked the attack or was it simply eye contact that created the offence? Evil needs little justification. Merely to exist can be sufficient motive.

Jesus Christ was always going to be an easy target. The main difficulty the powers that be had in disposing of him was his popularity with the people. There was also the ease with which he handled questions and told parables most of them with a double meaning which showed them in a bad light. Then there were the miracles. Not counterfeit ones that could easily be discredited. These were well known people who were healed.

He was so different. He was undermining the establishment which they loved. He had seen through their hollow power structure. He was dismantling their man made religion. He must be stopped!

And so it was on that first Good Friday “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities: upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed”. “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteousness for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter ch.3 v 18)

We who are evil by nature need to reach out to the nail pierced hands of the only One who can “present us faultless before His Fathers throne”. (Jude 24).

His salvation is the only one which can permanently unite young and old, rich and poor, black and white because those who truly trust in Him are, by His grace, radically changed to love one another.

Why did He die? 3rd April 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:15:56 GMT

Wouldn’t it have been enough to grant Philip’s request to “show us the Father”?

Philip was only echoing Moses request for that elusive blessing of seeing the face of God. Was that not what the Aaronic blessing was all about:-

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you,

The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.

This was the ultimate blessing and the opposite of cursing which was epitomised by the Lord turning his back in judgement on those who were disobedient and went after other gods (Deut.11 verses 26-28)

To this day no one has seen the face of God and lived (Exodus 33 verse 20).

There has been only one exception. St John in the opening 2 verses of his Gospel gives us a picture of intimacy. The face to face relationship between God and Jesus - the definitive blessing. Its absence was the essence of the curse.

So what is He doing on a cross – depicted so inadequately in the many Passion Plays taking place this weekend? St Paul says Jesus on the cross has become a curse for us (Galatians 3 verse 13). The synoptic Gospels record God turning his back on the crucified Christ who utters his cry of dereliction, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The death of Jesus is on behalf of us. He takes the curse of the law for sinners. He is our substitute. Jesus said it in many different ways. His life for mine. “I lay down my life for the sheep” (St John 10 verse 15). He paid my debt. “For even the Son of Man came ….to give His life as a ransom for many” (St Mark 10 verse 45).

The intimacy that Jesus experienced with the Father was shattered on the cross. At that moment God turned out the lights. The Bible tells us that the world was encompassed in darkness. God was bearing witness to the trauma of the hour. Jesus was forsaken. He was cursed, and had become a sin offering. He was cut off from the Father. He was the anathema. And it was for us.

One day believers will experience the fullness of the Aaronic blessing. We will see the face of God.

Passport to Heaven 28th March 2010

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:08:56 GMT

I think it was Aneurin Bevan who, when a UK cabinet Minister, dreamt of purchasing a rail ticket from Waterloo Station to anywhere in the world without the need for a passport. This last week it almost required a passport to get into the Dublin Passport Office such was the queue created by the current strike! No doubt Bevan would have agreed with the monetary nature of the strike despite the fact that the people most hurt by it were the people he wanted to protect.

Fortunately, this week, as our thoughts focus on the cross of Christ and his resurrection, they point the way to heaven. No purchase of a passport is required. The free invitation of Jesus encapsulated in Joseph Hart’s hymn puts it together for us.

Come you needy, come and welcome; God’s free bounty glorify;

True belief and true repentance, every grace that brings you nigh.

Without money, without money come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Come you weary, heavy laden, bruised and broken by the fall,

If you tarry till you’re better, you will never come at all.

Not the righteous, not the righteous; sinners Jesus came to call.

Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream.

All the fitness he requires is to feel your need of Him.

This He gives you, this He gives you, ‘tis the Spirit’s rising beam.

So what is the passport to heaven? For those who respond to the Spirit’s promptings the scene changes from looking at self to looking to the Saviour.

View Him prostrate in the garden, on the ground your Maker lies

On the awful tree behold Him; hear Him cry before He dies,

It is finished! Sinner, will not this suffice?

Lo, the incarnate God ascended, pleads the merit of His blood;

Venture on Him, venture wholly, Let no other trust intrude;

None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good.

Aneurin Bevan’s dream may never become a reality but those whose trust is in Jesus can travel with Him for time and eternity. Jesus said that journey can begin right now!

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. Gospel of John Chapter 3 verses 35-36.

Rugby and Religion 13th March 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:59:39 GMT

“Where does it say in the Bible that the pubs should be closed on Good Friday” was the question troubling a heckler at an Open Air meeting? The question came around again this week when those who enjoy pub-time after full-time realised that the Magners League rugby match was scheduled to take place on Good Friday in Limerick.

The vintners did their sums and reckoned that the loss to the community would amount to a cool €5,000,000. Presumably they were factoring in a home win over Leinster!

A local priest kicked for touch with the suggestion of a public debate. He claimed to know of a couple of players who said their prayers before matches but it is hard to see how he could arrive at a majority without the accusation of tampering with the results!

An appeal was made to keep sacred the two most important days in the church calendar – Christmas and Good Friday. Regarding the latter he said, “There was something emotive about it and it had a sombreness to it that allows you to tap into and reflect on personal suffering, and psychiatrists would argue that it’s important to do that.”

What has the Bible to say on the matter?

When Jesus remarked that Abraham “rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day” (St John Ch.8 V56) it wasn’t so much Good Friday that was in view but the fulfilment of the promise that Messiah would bring blessing to all nations. For Jesus Good Friday was the day when he finished the work of atonement. The day when he became a sin-offering to his Father for the sins of his people. The Lamb of God substituted for the sinner who looks to Him in faith and finds pardon, forgiveness and a new life in the household of the living God.

As to the day itself the Bible is not dogmatic. St Paul writing to the church at Rome says, “ One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind”. (Romans Ch.14V5).

As to what happened on that day however St Paul has absolutely no doubt of its significance, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians Ch.15V3) and that truth should be remembered 365 days of the year.

Making the Grade 6th March 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:26:37 GMT

When “grade inflation” was highlighted in the press this week it was a term new to most of us. It sounded sophisticated. Rather status enhancing. The truth was quite deflating when we learned that exam results in many schools and colleges were being massaged upwards to enhance their reputation. The students who received these higher grades were not going to complain neither were the educational institutes who wanted to look better in the competitive world of academia.

There was, what one columnist termed, an “evaluation deficit”. In other words no one was testing the teachers work. The irresistible temptation to step up the grades because others were doing it produced a similar situation to that of the banks but without the international money market to blow the whistle.

That was until the consumers of the products from our colleges got together, Google, Hewlett Packard and Intel – all high users of our graduates – and spelled it out. Our educational standards were only average and average was no longer good enough.

Cooking the answer to look good was what one young man did when confronted by Jesus’ question about keeping half of the 10 commandments. “All these I have kept from my youth” he replied thinking that life here was some kind of probation period for life hereafter. (Luke chapter 18 verses 18 – 22). The problem with that kind of thinking is you never know if you are making the grade. You might be guilty of grade inflation on yourself! The man St Luke mentioned thought he had scored 100%. Others of us may be more modest markers but if left to ourselves we would be prone to massaging the figures to look good.

However we can relax the Bible has already given us our grade. It says that we are all in the same boat. St Paul, quoting from the Psalms in his letter to the church in Rome writes “No one seeks for God, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one”. He was referring to us as created beings not the creator, Jesus Christ, who alone has kept the law 100% and lays it to the account of the repentant sinner who turns to him in faith.

Jesus advised the man to get rid of all the things that held him back and “come, follow me”. Making the grade in God’s school is more a matter of divesting yourself of “stuff” and following the only one who can present you faultless on that great day.

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” . (Jude 24/25)

Wood’s Words 20th February 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:53:38 GMT

In a country awash with sexual perversions it is almost a relief to read of the serial adultery of Tiger Woods. So skewed has our moral compass gone that the philandering of this superb athlete does not seem so remarkable. What makes his fall from grace intriguing is the fact that he had all his liaisons while he was in the limelight as the world’s top golfer. His wife did not know and the journalists, who make careers out of delving into the secrets of the rich and famous, were taken by surprise.

His ability to control the media was in evidence on Friday when he delivered a prepared confession before a hand-picked audience of friends and sympathisers with only three journalists in attendance. They were there simply to take notes – no questions were permitted. After 45 days of therapy Woods was in control.

Addictions are hard to handle and Woods struggled to rationalise his behaviour. “I convinced myself normal rules did not apply…I thought only about myself…I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to …I felt I was entitled.” He returns to therapy and to the Buddhism of his youth. In it he would have been taught the “4 Noble Truths”;

Life is suffering.

Suffering is caused by desire.

The cessation of desire eliminates suffering.

This comes by following the path between the extremes of sensuousness and asceticism.

In Woods own words, "Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves, causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously I lost track of what I was taught."

Like many of the world’s religions Buddhism seeks the remedy within the person. Jesus contradicts this, “For from within, out of the heart of man come evil thoughts… theft, murder, adultery… all these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

St Mark ch.7 V21.

All sin is against God because he made the rules which we all transgress. When we sin we create a debt. Even the most elastic conscience knows that. Therapy cannot remove it. Going within is looking for a remedy in the wrong place. We need to look away from ourselves to Jesus atoning work on the cross and believe that he was there in the sinners place. When we recognise that he died for me we experience the freedom of forgiveness which now evokes in the heart a new desire to live in conformity to his word.

The addict will always have his Achilles heel. He will be tested. But for the Christian who has personally experienced the love of Jesus there is the power to live above the ordinary and the assurance that he is not alone in his struggles. Jesus has promised that he will never leave or forsake him in this life or the next.

Our “tiger” natures need to be tamed by faith in Jesus.

Global Warnings 27th February 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:48:39 GMT

At this time of the year we have cows calving in the farmyard so it was with some curiosity that I learned of the Mertz glacier in Antarctica calving earlier this month. Apparently the gesticulation period is not as predictable as cows occurring every 50 or 100 years but when the calf is an iceberg the size of Luxembourg it must make quite a splash!

The birth was assisted by another iceberg called B-9B, itself a mere 60 miles long, bumping into it like a gigantic dodgem car. Scientists reckon the pair may have some effect on global ocean circulation.

As I write news is breaking of a massive earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale.

The epicentre was 70 miles from Concepcion, Chile's second-largest city, where more than 200,000 people live. President Michele Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe." Buildings collapsed and phone and electricity lines are down, making the extent of the damage difficult to determine. A tsunami is travelling across the Pacific and the inhabitants of Islands in its path are taking to the boats. Its effects may reach New Zealand and Australia.

It may be my imagination but there seems to be a stepping up of these natural phenomena. The Lord Jesus did say that prior to his return there would be various signs in the heavens and “on earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves” – St Luke chapter 21 verse 25.

If you are of a scientific bent you will find explanations for these occurrences in the movement of plaetonic plates and ridicule the notion of fulfilling Biblical prediction.

If you are in that category the words written by St Peter in a letter to the churches are especially relevant: –

“you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter chapter 3 verses2-9.

Please take note of these events, take St Peter’s advice and turn to Jesus.

Resigning Times. 13th February 2010

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:20:42 GMT

We have had a famine of resignations in Ireland but recently this has turned into, what for us, is something of a flood. Some have been voluntary like the two politicians who resigned this week. Others like the handful of Bishops whose resignations were involuntary came reluctantly.

The reasons given by the politicians are somewhat obscure. In their explanations the temptation to wash someone else’s dirty linen in public proved too hard to resist. The Bishop’s suffered from the general blindness of society towards child abuse but since they knew about it they were faced with no alternative but to go.

What exactly was the deciding factor that brought them to their decision may never be revealed. What was the straw that broke the camels back, the bridge too far, the action or word that triggered the letter of resignation? We may never know. What is certain is that none of them ever expected to end up this way.

There are no resignations in the New Testament. The Apostles would have had plenty of grounds for taking that route. Their mandate was to be “fishers of men” and to experience the abundant life that Jesus offered. Indeed in the commissioning service did He not forecast that they would do greater things than he had done? A great future beckoned.

Perhaps if they had not been arguing about who would get the top job in the new Kingdom they would have heard that suffering and service go together. The amount of hardship they suffered for simply doing their work would have had people today running to the Labour Court or the Rights Commissioner for redress!

On the other hand if they had listened better they would have heard the bit about cross-bearing which Jesus modelled so graphically and realised that there is a close relationship between discipleship and martyrdom. Their message to “come and die” is not one to pull in the crowds. But this was the way they were to go – Jesus said it clearly. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Of course it was the love of Jesus, experienced by the presence of the Holy Spirit within them that gave them the confidence that indeed he would “never leave them nor forsake them”. In all their trials there was only young Mark who found the going a bit too tough and even he repented and joined Barnabas on a mission trip to Cyprus.

None of them resigned or retired. Their Gospel told of a saviour who died so that sinners like you and me might be forgiven and rose from the dead to guarantee our future with Him in heaven.

May we be granted a like faith to follow in their footsteps.

Gender Matters

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:29:11 GMT

Gender Matters. Word on the Week. 6^th February 2010.

We are not told in the Bible why God made Adam and Eve instead of Adam and Steve but it makes sense when a short time later he commands them to "be fruitful and multiply". We are not told why the one man and one woman in lifelong monogamous relationship was the best arrangement to rear a family but we can see throughout Scripture the blessings it brought when it was not transgressed. We are not told why St Paul in his first letter to Timothy rules that, in the church, a woman should not teach or have authority over a man relating this back to the creation order, but at the very minimum it implies that gender matters. There are God-given roles which we breach at our peril. Once you say that gender doesn't matter, it may seem to be a small thing, but you "sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind". The consequences of our actions may not be apparent at the time but they will appear and there is no means of redress.

We are told why there is an order in opposite sex marriage (the only marriage the Bible recognises). The husband is head of the house. He is to love his wife enough to die for her. The wife is to submit to her husband. She is to love him enough to live for him. Because we are sinners the roles are to be worked out in a setting of mutual forgiveness. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

But the underlying reason for marriage is simply that it provides us with a picture of Christ's relationship to his church. He is the head of the church. The church is his bride. He loved the church and died for her. She is to submit to him and obey his word. "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

So where does this leave Adam and Steve? The proposed Civil Bill would recognise their relationship and make allowance for it. The Bible also recognises their relationship and tells us that the love of God is so strong that Christ died for them. The out-working of his death was to enable those who trust Jesus to turn from their homosexual practices as instanced in the Corinthian church: "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God".

The love of God for the homosexual is no less strong today. Trust in Jesus.

Further recommended reading - Ephesians Chapter 5.

Avatar 23rd January 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:32:47 GMT

This film, from the director who gave us “Titanic” is the hottest thing to hit the science fiction world. Aided with 3D glasses audiences can see where the $280 million went in making the film and the Director’s bankers can see the $1 billion it netted in the first 17 days!

It is impossible not to be fascinated and enthralled by this action-filled vision of adventure and battles in an iridescent jungle on an alien planet, where hideous, dragon-like creatures appear to leap off the screen, flora and fauna wave in the air and a heroic avatar does battle with a pterodactyl-like beast before subduing it and soaring off on its back.

This is Pandora, an Earthlike-planet with a lush rainforest environment, trees a thousand feet tall, floating mountains and an abundance of life forms, some beautiful and some terrifying.

Into this new world our hero, Jake, is sent on a spying mission. Here the natives, the tall blue-skinned “Na’vi”, (navy blue perhaps!) have long resisted the miners from earth trying to plunder their land for the valuable mineral Unobtainium.

Borrowing from Hinduism where Avatars are incarnations sent to earth by Hindu deities and in his artificially-grown alien body, our ‘Avatar’ Jake must go among the Na’vi, learn their ways, and win their trust. The idea that he might do them wrong is upset when he falls in love with a 10 foot beauty. As he becomes increasingly involved with her and her clan he finds himself caught between the military and industrial forces of Earth and the Na’vi, who are increasingly threatened by human expansion on Pandora.

Jake wants a cause. Can this extraterrestrial girl teach him something? “All I ever wanted was a single thing worth fighting for” he says. Well he gets plenty of fighting when he chooses to side with the Na’vi!

Then there is the big white tree. It represents Mother Nature and is the life force of all the animals and plants on the planet. It also bonds the Na’vi with nature and must be protected. If it dies Pandora is doomed.

The Bible teaches that salvation did not originate in nature but in revelation. The grand narrative of our salvation is not found in worshipping nature, but in God’s interventions in redemptive history. They do, however, culminate with a tree, or rather with the One who was hung on it. It is through faith in the atoning death of Jesus that we have life.

Life that is not dependant on nature but on the forgiveness of our sins and our adoption into God’s family for ever. As St Peter put it in his letter to the churches: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned unto the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

A Stove Wins. 16th January 2010.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:14:20 GMT

There is something satisfactory when, in a National scientific competition for schoolchildren the winner out of the 1,000 plus entries was the designer of a home-made stove. It heightens the satisfaction to learn that he did not make it for the cash prize nor for its marketing potential but to have it taken up by Charities working in developing countries.

Richard O’Shea, an 18 year old sixth year student from Blarney, Co Cork, designed his biomass (wood dung and plant material) fired cooking stove out of tin cans. It can be made with a screwdriver, a small knife and a nail! The stove uses small quantities of fuel and produces little or no smoke.

It is reckoned that over 2 billion people in the world depend on fires for cooking. These use a lot of fuel and produce smoke. The beauty of Richard’s simple design is that it can be made from materials readily available. The life-span of the stove was not examined but, given the ease with which it could be made; replacements could form a sustainable cottage industry!

The welfare of the poor has always gone hand in hand with the proclamation of the Gospel in Scripture. In fact when St Paul was commissioned to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles the church leaders asked him to remember the poor back in Jerusalem. It was not as if St Paul was wealthy at the time, quite the reverse, but it was an accepted fact that when the lord saves a person from their sins he puts a desire into their hearts to give to those in need. Their attitude to money changes when Christ is Lord of all. Those who were converted to Christ during St Paul’s ministry contributed to the needs of the saints in the Jerusalem Church.

Seldom is giving purely altruistic as the donor, be it an individual or the State, usually looks for some reciprocal benefit. What makes Richard’s gesture different is its generosity, a Christ-like commodity in a greedy world.

Auld Lang Syne 4th January 2009

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:00:09 GMT

This New Year’s Eve, at a family gathering, I was asked to quote the words of the above Scottish song. Traditionally it is always sung at the start of a New Year, usually by people gathered in an out of door setting who mangle the words! I, coming from Scotland, was asked to supply the words and only just managed to remember the first verse and chorus!

We did make some attempt at the last verse which involves the crossing over of hands, grasping the hands of your neighbours on either side and shaking them in time with the music.

The handshake, of course, is symbolic of friendship and the whole poem reminisces over the old times when the singers were growing up together.

An interesting change took place in the chorus from when it was first penned in 1788. Then the toast was to “Jo”. The Bard’s waywardness with the ladies caused him to substitute the anonymous “dear” five years later and it is this inclusive version which we now sing!

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

A loose translation would be “For old times, my dear, For old times, We’ll drink together in fellowship, Remembering the old times”.

The Bible has always been big into relationships. Perhaps the most inclusive of these was the bond between Jesus and his disciples. St John, who was there in the upper room at the end of the earthly ministry of Jesus makes this comment; “when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end”. This was not the eros love of the poet but the agape love of the Saviour which is unshakeable. It is best seen at the cross when Jesus died for those who were actively seeking to destroy him. It is the unquenchable love of God for his own rebellious people.

Did it include the poet Robert Burns? That is something which is in God’s province. Will it include you? That requires you to turn your life over to Jesus who said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me; and whosoever comes to me I will in never cast out”

Sin makes a Comeback.

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:58:06 GMT

Word on the Week. 9^th January 2010.

We thought postmodernity had put it out of the house but in it comes through the back door. The “A” word was heard in the media just when it seemed adultery had been dropped from the vocabulary. After all the current descriptions of “having an affair” blunts the impact and to be “in a relationship” sounds almost healthy.

A possible reason is that we are dealing with Biblically literate Northern Ireland where the evangelicals call a spade a spade and not an agricultural implement. Another reason could be that the one guilty of adultery is the wife of the First Minister who herself was a formidable political figure. The fact that she recently condemned “same sex unions” in Biblical terms provided ready ammunition for her detractors.

Her husband, the First Minister, mentioned his wife’s repentance and granted his forgiveness in a moving broadcast marred, perhaps a little, by his desire to remain in Office declaring, “I have done nothing wrong”.

It’s not every week that we see two professing Christians in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. It is fairly common in the USA and each revelation is met with some agonising by the evangelical community and the issue of more books on “How to” pray more, practice forgiveness better, be more holy etc. etc. Another temptation is to look for better role models only to find that they too have feet of clay.

Now it is understandable for people who have put their faith in Christ to look for some transformation, some conquering of sin, a victorious life. In 2Corinthians ch.5 verse 17 it says “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come”. So it is commendable that we want to see a bit more of it in ourselves.

The problem is that what Christ offers and what we want are two different things! Instead of some form of sinlessness we are told to take our sin-stained broken lives into the world and proclaim that we are sinners saved, not by our efforts, but by God’s grace alone. What we are to do is offer, not ourselves but “Jesus Christ and him crucified”. We are to point to the way of faith in the work of Jesus. We are to show that fulfilled the law on our behalf so that we are now free to live a life of love – love to God and our neighbour.

Whatever the fate of the First Minister’s job, perhaps he should revisit his confession of blamelessness, even if it was made in the restricted sense of his wife’s adultery. Like all of us we bow to the Bible’s verdict of universal sinfulness and get on with making known Christ as the remedy.

Idols 27th December 2009

saibc@iol.ie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:00:35 GMT

Among the greetings from the East this Christmas came one from someone who was to be in Cebu (in the Philippines) during the early days of January. He was lamenting the influx of Filipinos to worship the effigy of Santo Nino - a representation of the baby Jesus – dating back to 1521. The feast day on 14^th January deflects attention from Christmas and contravenes the second commandment.

In Ireland we are not unfamiliar with relics or statues and recently there has been renewed interest in the Marian shrine at Knock. This occurred when a local “faith healer” prophesied that the Virgin Mary would appear and on the first occasion drew a large crowd which he asked to stare at the sun. Apart from some eye damage nothing miraculous appears to have happened and on the second occasion few turned up. It is not anticipated that there will be a third!

What the Bible says about these things has been helpfully analysed for me recently by James R Edwards in his book “Is Jesus the only Saviour?” He finds two broad categories of those who worship and serve the creature (or created things) rather that the Creator as St Paul put it in Romans chapter 1.

In the first category are the Canaanite Cults which worshipped the divine force pulsating through nature. This revolved around powers of fertility in the soil. Baal was the lord of the land and the source of its fertility. Union between Baal and his consort in heaven produced the rain that made the land productive. This was helped by similar behaviour and human sacrifice by the devotees. Other gods mentioned in the Bible are Moloch and Chemosh who required sacred prostitution and child sacrifice.

These Canaanite fertility cults were the subject of unrelieved repudiation in Scripture.

The second category rejects religious practices, not for their wickedness but for their worthlessness. Barnabas appealed to worshippers of Greek gods and goddesses to “turn from these worthless images to the living God”. (Acts 14:15) The Old Testament identifies their human origins; “the work of human hands. They have mouths but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear, nor is there any breath in there mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them!” (Psalm 135: 15/18). Thus the Bible views them as folly but not innocuous folly as those who worship them become like them – dumb, blind, deaf and lifeless - and are drawn away from seeking Christ.

Cults in the first category are wholly rejected as evil.

In the second category, the adherents are not condemned and certainly not annihilated but persuaded to abandon their folly and embrace the true God.

So what are we to make of all this? If you are not a believer you need to reject these cultic ways and turn to Christ. For the believers in both Cebu and Ireland, may God give us discernment in our proclamation of the incomparable Christ our Saviour.

Modern Martyrs

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:56:41 GMT

This week a friend sent me a homily recounting the martyrdom of Bishop Fisher for opposing Henry Vlll’s divorce. He wrote, “in defending the King’s first marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Fisher noted how John the Baptist, as Friend of the Bridegroom, Christ, had laid down his life in defence of marriage, “since,” he said, “the violation of marriage is no little insult to Him who is called the Bridegroom.”

The Pope of the day got involved; “Shortly afterwards, news reached England that Fisher had been created a cardinal by Pope Paul III. The king's reaction was that the Pope could send Fisher the red hat whenever he liked, but he’d make sure by the time it arrived that Fisher would have to wear it on his shoulder, 'for head he shall not have to set it on.’

Of such steel stuff were Kings, Popes and martyrs made in the middle ages.

Today the odour of martyrdom is in the air as one Bishop after another professes his innocence in the face of the Murphy Report into the cover-up of child sexual abuse in the Dublin diocese. It is not as if a stand was being made against a King, who was hell-bent in ignoring the sacredness of marriage on one hand, and wielding the axe with the other. The modern martyrs are seen clinging to their crosiers when the real martyrs – those children brutalised on their watch – are living witnesses to their dereliction of duty.

For the Bishops indicted in the report there will be no public execution, only resignation and some wounding of pride but for the victims of child sexual abuse the daily martyrdom of living with the loss of childhood continues.

At the time of Christ’s birth King Herod was the one in authority. Having been told of the birth of a king by the wise men, he set about to eliminate any possible rival to his position. The most vulnerable in the land were easy victims and the slaughter of the innocents was his response. (St Matthew Chapter 2 Verse 18).

The astonishing thing is that God sent his son into such a world. Even more astounding is that he should show his love for his own to the ultimate degree by dying in their place. And today that salvation is available to everyone who believes.

Joy to the world! The Lord has come

Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing –

Of such steel stuff were Kings, Popes and martyrs made in the middle ages.

Joy to the world! The Lord has come

Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing –

X Factor 13th December 2009.

saibc@iol.ie — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:17:38 GMT

Carol services all over these islands will take a hit as millions stay glued to the telly as Olly and Joey battle it out in the final of the X factor. From an alleged 200,000 entrants the numbers are whittled down by a combination of judges’ decisions and the volume of calls from the fans in favour of their chosen performer. Tonight its either Olly or Joey.

The programme to tap into the latent desire of people to achieve fame and fortune. The lure of a fast ascent to stardom, coupled with the chance that it could be your favourite who succeeds, draws in both contestants and viewers. So far show was spawned six number one winner's singles, two number one charity singles and in total 14 number one singles by contestants including winners and runners up.

In Sunday night’s final, multiple advertising breaks will bombard the 20,000,000 viewers netting multi-million revenues from companies wishing to reach the largely young audience with their products. It’s a win/win situation all round as the cameras pull in the home crowd and a celebrity career beckons for all the finalists.

According to the shows own definition of itself, the "X Factor" of the title refers to the indefinable "something" that makes for star quality.

The Bible’s X Factor is Jesus.

He too drew the crowds but not the cash. His fame was not in singing but in that definable something which separated him from everyone else who ever lived.

He was, is and always will be the living God. In the words of St John, “He has made God known”. This knowledge, St John tells us is eternal life.

The fact that Joey beat Olly will soon be forgotten by all but the keenest fans.

The fact the Jesus triumphed by his cross to demonstrate God’s love for his own will never be forgotten.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” St John chapter 3 verse 16.

The Red Hand of Thierry. 5th December 2009.

saibc@iol.ie — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:48:52 GMT

There seems to be no end to the story of Thierry Henry’s foul deed on the playing fields of Paris. He was caught, red handed so to speak, by the ever watchful TV cameraman. The referee was unsighted and the linesmen were no help to him. The goal that put us out of the world cup was allowed and the injustice fixed indelibly in the Irish psyche.

Henry is a professional and knew what he had done. After a brief celebration he told the referee that he had handled the ball, a kind of confessional statement which helped his conscience but not the result.

The referee’s reaction, assisted by the jubilation of the home crowd, was to tell Henry that his job was to referee and Thierry’s was to play football. A somewhat ironic reply as the referee had just learned that Thierry had been playing handball!

In some respects a Church leader is like a referee. He has to know the rules in the Bible and how to interpret them. He will try to get into the best position to make a decision, taking advice from his colleagues if they are in a better position. One thing he must not do is to pay attention to the crowd. They are biased in their support and passionate with their advice. This is evidenced by the fact that for a substantial portion of the crowd the referee is always wrong!

St Paul gave Church leaders an abbreviated job description when he wrote to the church at Colosse, using his ministry as an illustration, “Christ we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Colossians chapter 1 verse 28.

Sadly fouls do happen in church life. Some are premeditated others happen on impulse. God has equipped his leaders with yellow and red cards to be used in love with the ultimate restoration of the offender in view. May the living God guide us all as we try to follow his injunction….”speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ”. Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 15.

St Peter's Keys 28th November 2009.

saibc@iol.ie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:14:49 GMT

When St Peter was promised the Keys to heaven at Caesarea Philippi it was never imagined that his successors would use them to lock up so many childhoods as has been revealed in the Dublin diocesan report on clerical child abuse. The devastation caused to so many young lives by an organisation alleging to control the toll road to heaven reveals again the corruption that stems from a flawed theology.

The inability to accept that one may be wrong is fairly universal but when an organisation claims to have a handle on the moral authority in the land it becomes doubly difficult to make amends. Looking into the abyss of ones self-righteousness is not a pretty sight and it is not surprising that people recoil in denial at what they see.

After all St Peter reacted in denial to the accusation that he was a follower of Jesus. It needs the grace of God to produce the repentance which he showed when in reply to Jesus he said, “You know everything, you know that I love you”. St Peter’s reinstatement shows that failure in God’s economy need never be final. But note the reinstatement followed repentance which led to a changed life. Never again did St Peter deny his Lord.

So what about the keys? (St Matthew ch.16 v 19). St Peter seems to have used them to unlock the door to the Samaritans (who were a mixed race of Jews/Gentiles) and then to the Gentiles. (Acts ch.8 and 10). With the Gospel now global the keys had done their job.

But what about the authority to bind and loose that seemed to go with the keys? This was given to all the disciples by the risen Christ (St John ch.20 v 22) and mightily used by them and their fellow workers to proclaim the saving work of Christ throughout the known world.

St Peter never forgot the lessons he had learned and was able to write to the churches, “God wants you to be …eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock”. (1Pet.ch.5 v 2)

We need a life changing repentance today in Ireland.

Ploughing a straight furrow.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:15:44 GMT

Rural Ireland descended on the Ploughing Championships at Athy in large numbers making the event the largest outdoor agricultural show in Europe. Aided by the dry weather and numerous cups of tea, business was brisk in the Baptist Associations Marquee which was our “home” for the 3 days.

Some things never change and again we found the almost universal view that you will get to heaven by being good. Of course there are religious observations, mass going and pilgrimages but these seem to be more the props in the theatre of salvation. Basically you get there by being and doing good, of that there was a general air of certainty. Here was solid ground. It was bred into us. If we are going to be saved it will be on our record – and that record, we were told, was not all that bad.

The Bible cuts a furrow through this type of thinking. It buries the weeds of our own ideas and performances under the coulter of the plough. In their place it reveals the fact that we are all sinners. There are no exceptions. Any righteousness we may think we have the Bible likens to filthy rags. God’s standard is infinitely higher than ours. How then can we be saved?

Jesus said God’s word is the seed. Where it lands in good ground it becomes fruitful but first it must die. Jesus likened himself to that seed which had to die to bring forth life. Out of his death for sinners is born new life for believers.

Who are these believers? They are those who have died to self and turned to Jesus to receive this new life. They love him and as his Spirit enables them, they live for him. As one old-timer said, “less would not satisfy and more is not desired”. He is the incomparable Christ.

What sort of furrow are you ploughing? Is your eye fixed on the marker which is Christ? Have you died to the old life of self effort and performance and put on the new life of serving Jesus? The change happens at the cross.

The life of service begins not by returning to the rags of “good works” but by his transforming grace making everything we do an offering to him. As St Paul said to the Church at Colosse it was not a different furrow but having put our hand to the plough we do not look back, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Roots

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:56:02 GMT

There is an old joke of the Australian lad who asked his father where he came from. His father sat him down and tried to explain about the birds and the bees. When he was finished the lad said, “that’s interesting Dad but my mate Patrick says he is from Ireland and I was wondering where I came from!”

We all want to know where we came from, so much so that the RTE TV is running a popular series called “Who do you think you are?” In it celebrities are assisted in the task of tracing their forebears on both sides of the family. The uncovering of family secrets under the eye of the camera makes the unscripted show compelling viewing.

Last year we gave a lift to a young American student who had fallen asleep on the bus and ended up a few miles from her hostel. She had come from South America where she traced her father’s roots and now she was in Ireland to see where her mother came from. The fact that her parents had separated in no way lessened her desire to know where her family originated.

What light does the Bible throw on family trees?

We find that Scripture has a high regard for lineage. In particular the human ancestry of Jesus is well documented. It is as if the human writers of the Bible were looking for the promised One who was to bruise the serpents head, Genesis Chapter 3 verse 15. As the years rolled by prophetic predictions sharpened the focus till the arrival of the Christ child came as foretold.

Then the question was articulated by John the Baptist, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" In reply Jesus identified himself by the miracles and the preaching of the gospel as the Messiah – God had visited earth.

So when was the mortal blow delivered to the serpent? It was at the cross where the last enemy, death, was defeated by the resurrection. As the poet put it:-

The reign of sin and death is over,

And all may live from sin set free;

Satan has lost his mortal power

It is swallowed up in victory.

In the end of the day our earthly roots don’t matter. What matters is whether we are rooted in Christ.

St Paul’s description of the Christian’s new family relationship says it all: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians Chapter 3 verses 17/19.

Seedtime and Harvest.

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:23:02 GMT

This was the week when the sun began to shine!

It had had a couple of months off and so the Met office’s announcement of stable areas of high pressure was greeted by a mixture of relief and jubilation.

The land, so long soaked in rain, began to firm up. Drains that had been blocked were now accessible and cleared to hasten the departure of the surface water. The sound of the combine harvesters could be heard as they gingerly made their way into the soft ground of the grain fields. The heads of the grain, threatening to sprout if left any longer, were speedily carted off in high sided trailers to be checked out for quality, moisture content, etc at the mill.

In the meadows, where hopes of a late crop of hay had looked unlikely, the mowers were out and the hay bobs were spinning the wet grass in the autumn sunlight in an effort to have it dried for the bailer before the fine weather ended.

Not that there is any sign of it ending as I write. The swallows, who were lining up on the wires getting ready for their long flight to Africa, seem to be putting off the departure date to enjoy the sunshine. We too can enjoy it remembering God’s promise, given after the global flood;

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

The promise is confirmed by the rainbow, the covenant sign given by a covenant keeping God.

But this is not the way it seems to be for a lot of people with famine and flood reported in many lands. The promise of seedtime and harvest gets overturned by vicious weather patterns. Some might put these down to global warming but the Bible says the over-arching reason is that God has subjected his creation to frustration and decay. Rusting cars, sick bodies and the universal aging process all testify to it. We are not here forever!

St Paul, writing to the church at Rome, says there is a parallel between the struggle in creation and the struggle against sin in the life of the believer.

He writes, ”We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies”. The awaited new heavens and new earth he sees as mirroring the believer who is described as “a new creation” awaiting the complete transformation when he will really be like his saviour Jesus Christ. As St John puts it:-

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

Seedtime and Harvest point us to that great harvest day when the angels will be the reapers and all those in Christ will be gathered in the heavenly home. Make sure you are there.

Trust Jesus.

Taking the Medicine 5th September 2009

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:18:23 GMT

In an earlier era Castor Oil was deemed to be the panacea for all ills – at least those of the sore stomach variety. It tasted foul! But in those days this was evidence that it would do you good. “If it’s not hurting it’s not working” was the notion. The Castor Oil bottle was the most dreaded item in the medicine cupboard but it had one virtue – it worked!

Following our years of profligacy, the Government has prescribed a dose of NAMA as the cure for our financial ills. It will not taste good. “No gain without pain” appears to be the appropriate slogan. The anticipation of it has sent the Government ratings down to an all time low and the naive media men wonder how this could be!

The balancing act is due to begin in the middle of the month. On the one hand there has to be a realistic valuation of the loans made on foot of grossly overvalued assets; a valuation which will not put the taxpayer in hock for generations to come.

On the other hand if the value of these assets is too low the banks will fail, business will grind to a halt, the International Monetary Fund will take over and we will become the serfs of Europe.

In Bible times, Israel was under Roman occupation, taxes were heavy and unjustly applied. The Pharisees and the Herodians who were the religious separatists and politicians of their day, questioned Jesus on the vexed question of paying tax to Caesar. “Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” they asked.

It was a loaded question. If Jesus answered “Pay your taxes” he would have been unpopular with the people. If he answered “Do not pay your taxes” he would have been in trouble with the Roman authorities. What would Jesus do?

Jesus asked them to bring him a denarius – a Roman coin worth approximately a day’s wages – and asked, “whose likeness is this on the coin?” “Caesar’s they replied. Jesus said, “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

Jesus had two worlds in view. The one we call the “real” world where we have to pay taxes and bail out bad banks and the Kingdom of God.

The question for you and me is “who is in God’s likeness?” The Bible says we are created in his image. The implication for us today is that we are to give our lives to God, who made us in his likeness, to live for him under his rule.

Jesus invitation remains open today: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Power Position.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:36:56 GMT

There can be few examples of the misuse of power that exceed that of an adult kidnapping and abusing a child. The helplessness of the victim illustrated by Jaycee Dugard, kidnapped at age 11 on her way to school, contrasts strongly with the power of the kidnapper, Philip Garrido and his wife Nancy.

Philip Garrido was first charged with kidnap and rape at the age of 20. He was convicted and appears to have been imprisoned from 1976 to1988 when he was released on parole. This did not deter him from kidnapping Jaycee in 1991, 3 years later.

The case bears some resemblance to that of Josef Fritzel who went to elaborate lengths to imprison his captive in specially constructed cells under his house. Garrido appears to have relied less on incarceration and more on creating a physiological prison for his victim. Comparatively speaking Jaycee was permitted some liberty. She seems to have had access to fresh air and the “freedom” to move about the secured back garden. This has left her feeling guilty for “bonding” with her abductor and not attempting to escape. It is likely that the two daughters, now aged 11 and 15 fathered by Garrido, occupied her time and complicated any escape plans she might otherwise have made.

Garrido has some sort of religious streak where, according to his blog, God had given him the ability “to speak in the tongue of angels in order to provide a wake-up call that will in time include the salvation of the entire world”. What is even more alarming is the reaction of the hundreds of “bloggers” who have left comments on the site in the last few days. This has become something of a lightning rod attracting vicious remarks of a uniformly merciless variety.

What does the Word say? Let’s start with the portion Garrido partially quoted. It reads, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” The absence of love in Garrido’s actions and in the comments on his blog show that love is in short supply. The sort of love the Bible speaks of is seen most clearly in Jesus. St John defines it for us, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins”.

Jesus had the ultimate power position on the cross. He could have come down from it as the priests suggested. Instead he showed the ultimate love for sinners in providing a way for all who repent to get right with God. This is the message of salvation that has been already provided for the world. It is for Garrido and it is for you.

H1N1 Swine Flu.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:01:07 GMT

Give something a bad name and it sticks! The more benign medical term H1N1 has been superseded by the user friendly but more sinister “swine”. It is as if the characteristics of the pig go along with the sneezes! The one who sneezes, without using a tissue and, as the HSE campaign shows in a lift full of people, has merited the name!

Flu’s come and flu’s go but health is always a major topic. Our very salutation “How are you today” is a friendly way of expressing our interest. The phrase “Bless you” related to more ominous times when a sneeze often heralded the onslaught of the “Black death”. The articulating of the blessing was intended to enlist the protection of the Almighty.

Indeed the Bible recounts the tragic story of King Asa who, when he took ill, did not seek the Lord but relied solely on his physicians. The fact of illness as a present reality in a fallen world is acknowledged in Scripture just as there is healing in Christ’s atonement. As Matthew, quoting Isaiah put it in Chapter 8 verses 16/17, "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."

The perfect health that Christ’s healing ministry points to will be the condition of the believers' resurrected body. At present God is pleased to graciously grant, from time to time, a foretaste of the complete healing that awaits his people in the glory. These blessings come from answered prayer and themselves point to the complete healing, both spiritual and physical , that St Peter spoke about, in 1 Peter Chapter 2 verse 24, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

The wonderful message for those who place their faith in the work of Christ on the cross on their behalf is that H1N1 or any other ailment is temporary, may be cured here and now but certainly will be in the hereafter.

For those who have not yet committed themselves to Christ, may I commend that you turn to him and commit your life, health and future to him in prayer.

He will answer and the promises in his Word will be fulfilled.

Be My Witnesses.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:55:59 GMT

There is an undercurrent, seldom expressed but often implied, in our society that when a person “gets religion” he should do the decent thing and enter the church. The honest thing to do is surely to join with the like-minded. To be suitably labelled with reversed collar or other distinctive garb ensures the safety of normal people from dangerous trends in conversation.

In fact not to become one of the “religious” is most disrespectful of ones fellow creatures. Without the dress code to give the game away normal decent people are at risk! There is the possibility of them getting under the radar so to speak and ask the awkward question or go where no man has gone before and utter the startling words “are you saved?”

Of course decent people don’t need to be saved – the very idea! Have we not been through the ceremonies? Has there not been a whole plethora of clergy involved to say nothing of the might of the church already? Any notion of a possible lack in my religious armour is laughable.

Let the “born again” ones bang their heads against the might of my defences! I have been conversion-proofed! I have the certificates to prove it!

So what to do when they bring up Jesus? I tell them my story. How I come from a long line of religious. I’ve been up the mountain, round the lough, down the catacombs and into the relics! And don’t bring up that original sin business; I got rid of that long ago.

But the Bible teaches that the reason we die has to do with sin[1]. The reason Jesus died proved that he was bearing our sin. The reason Jesus could rise from the grave proved that he had made atonement for our sin and was himself sinless[2]. To be saved from our sins, especially our unbelief[3] is why Jesus came to earth.

Believers are called to be witnesses to Jesus[4]; who he is; why he came; what he did; and how simple faith in him, in God’s eyes makes a sinner into a saint[5].

So if you are a believer – be what you are, a witness. If you are not a believer trust in Jesus who calls you to your true vocation to witness for him where he has placed you.

[1] Romans Chapter 6 verse 23.

[2] 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 21.

[3] St John’s Gospel Chapter 8 verse 24.

[4] Acts Chapter 1 verse 8.

[5] Philippians Chapter 4 verse 21.

The Gospel.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:27:11 GMT

There is an incident in the Bible where things couldn’t have gotten much worse. The enemy had laid siege to the city; starvation was at the door and four leprous beggars reckoned that they might as well flee to the enemy as they were bound to die if they stayed put. When they reached the enemy camp they found all had fled leaving everything behind. They decided to help themselves but their consciences intervened and they said, "We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves”. 2 Kings chapter 7 verse 9.

That was one sort of good news. Another occurs when the Apostles started preaching in Jerusalem after Jesus had risen from the dead. “They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts chapter 5 verse 42.

God had visited earth.

St Paul said it was of first importance that Christ died for our sins.

Now people have a hard time relating to that word “sins”. If you are Catholic you instinctively think of sex. If you are not a Catholic you think of the thing which currently bugs you! The net result, if anything, is that you embark on some self-improvement scheme. But the good news of the gospel requires you to look in the opposite direction. Not to yourself but to Christ. Not to your performance (or lack of it) but to the one who came to “save his people from their sins”. St Matthew’s Gospel chapter 1 verse 21.

You must turn away from the tendency to sift through the erratic behaviour of your life looking for some evidence that might convince you that, just maybe, you are heaven bound. Some acts of kindness that might tip the balance in your favour? But such thinking implies the Jesus work on the cross in bearing all your sin was somehow inadequate!

St Peter, speaking of the unique and exclusive nature of Jesus work put it like this; “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts Chapter 4 verse 12.

If you are not sure about your salvation you need to trust Christ completely.

If you are sure you need to be like the beggars and share the good news with others.

Penury, Piety and Pandemic.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:38:50 GMT

Penury.

The introduction of Nama (National Asset Management Agency) has produced a new type of insurance. It covers the debts of banks to provide security for depositors, shareholders and bank staff. It will deal with dodgy loans, declining assets and make payments to the banks in the hope that they will lend more wisely in the future. Who underwrites the risks at this insurance company? Nama of course. But Nama is not Manna. It is not a heavenly source but it is you, if you pay taxes, who will provide!

Piety

There is a darkness that shrouds us. It is not just that sexual abuse reports are exposing the rot but that the perpetuators (state and church) are in charge of fixing it. Not much prospect for a “Truth and Reconciliation” commission here. Who would be on it? Who is left to bring justice to the victims?

But worse than that unbelief stalks the land. It’s not just seen in the popularity of “new atheism” but in the laws being enacted which fly in the face of God’s law. The current Civil Union Bill capitulates to the gay lobby and fundamentally alters the definition of marriage. We sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind.

Pandemic

Just when we thought things could not get much worse we hear the sound of the whirlwind approaching. H1N1 (swine flu) started out in March from Mexico and has now visited 70 countries. It has hit the UK with more that 100,000 new cases weekly. Vaccines are being prepared and should be available around September. They should be successful in controlling the flu provided it does not mutate.

Conclusion

Destitution, godlessness and plagues, “we have had all these things before” you may say; and you would be right. But we are having them just now - and all together.

Saint Peter, speaking of the time Jesus would return said that “in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

Jesus spoke of the suddenness and certainty of his return when things will be set in order and cautioned his hearers to “be ready”. Read St Matthew chapter 24 verses 42-44.

Readiness comes by relating to him. Speak to him in prayer right now and ask him to make you ready.

The Body in the Boot

saibc@iol.ie — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:31:27 GMT

It was this week that Ngema, a South African illegal immigrant, was sentenced in the High Court in Edinburgh for the abduction of a fellow country woman Magdeline Makola (38). Ngema barely knew his victim whom he beat up, blindfolded and bound hand and foot, taping her mouth so she could not call out. He then placed her in the boot of her car and drove to Drumgelloch Station car park.

Having obtained a note of her credit card codes he then went off on a pre Christmas spending spree leaving her there in the car boot, in her night clothes, without food, water or heat in temperatures which, at times, fell below zero.

The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary reported her missing when she did not turn up for work and eventually the police found her car, noticed some movement, and broke into it. This was on St Stephen’s Day – some 10 days after she had been abducted.

At his trial Ngema claimed he carried out the crime because Magdeline had “dis-respected” him. The judge, Lord Menzies, was unimpressed, sentenced him to a minimum of eight years and imposed a life-long restriction order meaning that he will only be freed when the parole board decides it is safe. The judge added that it was particularly chilling that throughout the 10 days his victim was locked up Ngema continued to behave perfectly normally and calmly, enjoying the festive season.

What makes this case unusual is not the amazing feat of survival of the victim or the cynical cruelty of the perpetuator but the Christian qualities shown by Magdeline. She decided that she could either panic and die in fear or she could remain calm and pray to God for a good outcome. She chose the latter knowing that her family in South Africa would also be praying as would her local Baptist church in Livingstone.

When interviewed last week Magdeline said she felt nothing but pity for her kidnapper whom she forgave. Her prayer was now that, in prison, he would have time to repent and turn to the Lord.

Let us praise God and pray that her ongoing prayers may also be answered.

Snips.

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:11:31 GMT

“An Bord Snip Nua” has spoken! Apparently we cannot continue to borrow €400 million a week indefinitely! The Report deals with reality. Our Celtic tiger is dead and her cubs are running for court protection from overseas lenders. Our own banks, paralysed by debts and supported by the government’s life-line, can only hope and pray that things will get better through time.

The Report reveals the astonishing growth of the Public Sector with its multiple Agencies, Boards and Commissions. Many of these will be destined to close or merge and for others the terms and conditions of work will be snipped. A painful procedure for all concerned which is sure to sharpen the focus of those contemplating early retirement.

All this has taken the spotlight from our most heinous rapist who has just been sentenced to prison for 21 years. The man first achieved notoriety in what became known as the “C” case where the 13 year old girl was permitted by the court to travel to the UK for an abortion. She is now 25 and attended the court to hear sentence being passed on the same man, this time for the rape of an 86 year old woman. She said, on hearing the sentence “It kind of gave me a bit of relief when he got 21 years”. Relief has been in short supply over the last 12 years as she has tried to commit suicide on a number of occasions and still gets telephone death threats in the night.

What does the Bible have to say to a man who has destroyed women’s lives?

In Muslim countries rapists get short shift. The offender gets the snip or summary execution.

The Bible sometimes used figurative language but does not sanction mutilation.

The Good News of the Gospel is that Christ was mutilated for sinners – not the righteous.

St Paul couldn’t have put it any more plainly when he wrote that “God justifies the wicked” Romans chapter 4 verse 5. But how? When they repent is the answer.

What does repentance look like for us caught up in the collective greed of the Celtic tiger or the rapist? The same as for any other sinner – a heartfelt grief leading to a 180 degree change of direction. It starts with an admission of guilt something which was absent from our rapist and probably from you reading this blog!

It ends with a personal decision to renounce sin and to put your faith in God.

Its not penance, which is man’s attempt to balance the books by making amends. It’s seeing God place your sins on Christ and He willingly bearing them. Christ’s blood then cleansing the repentant sinner and presenting him faultless before God – a forgiven person.

St Paul’s 1st letter to the church at Corinth had rebuked them for their sins and in his 2^nd letter he rejoiced in their repentance; “I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Snips may be necessary in the short term but salvation is forever.

John Calvin

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:57:02 GMT

The 500^th anniversary of Calvin’s birth on Friday has added to the recent focus there has been on the teachings that bear his name. His theological writings, especially his seminal work “Institutes of the Christian Religion” have majorly impacted on the course of church history to this day.

Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over the other religious figures of the Reformation and even entire religious movements, such as Puritanism. His ideas have been cited as contributing to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the West.

His teaching on the sovereignty of God in Creation have found general acceptance, with the exception of some intellectuals who would deny the God who made them, but it’s his teaching on Redemption which has created the most controversy. Anyone who taught the salvation comes through faith alone in Jesus and not through anything we do directly attacks the pride of man and produces a negative reaction bearing out the text that says “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”.

Calvin maintained that God’s actions were free and that his grace (meaning God giving us what we do not deserve) was included in the freedom. The implication of free grace is that our destiny is in God’s hands. He is the one who decides who will be saved and that is a decision which God need not make in any single case.

When we sing “It’s all about you Jesus” you're on the road of saying it's not about your actions, your choosing, your resolve. Instead our faith needs to be centred on Jesus death, his bearing of sin and his resurrection demonstrating that the new way to God is now open through him.

If you are not staggered by the grace of God, is it because you have lost sight of it or never fully grasped where you would be without it? If this is so perhaps you should pray along these lines: -

Lord, you freely choose, at great cost to yourself, to show mercy and grace to every repentant sinner. Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Michael Jackson

saibc@iol.ie — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:21:19 GMT

Michael was a performer whose musicianship and agility put him in a class of his own. Self-styled the “King of Pop” he broke many records and created many incidents in a life hounded by the media. Even his death last Thursday is shrouded in intrigue.

His professional career started at age 11 with other members of his family and at 13 his talent was such that he went solo. He missed out on childhood and tried in vain to regain it through his “Neverland” ranch, pet zoos and children’s playgrounds.

His brilliant footwork when he “moon walked” in “Billie Jean” incurred many a sprained ankle as fans tried to copy him. Fortunately the fans didn’t try to copy his many facial makeovers!

Financial pressures are thought to have been behind his planned London concert in July. This was the first big event for a long time and all the 750,000 tickets for the 5 nights had been sold. The pressure on this perfectionist must have been intense and with the stress his emaciated body seems to have succumbed. He was not known to look after himself and despite the attendance of his private doctor it seems that his heart gave up.

What can we learn from this talented life lived largely in the media spotlight? Perhaps the first thing is the lesson Moses learned that glory fades. The radiance on his mountaintop experience did not last. Likewise talents are not intended to last forever. Comeback concerts rarely work. The question is how to make the most of talents while we’ve got them?

The Bible’s view is that we were designed to be under authority. We lack the power to control ourselves. Even Jesus when on earth submitted to the Father’s will – “for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me”.

When we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord we are simply recognising the need to turn from our own ways and surrender the control of our life to his ways. The psalmist put it simply “The Lord is my shepherd”.

Hand your talents back to God in prayer that he may use them to his glory. Your life of service will truly satisfy as you submit to his word and his ways.