Farming for Nature               Word on the Week                19^th September 2020.

Write something cheerful she said as we contemplated the Dublin lockdown which had separated the family into two halves.   And with the Covid infection rate fast increasing in the capital it would seem that we have got the better of this deal!

There are worse places to be in lockdown as we discovered when we were restricted to Co Kildare for a couple of weeks in August.   What make it more interesting is that we are wilding a portion of the farm. We can anticipate an increase in flora and fauna as growth occurs.

We have had a number of schemes on the farm over the years and the improvements are becoming evident.   The streams and river have been fenced from the land they flow through and the water is cleaner.   The river banks have grown trees, mainly Alder, and other plants have taken root in the safe environment.

The other spur to wilding has been the dramatic decline in wildlife largely as a result of modern farming methods.   These have not always been kind to the land with the introduction of heavy machinery that require large open spaces and the removal of hedges to operate efficiently.

The warmer and sometimes wetter climate has created challenges for both the farmer and nature.    The fight back against this decline has had some success with some bird species which were threatened with extinction in Ireland.  

Farming for Nature has an annual competition at which the public are invited to vote for the farm making the best attempt at wilding.   Those entering their farms are judged by the public on the basis of an exhibit video which the farmer explains on the internet.   Anyone can take part as this is an effort to raise the awareness of the need for conservation.

If Adam had entered this competition, he would have won hands down.   He knew his stock – he had named them!   The well-watered garden of Eden had every plant and tree.    The Lord made a boundary separating the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.   This was not a physical boundary but a moral one which out first parents transgressed bringing sin and death to the world.

Christ has restored what Adam lost and ushers in the Gospel age where the children of Adam may become by God’s grace the children of Christ (1 Corinthians Chapter 15 verses 21 to 28).  

Good Grief                       Word on the Week                    12^th September 2020.

The title of today’s blog was immortalised for those of a certain age in Charles Schulz’s character Charlie Brown.   Charlie featured in the cartoon ‘Peanuts’ and the expression ‘Good Grief’ expressed his frustration at being continually upstaged by his companions and life in general.

The ‘good grief’ we learned about today at the Church in Chains webinar was of a different order.   It was emphasised by Jesus during his last week before the Cross, ‘Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy’ (St John Chapter 16 verse 22).

This grief is being experienced in many parts of the world but no-where more single-mindedly than Pakistan.   Imtiaz Ashraf is from Pakistan and was the speaker today.   He spoke of Zafar Bhatti, a Christian, who has spent the last 7 years in Rawalpindi prison where he is serving a life sentence.  

He was found guilty of breaking the blasphemy law by sending blasphemous text messages on his smart phone.   The fact that the phone was not registered in his name and did not belong to him was dismissed by the corrupt judge.   His appeals against his sentence have been adjourned repeatedly.   A verdict of not guilty by the appeal judge would place the judge’s life in danger. Indeed, such is the level of hatred that if Zafar was released he would have to go into hiding and eventually get out of the country for fear of his life.

Jesus said, ‘If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first   If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.… But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason’ (St John Chapter 15 verses 18 to 25 & Psalm 35 verse 19).

Imagine your teenage daughter was abducted and you knew only too well why she had been taken.   Your loss would be compounded by the fact that she would be married to a Muslim and forced to convert to that religion.   The law is not on your side.   You don’t know where she is.

This is not an isolated case.   Grief for being a Christian.  ‘Good grief’ because it comes from following Jesus (1 St Peter chapter 1 verse 6).    

What are we supposed to do about it?   Perhaps follow the writer of Hebrews suggestion: – ‘Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering (Chapter 13 verse 3).

And if we really want to share in their grief get information from www.churchinchains.ie    Just as there is grief so too there will be joy!

Jehovah Tsidkenu             Word on the Week                       5^th September 2020.

When something like the passing of a loved one breaks into otherwise tranquil lives a choice presents itself.   We can stoically carry on bottling our grief or we can express it with the full range of emotions we humans are capable of showing.   In addition, Christians have the consolation of worshipping a risen Saviour one who has gone through death to life everlasting (Daniel chapter 12 verse 2).

Today’s heading translates to ‘the Lord is our Righteousness’ and speaks of the eternal security evoked by this name of God (Jeremiah Chapter 23 verses 5 and 6).   Jeremiah further explains that one of David’s line will come who will do ‘what is just and right in the land’ (Chapter 33 verses 14 to 16).   This, of course, is Jesus who lived a perfectly righteous life on earth.   Even his enemies could find no fault in him (St John Chapter 18 verse 38).

This incarnation of Jehovah Tsidkenu is the Lord Jesus in whom there was no sin (1 Peter Chapter 2 verse 22) and who perfectly reflected God’s nature (Hebrews Chapter 1 verse 3).   The amazing truth is that faith in Jesus gifts the believer with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4 verses 5 and 6).

A story may help to illustrate.   A wealthy man had a son who was disobedient.   In writing his will the father decided to leave all his wealth to his steward.   Upon his death the will was read to the astonishment of the son and the jubilation of the steward.   There was however a codicil to the will.  The father on his deathbed had added a clause giving the son just one request.   The son requested that the steward become his steward for life!

Notice – the son had no merit of his own.   The father’s codicil was an act of sheer grace i.e. there was no obligation to add it to the will.   The son without paying a cent, inherited it all.

The believer in Christ has nothing to impress the Lord with.   He deserves disapproval.   The reverse happens and by God’s grace Christ’s righteousness is laid to his account so that in God’s sight he or she is now even as Christ is (2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 21).

Charles Wesley caught this wonderful truth in his hymn ‘’Tis finished! The Messiah dies, cut off for sins, but not His own’. The penultimate verse reads

Accepted in the Well-beloved,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
I see the bar to heaven removed;
And all Thy merits, Lord, are mine.

The Christian can face death in the assurance that not only has his/her record been wiped clean but Jesus’s righteousness has been laid to his/her account.

What a glorious salvation!    Embrace it and share it!

Peaceful Protest                   Word on the Week                     29^th August 2020.

Setting aside for the moment the mea culpa of the leading lights of Irish society attending a dinner in breach of the Government guidelines and looking at the more sinister events in Belarus and Washington.    In both places peaceful protests were made against Government wrongs.

The outcome, rather like the weaker dog which always loses the dogfight, is the clearing of the streets by superiorly equipped police or military forces.   The Leader wants to remain and is prepared to sacrifice protesters safety for personal power.

The flashpoint is regularly created by elections.   They, in a democracy, provide a way of expressing approval or disapproval of the candidates.    It invariably becomes more difficult if the candidate has had a taste of power and wishes to retain it at all costs!

The avenues open to the protesters are limited.   Their voice and the voices of those who represent them are seldom heard.   Taking to the streets is a high risk strategy.   Those defending law and order can so easily turn a peaceful march into a riot with a few well aimed rubber (or metal) bullets.   Conversely a peaceful protest can become a major disturbance if it is hi-jacked by an extreme group intent upon destruction.

There were plenty of disturbances during Jesus’s time on earth.    His preaching to crowds was always carried out in open areas away from cities.    His main problem was restraining the crowds desire to make him their leader.   His kingdom was not to be over territory but the hearts and lives of those who became his followers.

The authorities recognised his leadership and as so often happens saw it as a threat to their getting their own way.   They conspired to do, what is not uncommon today, and have him killed.   This had to be done cautiously as Jesus was popular with the ‘common’ people (Matthew 26 verses 3 to 5).

In the event they need not have been concerned.   Jesus walked into Jerusalem as a lamb to the slaughter.   He was aware of the unity among the authorities that he should die.   He also knew that his death was in the plan for his peoples’ redemption (St Matthew 26 verse 2) (Romans 8 verse 32).     So how could this be? 

It was Passover.   Jerusalem would have been full of lambs, prepared for sacrifice.   The priest would lay his hand on the head of the lamb symbolising that the donors sins were transferred to the sacrifice and their guilt was purged (1 Peter 2 verse 24).

Jesus, our lamb, carried the sins of his people in his body on the cross.   The emblems of sin, the thorns, were unwittingly placed on his head by the Roman soldiers and his atoning blood ran down the cross cancelling our sin (Genesis 3 verses 18) (2 Corinthians 5 verse 21).

Do any modern leaders come near such sacrificial living, such love?   Do we?

Storm Ellen                      Word on the Week                    22nd August 2020.

The first of the Autumn storms rolled in from the Atlantic this week.   Since they are named alphabetically by the Meteorological Office and ‘E’ is the 5^th letter we must have suffered four such storms earlier this year.   The Met Office in the UK names the storms which affect the UK and the Irish Met Office has the doubtful privilege of naming those which first impinge upon our shores.   Hence the more Irish name of ‘Ellen’.

The South coast bore the brunt of the storm as it made landfall in Co Cork.   A wind speed of 145Km/Hr or 90 mph brought down many electricity wires and left about 194,000 properties affected by power outages.    The network was also damaged by uprooted trees which were particularly vulnerable to the wind having maximum foliage at this time of year.

Ellen also brought flooding as it was accompanied by torrential rain and, in coastal areas, Spring tides added to the deluge.    It is hard for the authorities to prepare adequately for these storms as they are becoming more severe and can appear out of their normal season.   Flood insurance cannot be purchased for properties built on floodplains.   Cover can be bought where there has been little or no history of flooding. Global warming has made it prudent to do so.

These things add to the stress created by a surge in reported Covid cases.   New restrictions have been imposed to limit the number attending gatherings and social distancing and mask wearing are among the continuing rules to try to limit the spread of the virus.      

So far there has been an absence of blame for our increasing numbers of victims to the disease.    We do have an increasingly aware public, quick to pounce on those flouting the rules especially where those involved are themselves part of the authority that created them i.e. members of Government.

Storms and pandemics – is God in control of the world?   Most certainly!   Can we blame God for either purposing or permitting these things to happen?   Not at all!  

The following remarks are addressed to believers living in disobedience.   “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Colossians Chapter 3 verses 5 – 10).

The reason these things are happening has everything to do with the failure of Christians to live the new life we have been given.  The remedy – read verses 11 -17.

Chinese Overseas Christian Church   Word on the Week   15^th August 2020.

The COCM was founded 70 years ago by Stephen Wang.   Next Saturday the anniversary will be marked by a zoom broadcast.   It is good in the midst of our anniversaries’ commemorations to remember one which marks the establishment of Christian Churches and not wars!

It started in the will of God when an 8-year-old boy got into trouble for throwing stones at a missionary’s son in their village in rural China.  This led to Yu-teh being taken in to the mission house and the son asked to apologise.   This was the opposite of what Yu-teh expected and soon the boys became friends and joined the Sunday school where he shone as a pupil.

Later Yu-teh asked the missionary how he could become a Christian and by God’s grace he put his trust in Christ.   He was a bright boy and his father was persuaded to take him to school in Peking.  There he excelled and won a scholarship to Yenching university and adopted the name Stephen.  Some years after graduation he was appointed headmaster of Tangshan Methodist school.

During the war years of Japanese occupation, he had to depend of God to overcome many difficulties.  This prepared him for the missionary life which was to follow.   In 1948 the church the Peking sent him to the UK.   There he was introduced to the China Inland Mission who had brought the gospel to large tracts of China.   As communism had closed China to missionaries Stephen suggested the mission work be directed to the Chinese in Europe who were ‘like sheep without a shepherd’.

In the event things turned out differently and the Chinese Overseas Christian Church was founded with Stephen Wang as its first director.  From its first church planted in London in January 1951 there are now 400 churches planted throughout Europe.    That does not include the independent Chinese Churches. We have two in Dublin with two church plants in Athlone and Limerick.

The evangelist I knew best was Frank Cheung.   He arrived in the UK in 1948 with only a few coppers in his pocket.   This became his opening line when meeting new Chinese Restaurant owners.   Most of them had little more but all had a strong work ethic.   Frank himself had two restaurants in Birmingham before he sold them to become itinerant evangelist with COCM.

Another was Wai Leong an accountant who now works in Bahrain with OM.   He helped to develop the Dublin work.   I remember his farewell address to the students of the then Chinese Christian Fellowship “Let no man despise your youth but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy Chapter 4 Verse12).  This was back in the mid 80ies.

In those days there were the English speaking and Mandarin speaking groups which developed, under the guiding hand of Cedric Chau, till today we have two flourishing churches in Dublin.    We also have a full time COCM worker in Ghee Seng who amongst other things is involved in a church plant in Cork.

A lot has happened since a little boy was caught throwing stones in China!                          To God be the Glory.

John Hume                             Word on the Week                              8^th August 2020.

The death of John Hume this week produced an outpouring of gratitude the like of which he never experienced in his lifetime!   The Nobel Laureate and former Social Democrats leader was one of the architects of the North’s peace process and the 1998 Belfast Agreement.   He died at 83 and had been suffering for some time from dementia which eventually robbed him of his sight.

John realised that there would have to be consent before where could be any agreement and this was generally accepted.   As long as the struggle was for territory, which was the dominant view among nationalists, ‘it’s our land’ there would be no agreement.   As he understood it unity between people was the priority.

The first breakthrough came with the replacement of what had been near permanent Unionist majority rule in the North with a power-sharing Executive that would represent the two communities.    He also helped to promoted the creation of North-South institutions as a unifying factor in a much divided island.

There was a need to engage with the Sinn Fein who were supporting violence as a strategy for unity.    He had secret talks with Gerry Adams their leader.   When these were discovered mistrust flourished.   It was a torrid time when even his supportive wife, Pat, urged him to give up.

When attending one of the many funerals a young woman crossed the road and asked John keep going so that others would not have to bury their father as she had just done.    It moved him so much that it is reputed to be the one time he was seen to weep in public.

His peace strategy which respected difference gained acceptance in the USA among some of the top politicians.  He was able to turn the Irish-American fund raising efforts away from the purchase of arms towards a peaceful solution.   This eventually came with the Good-Friday or Belfast Agreement which brought about, amongst other things, a cease fire and the destruction of weapons.

Bono U2’s front man famously got Trimble and Hume to join hands on the stage of the Waterfront Hall in what became a successful effort to get the Good Friday referendum over the line.   This inclusive Agreement embraced the concept that land does not determine the identity of the people – it’s the people that determine the identity of the land and now that there was a unifying agreement in place progress could be made.

But it’s Hume’s speech at the EU in Strasburg after his award of the Nobel Peace Prize that succinctly spells out his thinking.   He commended the EU for demonstrating peace among countries who had killed millions in wars during the 1900’s.  He reckoned this to be an example to the world and the EU should send philosophies not armies to conflict areas.

There would have been a sharp inrush of breath when he went on to say “All conflict is about the same thing!”   This he summed up as “Seeing difference as a threat.  Race, Religion and Nationality he claimed are accidents of birth.   It’s not something we should engage in conflict about its something we should respect.”

Our Creator God made us the way we are in order that we might seek and find Him. This seeking involved turning from sinful ways in repentance and faith (Acts Chapter 17 verses 26 to 34).   It is Christianity that gives us the basis for that respect of others i.e. all made in God’s image. John Hume wore himself out in the cause of Irish unity.  May he rest in peace

Religious Ceremonies during Covid        Word on the Week            1^st August 2020.

Eid-al-Adha in Croke Park.   A celebration of Islam on the revered turf.   The age of inclusion has arrived almost without warning!    The Muslim “festival of sacrifice” was a bloodless one last Friday at least any sacrificing was done outside the park.

The festival marks the end of the Hajj season of pilgrimages.   It provides an opportunity for families and communities to come together for prayers and feasting. Goats, cows and lambs are sacrificed and the meat is shared with the poor.

Abraham’s planned sacrifice of his son is being commemorated.   God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his only son, who had been miraculously born to his elderly wife Sarah.   In his struggle to reconcile God’s demands with the promise that he would be the father of a multitude Abraham reasoned that God could bring the boy back from the dead.    What actually happened was a ram, caught by its horns in a nearby thicket, became the substitute sacrifice (Genesis Chapter 22 verses 1 – 18 and Hebrews Chapter 11 verses 17 -19).

There are a few differences with Christianity.   Muslims say Ismael Abraham’s son by his wife’s servant was offered.    But this was the son of disobedience.   The product of Abraham, taking matters into his own hands and at his wife’s instigation, committed adultery with Hagar the maid-servant (Genesis Chapter 16 verses 1 – 4).

Christians believe that Isaac, the son of promise, was the son God used to test Abraham’s faith.   He was the son of faith.  Born out of union with his wife Sarah who was 90 years old.   Born when Abraham was age 100 and Ishmael was 14 years old (Genesis Chapter 17 verses 25 – 26).

Unlike Ishmael’s birth which was natural Isaac’s birth was supernatural.    Both parents were well past childbearing age so that Isaac’s birth and his name, foretold by angelic heavenly visitors one year before Isaac’s birth, was the fulfilling of a miracle (Genesis Chapter 18 verse 10).

It was through Isaac’s line that a peasant girl of the tribe of Judah named Mary, by God’s grace, gave birth to a son.   This too was a miraculous birth.   The angel gave the name to Joseph, Mary’s engaged, of Jesus which means saviour.   He was to be given that name because he would save his people from their sins (St Matthew Chapter 1 verses 20 – 21).  

This work to provide salvation was completed on the cross where Jesus hung as the sacrifice given by the Father.   This time there was no substitute.   Jesus was there as our substitute.    He was dying in the sinner’s place.   The Shepherd becomes the Lamb.  Sacrificed for us once for all time (Isaiah Chapter 53 verses 4 -6 and Hebrews Chapter 9 verses 28 -28).

Jesus gives the invitation to you whatever your background to turn to Him and find rest for your soul – the rest of redemption (St Matthew Chapter 11 verses 28 – 30).   The offer is for you today.

The Taking of Oaths             Word on the Week                          25^th July 2020.

The Government pledged this week to replace the taking of oaths in Courts with “a statement of truth”.    We wish them well with this new effort to extract the truth from the accused, witnesses and all who take the stand.    There has always been the impression of inadequacy, rather than effectiveness, that swearing on the Bible had in extracting truth!

In the Bible we find the 3^rd commandment is allocated to truth-telling; “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus Chapter 20 verse 7). 

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus focused on the meaning behind the 3^rd commandment which was not to tell lies then attempt to make them ‘sound authentic’ by using the Lord’s name.  

Jesus commented on this in his sermon when he said “you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfil to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all… all you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one (St Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 to 37).

It is good to see Atheist Ireland on the same page as Jesus when it comes to oaths taken in the Lord’s name.   In a recent letter to the press they want rid of them!   Let’s look for a moment at the reason for oaths.   They are to put the person taking the oath under greater constraints to tell the truth.   There is a penalty available if the oath is broken by lying.   This is the crime of perjury but it is seldom invoked.

It is more common the hear oaths in the form of swear words.   These often incorporate the Lord’s name or the more basic bodily functions.    They can form part of a person’s vocabulary from their early years and expand till they become almost indispensable.

When a person comes to believe in Christ the Holy Spirit is involved in making adjustments in the areas of thought, word and actions.   One of the things that comes from the realisation that Jesus died for you is that you don’t want to let him down.    One of the easiest ways to do just that is like St Peter with oaths and curses (St Matthew Chapter 26 verse 74).   Perhaps that’s why cleaning up the new believer’s language is one of the first signs of the Holy Spirit’s work (Galatians Chapter 5 verse 22).

Whatever the Government puts in place of religious oaths the follower of Jesus will answer to a higher power and will let his/her Yes be Yes and No be No.

Jack Charlton                         Word on the Week                          18^th July 2020.

The death of Jack Charlton at the end of last week brought back a flood of sporting memories from the glory days of Irish soccer.   Never was an Englishman so loved by an Irish sporting population which had grown up to dislike all things English.   It was a wonderful paradox!

Jack came from ‘Geordie’ stock.   He and his brother Bobby (later to play for England) were taught the elements of ball control in the lane behind their house by their Mother!   His father worked in the coal mine but showed no interest in soccer.   He had Uncles who played for well-known clubs and to some extent football was in his DNA.

Consistency marked out his career.   Most of his life as a player was spent with Leeds United.   By the time he retired he had played 773 games with them.   It was his proud boast that he was never once substituted!    

We lived in Leeds during the heady days of 1968 -71 and saw him play at their grounds at Elland Road.    His size 6 feet 3 inches made him an unmistakable figure on the pitch.   Verna Wright, Professor of Rheumatology at Leeds University was permitted to inject the team’s knees with a serum as part of its field trials.   It was reckoned jovially that the players could out-run their opponents as a result!

Jack moved into management and after successfully improving the position of a couple of clubs was invited to become manager of the Irish National team.    This was 1986.   It was to be the start of a 10-year period which saw the Irish team achieve great things.   From the start Jack put his stamp on the way things were done.   On the field his catch-phrase “put ‘em under pressure” paid dividends.   It led the team into two World Cup tournaments reaching the quarter finals in the second. 

In those days I was working in the Irish Life building and can vividly recall when, after lunch, someone ‘accidently’ switched on the loudspeaker and the theme song “Olay; olay, olay, olay – olay, olay” galvanised the many supporters in the hall!    There is no doubt that sport, played well on the international stage, has the power to lift the moral of a nation.

But Jesus didn’t die simply to lift the moral of any Nation.   His death was the gateway for many to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14 verses 21 – 22).   Isaiah writing regarding the Israel of God, the redeemed, spoke of “everlasting joy shall be upon their heads” (Chapter 35 verses 8 – 10).

While we fondly remember Jack and the good times we will eventually forget.  The joy of salvation lasts forever.   Jesus said, Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (St John Chapter 5 verse 24).