Ocean Grave                   Word on the Week                     24^th June 2023.

This week tragedy befell the submersible, Ocean Gate, when it imploded deep under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.   Sadly, for the brave passengers, their expedition to the hulk of the Titanic was cut short with the loss of all on board.  

They understood the risks.   Indeed, it was partly the risks which drew them into the expedition.   The submersible had been there twice before.   As they signed the waiver (relieving others of responsibility) the high octane thrill of risk would have coursed through their veins.

Mountaineers know all about it as indeed do those ground breaking astronauts who hitch a ride on a rocket to outer space.    But while we have conquered mountains and somewhat conquered space, the ocean depth is proving more challenging for the present.

Not that there is a lot to see down there!   The expedition was bound for the wreck of the Titanic, itself a graveyard for many of its passengers and crew. One theory is that the previous trips had weakened the carbon fibre hull which collapsed under the extreme pressure of the ocean depth.   In true adventurer fashion the man who warned against repeated use of the craft was fired and further testing dispensed with!

But those who perished were by no means the first to ignore lifesaving advice.   The Bible tells us of one, Jesus, who descended from heaven to the lower earthly regions on a rescue mission – that the Gospel may be known through all the earth (Ephesians 4 verse 9).

He also knew what it was like to have good advice ignored by those who should have known better (St John 5 verses 36 to 40).   It’s not knowledge that we lack, it is the recognition that we can do nothing on our own.   We are dependent on our ‘mother ship’ not the Polar Prince but the Lord Jesus Christ.

We learn that the submersible lost contact with the mother ship when they descended into the abyss.   The Bible, referring to fruitful lives, states that without Jesus we can do nothing (St John 15 verse 5).   When we stop praying and reading the Bible we so easily lose contact with Jesus and imagine we can handle things on our own.

‘Light of the world You stepped down into darkness
Open my eyes let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you.’

Chris Tomlin’s song is a prayer for that communication which is the Christians life.   By faith in Jesus it can be yours.

Pride Month                     Word on the Week                     17^th June 2023.

Indicative of the long way the LGBT community have come in Ireland is the fact of June being designated as their month.   It is interesting to see the name ‘pride’ has been adopted to give those involved a feeling of self-worth.

Perhaps it has been lacking in the past where members of the LGBT have tended to be looked down upon by Cisgender people.   Cisgender is the term applied to those who have retained the gender assigned to them at birth. 

There is no doubt that the sexual revolution of recent years has forced some rethinking of issues previously put on the long finger.    The bizarre dress code of a Gay Parade is not so much a cry for help as a demand to be noticed and accepted – without trying to change them.

Previously acceptance was on traditional lines as LGBT people endured the difficulties of being part of our Christianised society but now with the fair wind of secularism at their backs those difficulties are disappearing as laws are changed to accommodate them.

The appearance of the rainbow flag of the community in many public and commercial places shows how much progress has been made in their ideology becoming accepted.   Before the Covid closedown, four years ago, 60,000 were attending the Dublin Gay Parade.   Next Saturday’s event in the city will probably exceed that number.

When the Apostle Paul was at Athens he was greatly distressed to see the city full of idols.   His reaction was to preach in the market place the good news of Jesus and the resurrection (Acts 17 verse16 to 31).  The good news was that Jesus the Son of God had shed his blood for sinner’s redemption (Romans 5 verse 8).  

The resurrection means that no matter how broken we are, LGBT or Cisgender alike, one day we can stand complete in Christ.    As the Apostle Peter puts it Jesus gives us new birth into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1 verse 3).

The gospel does not offer us a change of gender but a new birth.   This is not tinkering with our humanity but recognising that it’s the heart it is the source of our troubles.   Jesus said out of the heart come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, pride and folly (St Mark 7 verse 20).   That’s why we need a new birth.

And it’s available on placing your trust in Jesus.

It’s an Ill Weather                   Word on the Week                         3^rd June 2023.

It’s an ill weather, (or is it wind?) that does nobody any good!   Like underachieving children our Government makes climate promises which go unfilled.  In this case the promises of a carbon-free future are not enough to focus our minds on the target of 51% reduction in carbon by 2030 which, according to the EPA, we do not look like we are going to meet.

According to our Central Statistics Office the economy is growing.   This should be encouraging news but the Environmental Protection Agency has warned that increased activity means increased carbon making our targets, which we are failing to meet, already too low!

Apparently most sectors have underperformed.   The EPA names the usual suspects; Agriculture, Industry, Transport and Energy.   The two check points arise, one in 2025 and the other at the end of this period in 2030.  

If the measures already agreed were put in place, we may only have a small amount of carbon credits to buy from Nations who have a surplus.   On the other hand, if we continue as we are going, which is in the wrong direction, the cost could be very considerable.

It is not all bad news however.   The rising temperatures in the rest of Europe is making the climate unbearable in mid-summer.   We can expect tourists from the hotter parts to head for the more temperate regions, perhaps coming to our shores for their holidays!

There is a recurring video used by our Television suppliers of a cliff, composed of ice and snow, spectacularly collapsing into the sea.   It graphically represents the thawing of the ice cap at the North pole.   It is shown as a reminder of the loss of land to the sea in the arctic and is already encroaching upon citizens of poorer countries globally who live at the coast.

Do I hear someone say, “It’s not the end of the world” – no, it’s coming and in the meantime we have a moral duty to care for those who lose their home from rising tides.    They become someone’s refugees.

Unlike us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness.   He is patient with us not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3 verse 9).  We are told that the end will be fire not water so we are not there yet!   We are asked to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of the Lord and speed its coming (verses 11/12)

Donald McLeod                     Word on the Week                         27^th May 2023.

The death of Professor Donald McLeod last Sunday added to the pantheon of Christian exponents who have recently been called to higher service!   ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints’ (Psalm 116 verse 15).

He leaves a legacy of sermon recordings and writings which he sets out with sparkling clarity.   It’s not for nothing that he has been called ‘The People’s Theologian’.   God gave him the ability to make difficult things seem simple, without compromising their profundity.   He will be sadly missed.

He was born in the outer Hebrides on the Isle of Lewis in 1940 into a Christian family and educated in the renowned Nicholson Institute in Stornoway.   He did his theological training in the University of Glasgow.   I remember at the time he completed his doctoral thesis at the Free Church College in Edinburgh, that it was questioned whether there would be scholars qualified to assess his paper!

After serving as Minister in the remote village of Kilmallie near Fort William for eight years, then he was called to the large free Church in Glasgow known in 1972 as Partick Highland.   From there he was appointed professor of systematic theology at the Free Church College in 1978, a position he held for some 33 years.   During that period, he trained virtually all the Ministers in the Free Church!

As happens with people of ability there were those who took issue with him in his desire to modernise the Free Church.   They also took him to court over his conduct with women.   At the end of the lengthy trial the court found that “the women had all lied in the witness box to further the ends of Professor Macleod’s enemies in the Free Church of Scotland.”   This happened in 1996.

In 1999 McLeod became Principal of the Free Church College, a position he held till his retirement in 2010.

His writing was not without humour.   Reminiscing about his origins in the West Highland Free Press he claimed “At birth, the Maker dealt me a real duff hand.   I was born a Gael, a Calvinist and a Wee Free, a crippling triple whammy!   He overcame many challenges to produce great books!

‘Christ Crucified’ published in 2014 deals sublimely with the doctrine of atonement.   To conclude with an example from it of Christ’s substitution on the cross where literally ‘He died for me’.  The work is done.  He did it once for all time (Hebrews 7 verse 27).    Salvation!

Donald McLeod has completed his task and made it easier for us who follow.

Tim Keller                        Word on the Week                     20^th May 2023.

In the passing of Dr Tim Keller this week the evangelical community has lost a towering figure.   His stature came from his close walk with Jesus whom he portrayed in the most compelling language and actions.

Few can forget the superb Gospel illustrations he gleaned from the contemporary world of the arts, film and drama with which he presented the truth of Christ to a New York congregation.

Redeemer was the name of the church he planted, boldly stating the reason why Christ came to earth.   He gathered his congregation by travelling weekly from Philadelphia to New York to lunch with a contact.   During the meal Tim would share the Gospel and his vision of a new church specially for people like his new friend.

He would conclude by asking for two visiting cards.   These would be of people the diner thought would appreciate meeting Tim over lunch the following week.   This was how he built up a community and with the prayers of his friends in Philadelphia, Redeemer came into being.

His method of training disciples was also Gospel centered.   Candidates were invited to become part of the Redeemed staff for a year during which time they were to make their church planting plans known and encourage any in the congregation to join a new work.

Perhaps Tim is best known through his books and taped addresses.   He was a popular conference speaker who, along with Don Carson founded the Gospel Coalition.   The vision they held was that Gospel churches had more in common with each other than with their denomination.   The Gospel Partnerships these churches formed was a way to foster the Lord’s work without necessarily leaving their denomination.

Another part of his vision was the ‘City to City’ ministry.   He understood the similarities which exist between large cities.   Often they have more in common with each other than they have with their hinterland.    We have an example of this work in ‘The Third Way’ in Smithfield Dublin – a Christian space for Gospel work.

Perhaps the greatest asset in all his endeavours was his wife Kathy.   She shared her vision with Tim and the Lord used them greatly.   Our sympathy goes to her and their three sons on their great loss.

Then the king said to his soldiers, “You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today (2 Samuel 3 verse 38).

Gospel Progress              Word on the Week                     13^th May 2023.

There is a promise made by God early in the Bible which is being fulfilled as lives born into Adam are born again into Christ.   It is where Abraham passes the supreme test of his faith in the offer of his son and receives the promise “through your offspring all Nations will be blessed” (Genesis 22 verse17).

In God’s mercy one of these nations is Ireland and some of this blessing spilled out to the delight of the audience on Tuesday night when Baptist Missions reviewed a number of the Gospel advances made in the previous year.  These traced Bible study groups which have grown into church plants and obtained premises in the locality in which to meet together as a church.

People have put their faith in Christ, been baptised into the Triune Name and equipped by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord in their community.   All this is taking place against an increasingly hostile background as the culture follows the pervading ideology.       Traditional behaviour has been cast aside and new ‘norms’ established.   Some of these have been enshrined in law.

It was similar in Apostle Peter’s day; “And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”  And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2 verses 38 to 41).

The Gospel has always shined brighter against the prevailing darkness.  Overseas it makes the best advances where persecution is strongest as in China today.    The Gospel has prospered in the Southern Hemisphere as the promises made to Abraham are being fulfilled.

It is the proclaiming of Christ crucified that changes lives.  Christ the sinbearer who on the cross became the perfect sacrifice for sin.   By his death he purchased new life for the repentant believer.   This enables the Christian to walk in his ways along the narrow road that leads to life (St Matthew 7 verses 13/14).

Jesus shall reign where’re the sun, Doeth his successive journeys run.        

His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore,                                                      

Till moons shall wax and wane no more.                                                        

As Isaac Watts wrote paraphrasing Psalm 72 verse 8.  

There is a completeness to Christ’s reign to look forward to.   Praise God.

Royal Vows                      Word on the Week                     6^th May 2023.

A vow or oath is an instrument to put the one who makes it under stronger constraints to keep it than that person would have in its absence.    It emphasises the importance of following through with the task to its completion.

It is used in Law Courts to underline the importance of the spoken words.   These should be true and fulsome in their description of the matter in hand.

In an age where there is a propensity to lie the impact of the vow is weakened by the poverty of belief in the Bible over which the vow is made.   The ninth Commandment could be translated ‘do not lie’ (Exodus 20 verse 16).  Where no belief exists the Courts are prepared to accept an affirmation to speak the truth taking the wording from St Matthew 5 verses 33 to 37.

Most of us would be familiar with Marriage vows.   These are made before God and solemnly declare lifelong love and faithfulness to one another.   The vow usually contains the line to forsaking all others and to make one’s allegiance to each other alone.   There is also the promise to care for any children.  This is a Marriage covenant and is “till death do us part” i.e. for life.

This gives a glorious certainty to the union in which love can grow and prosper as the years go by.    Sadly, today the more common option is the marriage contract.   In this case vows are taken to abide by the contract so long as it fulfils my desire.   This inevitably permits a selfish element to be introduced and the sense of permanency is lost.

In becoming King of England this Saturday Charles will be required to take the monarch’s vows.    He is at a disadvantage as he does not have his Mother’s strong Christian faith.    Despite this he is expected to be a “defender of the faith”.   He has stated he wants the word faith to be in the plural to encompass all the faiths in his kingdom.  This is not possible as they are mutually exclusive.

Charles will automatically become supreme governor of the Church of England upon his coronation.   This he accepts on oath.   The copy of the Bible which the Presbyterian Minister gave him came with this citation: –        To keep you ever mindful of the Law and Gospel of God as the rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, receive this Book the most valuable thing that this world has to offer: –

Here is wisdom: –

This is the royal Law: – 

These are the lively oracles of God.

May the King and may we find it to be so, by God’s grace, in our lives.

The Lord Reigns                    Word on the Week                         29^th April 2023.

We live in a world inhabited by Lilliputians!   Little people who live to make a mess of God’s world and create a chaotic replica of their own.  Today let us affirm the great declaration first made by Moses in Miriam’s song, “The Lord shall reign for ever and ever” (Exodus 15 verse 18).

At present he reigns unseen to the human eye but is very present to the eye of faith.  His purposes to redeem a people for himself will be accomplished in his time and by his way.     And the way is through Jesus who himself is the way (John 14 Verse 6).   Then the end shall come (1 Corinthians 15 verse 24).

Earthly Kings were never God’s intention in fact he warns against the monarchy foreseeing its abuses (1 Samuel 8 verses 5 to 9).   Never-the-less we are asked to pray for Kings and those in Authority (1 Timothy 2 verse 1).

Perhaps the most comprehensive of all Biblical prayers is that of Solomon on the occasion of his coronation (1 Kings 8 verses 20 to 61).   It was uttered in the newly consecrated temple with the ark of the Lord’s covenant in its Holy Place in the inner sanctuary.  

As the priests withdrew from the Holy Place they could not perform their service as the cloud of the Lord’s glory filled the temple (1 Kings 8 verses 6 to 11).  A pale reflection of this scene will be enacted in Westminster Abbey this coming Saturday when Charles 111 will be crowned king in place of his late mother Queen Elizabeth.

The monarchy reaches back to the legendary King Arthur of the fifth or sixth centuries.   The tradition itself goes back to the time of Solomon and Zadok the priest. It has been drawn upon by G F Handel in his coronation anthem “God save the King”.   It was first played at the coronation of the German ruler from Hanover who became King George11 of Great Britain in 1727.

As an extra layer of ‘spiritual authority’ to the proceedings Charles will be anointed with ‘holy oil’.   This oil has been consecrated at a ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.   The act of anointing Charles will be conducted by Archbishop Welby in private before the crowning takes place.

It is easy to get carried away by the pomp and pageantry of the occasion.   One could even forget that, wonderful though the ceremonies are, over and above it all it is the Lord who reigns.  

What we do on earth is but a shadow of that great multitude of the little people who in Christ have overcome the evil of this world and gather at the throne of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.   They are his chosen and faithful followers from every tongue and tribe and nation (Revelation 17 verse 14 and 7 verse 9).

Let us wish Charles as fruitful a reign as his Mother had and sing with a depth of meaning the line “God save the King”.

Abortion Law Review            Word on the Week                         22^nd April 2023.

It came as a bit of a jolt to learn that on average 23 Irish babies are aborted every week.   That is a lot of funerals except that they are mostly dispensed with.    The child may not even get a name in this life although he or she may well have a place of honour in the next (St Matthew 19 verse 14).

What is our Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly, doing to bring this figure down?   What assistance will he offer to the stressed Mother to retain her child?   Will he unveil a range of measures to assist the Mother to do her job – that is to give birth and support the child?

It seems like he has other ideas.   Armed with the promised 3-year review; a production which seems to be highly biased towards the ‘Pro Choice’ Movement.   He plans to bring it before cabinet this coming week.  

A major change suggested in the review is the removal of the 3-day reflection period before getting access to abortion medication.  This was to enable the Mother to weigh up her options without being under time pressure.  Back in the campaigning days it seemed more humane enabling waverers to vote for the introduction of abortion 3 years ago.  It’s to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s credit that he does not want this removed in the present review.

On the side of the Medics there are a number who have conscientious objections.   This is not surprising as they are in the business of preserving life not to take it.   Apparently a team from TCD is researching this matter!

There is money in abortion of course and it is no doubt that is why the pro-choice have no shortage of funding.   In fact, with euthanasia down the road the death business has never looked better!    We don’t need to look to the US to see how things could go.   The Netherlands and Belgium are examples of both abortion and euthanasia business on our doorstep.

In an attempt to alert Government to the strength of ‘Pro-Life’ feeling that exists, please plan to attend the Rally on Monday 1^st May at 2.00 pm.  It is on the May Bank Holiday (a week on Monday) marching from St Stephen’s Green to Leinster House.

Jesus came across many cases of people who would have been aborted in today’s climate because of their physical challenges.   Take the case of the paraplegic.   His remedy was not extermination but healing (St Luke 5 Verse 24).   In this Jesus showed he was – the Messiah, and gave a foretaste of forgiveness and the life to come.

Life is precious.   The vulnerable need our care.

Potus                      Word on the Week          15^th April 2023.

It’s not every week that we learn a new word but then it’s not every week the President Of The United States spends four days in Ireland!   It takes a moment or two for the penny to drop and then someone mentions the word ‘acronym’ and the problem is solved!

It’s probably the most expensive Irish interlude ever.   The ‘Presidents Men’ were legion and their transport awesome.   They paid the not inconsiderable policing bill and took over the Conrad Hilton Hotel. What’s more they probably filled it!

The reason for the visit was to celebrate 25 years of peace following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.   Ongoing difficulties made the celebration less wholehearted but Joe Biden gladly made use of the space afforded to extol the merits of having Irish ancestry!

In the numerous speeches that punctuated the visit we got many quotations from Mother Biden and her predecessors.   These focussed around the shared values we have with the US.   Those values were named as being Hope in the heart, Dignity or Respect for Immigrants and Manual Workers, and Possibilities which were defined as having Courage in Faith.

Biden’s faith was evident in his speeches and exhortations but never more evident than when he learned the Priest who administered the last rites to his son was in the area.   “I must meet him” was his immediate response and the subsequent meeting brought him comfort.   He called the incident a sign.  

The proclamation of his faith in God, his upholding of family values, his pride in his ancestry, his belief in the hereafter are all delightfully Biblical and counter-cultural in today’s world.  You have to be a cynical journalist to read into them some sort of vote collecting exercise.   The man was enjoying himself doing things he considered to be important in the land of his forebears. In a broken world the Potus is not perfect.  The surprise is that he is not what we have come to expect from leaders – power hungry and bent on control.   Here is part of a Prayer of Moses the Man of God.  Psalm 90.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 

You return man to dust

and say, “Return, O children of man!”

For a thousand years in your sight

are but as yesterday when it is past,

or as a watch in the night.

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,

like grass that is renewed in the morning: 

in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;

in the evening it fades and withers.

… So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.