Roe v Wade Debacle Word on the Week 25th February 2017.
There were two important funerals this week. They indicated the end of a sad chapter in social affairs on both sides of the Atlantic. Unfortunately the damage done continues to destroy lives despite the fact that both the deceased wished they could have not done what they did!

Cardinal Connell, who was buried yesterday, was catapulted into the 21st Century when he saw the RTE programme ‘Cardinal Secrets’ in 2002. His own secrets, largely sins of omission, were soon to be uncovered. He protected his Priests against the child abuse charges and used what he called ‘mental reservation’ to justify remarks which proved false. He later expressed bitter regret and ‘asked for forgiveness from those so shamefully harmed’.

It must have been a lonely place officiating at his funeral and Archbishop Martin was grateful for the Anglican Archbishop Michael Jackson presence.

The other funeral that of Norma McCorvey, took place in the USA. Norma had a difficult childhood. Her father deserted the family and the mother was an alcoholic. When she was 10 she stole money and ran away with a girlfriend, was caught and spent the next 6 years in State Institutions. She described this time as the happiest of her life. An unfortunate marriage followed when she was beaten by her husband both before and after her pregnancy. She left the marriage, gave birth to Melissa (who was later adopted by her mother), began drinking heavily and came out as a lesbian.

She had a second child at 18 which she had adopted. On becoming pregnant again she looked for an abortion claiming that she had been raped in the hope of obtaining a legal abortion. This failed and she ended up with Attorneys who took a case (she was given the alias of Jane Roe) against the Dallas County District Attorney, Henry Wade. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court where on a 7 – 2 majority the path was cleared for abortion (with certain restrictions) to become a fundamental right under the U S Constitution. The baby at the centre of the case had long since been born and given up for adoption. Norma lived with her partner counselling in pro-abortion clinics, confessed that she had lied about being raped and attended pro-choice Rally’s.

In 1994 she published her autobiography and claimed to be a born-again Christian. She campaigned against abortion and after her second book she renounced lesbianism. She converted to Catholicism, testified before the Senate and continued to petition the Supreme Court to undo their decision. She remained active protesting against Obama’s pro-abortion stance. No doubt, like the Archbishop, she would have wished to have done things in her life differently.

In the Bible the main character who would have liked to have done things differently was Judas. After his betrayal of Jesus for the price of a slave (30 pieces of silver) he repented and brought the money back to the Priests and Elders who refused to take it. Judas threw the money into the Temple and with no one to turn to, committed suicide (St Matthew Chapter 27 verses 3-5).

Fortunately both Desmond Connell and Norma McCorvey had someone to turn to namely the Lord Jesus Christ. We also can read and believe the invitation, “Turn to me and be saved all you ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other” (Isaiah Chapter 45 verse 22). There is no class or creed barriers nor does it matter what your station is in life – it is inclusive. And it reaches to you – trust Jesus.

This week, like many others, we were involved in a count of garden birds. The event was organised for the totality of these islands which, apparently, have been blessed by a great variety of species. Betty compiled the results as the view from the kitchen window covers nearly all the angles where they feed or roost.
The secret to a spectacular bird show is a plentiful supply of food. It is a far cry from the days when the shaken out tablecloth provided the scanty supply of crumbs and that was their lot! There has to be some investment in the appropriate bird feeders to match the types of seeds used if spillage is to be avoided.
There will always be some seed fall to the ground as, the truth to tell, birds have poor table manners. They spill a lot! But none of it is wasted thanks to the ground feeders of which the chaffinch is perhaps the most industrious. These work tirelessly in retrieving spilt seed and all the time keep an eye cocked for the sparrow hawk. He has not been much in evidence this year but when he makes an appearance can be quite lethal. He takes no prisoners and once the claws fasten their grip the prey becomes a meal in a matter of seconds.
Our count was permitted to record activity in adjoining farmland and as Stephen had spread some slurry there was plenty to record. Chief among those feeding were mixed flocks of starling, fieldfare and redwing. The former separate at dusk and engage in these aerobatic displays called murmurations.

The local Birdwatch group visited the farm with an Owl nest box which they fixed inside in the loft. This is quite a high dark place which can be accessed through an open window. Despite the fact we have not seen an owl on the farm the “Twitchers” were confident their large box (about the size of a tea-chest with openings) would prove irresistible to them!

This year we have attached our much smaller nesting boxes to the surrounding trees in good time as the unusually spring-like weather may hasten nesting activities. It is two years since we were able to watch Bluetits hatching on a camera wired to the TV screen. There is a fine balance between not disturbing the brood and becoming intrusive so we will be circumspect in using it if we use it at all.

Jesus used the sparrow, one of the smallest of birds, to show if God provides for their needs and is aware when one falls to the ground how much more will He care for us. In fact his intimate knowledge extends to knowing the number of hairs on our heads (St Luke Chapter 12 verses 4/7).
When St Peter had to learn to depend on Jesus and not on his own abilities Jesus used a cock whose crowing devastated Peter when he realised he had denied the one he loved (St Matthew chapter 26 verses 72/75).

This realisation of his fallibility became part of the foundation for his reinstatement when during an encounter with the risen Jesus on the beach his repentance became total – “Lord you know all things you know that I love you” (St John Chapter 21 verses 15/17).
May we, like Peter, know more and more of that utter dependence on the living, reigning Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

The 17th January is the date in 1945 when Auschwitz was liberated. It has become the Memorial Date to remember the greatest genocide the world has known. It is so necessary as in every generation since then there have been Holocaust deniers. People who continue to hate the Jews and would prefer to believe that the whole event was a figment of the imagination.
There are survivors of the death camps alive and able to testify to the truth of the slaughter but soon there will be no eyewitnesses. It is important that their stories are retained. Elie Wiesel himself a survivor, who got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his writings, died in 2016. He saw the struggle against indifference to the Holocaust as a struggle for peace.
If we do not remember we will not learn the lessons of history and the mistakes of the past recur in the present. It was in 1933 when Hitler came to power he set about winning the popular vote. His country was slowly emerging from the 1st World War and his vow was “to make Germany great again”. This he would do by getting rid of Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, communists and minorities that got in his way of producing the “Master Race”.
It was in January 1942 that Adolf Eichmann compiled the record of the Conference at Lake Wannsee where Hitler introduced his policy for the extermination of Jews and “unworthy” people. These were the handicapped, or sick, or had an inherited disease. At his trial in 1960 Eichmann showed no remorse and went to his grave in 1962 unrepentant. He likened himself to Pilate, washed his hands of wrongdoing as he was simply carrying out orders and felt “innocent of any guilt”.
This caused Billy Graham, the evangelist, to remark at the time, “People say Eichmann is finished” but they are wrong. Eichmann has gone to face judgement before a God who knows everything about him and who has the means of carrying out the ultimate sanction in hell. Indeed it is not for nothing that the key verse in Proverbs is “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Chapter 1 verse 7.
This fear is not the cringing of a coward but is reverend, respectful and humble before our Maker and Redeemer. It is the filial regard which pays respect to the Father not the fear of the criminal before his judge. This is the birthright of all who are born into the family of God. Those who have recognised the perfect love of God which drives out fear and replaces it with faith in Jesus, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the Day of Judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John Chapter 4 verse 17/19).
Holocaust reminders illustrate the depravity of man (of which we are all part) but Jesus died in our place and rose again that he might grant a place in his family to all who see their need of his forgiveness and put their trust in him following him in this life and into the next (1 Timothy Chapter 2 verse 15/16).

This blog could better be called “Word on the Inauguration” as the Word of God was quoted throughout. We have grown accustomed to secular ceremonies when politicians take office. In yesterday’s event a welcome preponderance of scripture was used in the inauguration of Donald J Trump.
Perhaps it was because of the cavalier nature of his campaign that we scrutinise him the more carefully but I do not recall any of the other presidents attending church before the ceremony. Trump took the family with him to a service. Perhaps the text was Ps. 133 verse 1, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” which he quoted in his speech when he appealed to the country to unite behind him.
Before introducing the religious figures a powerful reminder was given of the peaceful transference of power 58 times since 1789 when George Washington became the first President. It was he who remarked that the second inauguration would be more important than the first as one group of politicians was handing over the reins of government to another with whom they would not necessarily have much in common. A lesson in democracy to the watching world!
Cardinal Dolan led off with King Solomon’s prayer from the book of Wisdom for that wisdom which comes from above, “Send her from the holy heavens, down from your glorious throne, so that she may work at my side, and I may learn what pleases you” (Chapter 9 verse 10).
This was followed by readings from the Gospel – St Matthew Chapter 5 verses 3 – 16. Then we had Chuck Schumer, the only Democrat to speak, deliver a couple of political points before reaching a patriotic conclusion when the last letter of Sgt Sullivan Ballou was read. It was written to his wife Sarah on the 14th July 1861. In it he put his love of country first and expressed his readiness to die for its liberty. Indeed his words were prophetic as he was mortally wounded in the First Battle of Bull Run.
Franklin Graham (Billy’s son) read from 1st Timothy Chapter 2 Verses 1 – 6 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in very way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all – the testimony given in its proper time.”
With the example of the sacrifice of Sgt Ballou and the ransom of Christ ringing in his ears President Trump concluded his address with the affirmation the “we (the nation) will be protected by God”.
Let us pray for our leaders including those whose policies may well adversely affect our lives.

Future generations will marvel that we have thrown away morality in such a short space of time. Where we are now is a place our forebears could not have imagined. If it was not so serious the oft repeated phrase from the Laurel and Hardy films “That’s a fine mess you have got me into” could be the epitaph written over this generation.
It all started with neglect. Birth control was seen as a Catholic thing. We largely ignored the separation of sex from childbearing (1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 verses 3/8). Then along came the pill! The biological check on sex outside of marriage disappeared.
We neglected to apply the costly love of Church discipline in cases of adultery (St Matthew Chapter 19 verses 8/9). Divorce, with its allocation of guilt and cumbersome legal procedures, was there for a purpose. The dissolution of marriage is always a disaster (Malachi Chapter 2 verse 16). The increasing frequency produced a revolution in law to accommodate the demand.
Co-habitation has always existed but seldom met with approval and usually was turned into marriage. It was the tail that wagged the dog – now it has become the dog and marriage the tail! From marriage being the mark of adulthood, the God given arrangement for the good of society and the procreation of children, it has been driven to the margins.
The church finds itself also at the margin while the field has been left open to alter marriage. Same-sex marriage found its way smoothed to orthodoxy. Other permutations will soon follow. All this removes marriage from its place as one of the foundation blocks of society and replaces it with a societal soup.
It cannot be easy to be a person of marriageable age today. And for those who live by the Word of God, praying friends and a strong church are essential.
Christian men have an obligation to protect and look out for their women counterparts. The speed with which society has shed its morals has been fast and looks like getting faster as the numbers of amoral people grow. The advice the writer of Proverbs (4 v’s23/7) gave three millennial ago still applies:
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

Brexit may mean Brexit for Theresa May, the UK Prime Minister, but her failure to move from her “no going back on the decision to leave” slogan has created misgivings among many people.
The British ambassador to the EU, Ivan Rogers, is one of them. He handed in his resignation this week. In demitting office a year before he was due to retire he was highlighting his concern about “ill-founded arguments and muddled thinking” in government quarters. His previous warnings that some of the treaties may take 10 years to re-negotiate have been largely ignored. Someone needs to wake-up!
Ireland appears to have taken on the role of a spectator, a luxury we cannot afford when our largest trading partner has voted to leave the current trading agreements behind. The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, appears to be filling the role of ‘Minister Responsible’ himself. This would seem foolhardy in view of his own precarious position as head of an unstable coalition Government which is unlikely to outlast Brexit.
Of course there are the voices of common sense pointing out that the vote was only advisory. The legislation setting up the Referendum did not specify how a leave vote could be implemented. It does not have to take place. The Irish solution (acted upon twice) to have a second Referendum would require a good deal of humble pie to be eaten – something the Brits have little stomach for! If later this month the UK Supreme Court rules on the need for parliament’s approval the entire assembly will have an opportunity for mature reflection! But I fear the die is cast.
In addition to economic factors the inability to control the flow of immigrants was the trigger to leave the EU. The dangers of ISIS inspired people, both home-grown and immigrant, created genuine fears of attacks as seen in France and Germany. We are involved having the only border the UK has with the EU. The spectre of a return to the bad old days of border patrols, check-points, barriers and customs should deepen our interest in finding a better solution.
The rush to obtain Irish or UK passports underlines the uncertainty of the present situation. Freedom of travel, so much taken for granted, will get harder. Visas required to visit the UK perhaps? And what good is my UK passport in Ireland?
In this uncertain world, those who would believe in Jesus need to repent of their fears and realise that their citizenship is in heaven (Philippians Chapter 3 verse 20). It was procured at the Cross of Calvary by the death of Jesus on our behalf. The trouble with Brexit is that it can take our eyes of the Lord and onto our selves. The realisation that he has finished the work of salvation – our passport is secure (St John Chapter 19 verse 30)! All other passports have an expiry date. Turn and trust Jesus every day and all the days of your life on earth. Let’s hear it from Charles Wesley: –
Accepted in the Well-beloved, And clothed in righteousness divine,
I see the bar to heaven removed; And all Thy merits, Lord, are mine.

Going into a New Year is in some ways no different from any other Monday morning but it is a landmark. It may not be the most accurate way of numbering our days but there is no doubt it creates a new start, a blank page on which to write another chapter of your life story.
We don’t know what lies ahead any more that Abraham when he left home. “He went out not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 8). God said to go and he obeyed. No doubt he would have like a bit more information (as we would like to know in advance what is to happen in 2017) but it was enough for Abraham that God was in the driving seat.
As we move into another year of grace we need to check where God is sitting. Perhaps he is in the passenger seat of your car being listened to but not very often obeyed! Or, perish the thought, perhaps he is the spare tyre – only required in emergencies.
Abraham not only knew who was driving but he had faith in the driver. It is one thing to say that God is your driver but if the future scares you spitless then you don’t have much faith in his driving! What would faith in God look like for you as you motor through 2017 with all its frightening unknowns?
We go out into 2017 without knowing what it may hold for us. Some will have successes, others failures. There will be those in prefect health and others who have bodies that don’t do so well. There will be some who marry and have children and others who leave this scene of time. All will be older but will we be wiser?
St Peter says God has chosen us and enabled us to know him which has the effect of enabling us to escape much of the corruption of the world. He asks us to add to our faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter Chapter 1 verses 5/8).
A Happy and Faithful New Year to all.

“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down” was the heart-cry of the Prophet Isaiah as he echoed the cry of David. But their desire was for the conquest of their enemies. The assumption was that their enemies were God’s enemies and that their destruction would be in line with His will.
When that prayer was answered and God came down the contrast could scarcely have been greater

The angel said to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” The virgin had given birth. The family were homeless. The King wanted to kill him. A higher degree of vulnerability at his birth is hard to imagine.

And so it was in his ministry.

As Isaiah foretold: –
“I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory, and in his name the Gentiles will hope” (St Matthew Chapter 12 verses 18 – 21).

This contrast in our thinking championed by Isaiah and David (and most of us), with the will of God, is hard to imagine. And yet Isaiah should have remembered for he had taught: – “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord (Chapter 55 verse 8).

The different way of thinking showed itself when Peter cut off the High Priests’ servant’s ear, Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. All who take the sword will perish by the sword (St Matthew Chapter 26 verse 52).

In this world of many conflicts we need to see the vast difference in thinking between the “Military Solution” of the majority and the Christian way of the cross.
The promise “Behold I am coming soon” (Revelation Chapter 22 verse 12) is reinforced at the conclusion of the Book “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

It is always sad when death robs you of a friend and more so at this time of year. With the passing of Tony Curtis Grace has lost one of its more colourful characters. He was our nearest member living in the Markievicz Flats a couple of hundred metres from the Hall.

Like many of us Tony was his own worst enemy and latterly gave himself a lot of hardship. His health deteriorated and he was no longer to be found in his seat on the back row of the old hall. From there he would greet the children as they arrived and usually had some sweets for them. In addition he got sponsors for the Dublin Christian Mission’s annual children camps.

It was relatively late in life when Tony became active in United Beach Missions working on both the South and West coasts of Ireland. This earned him many friends and he enjoyed the Easter Speak-outs at Grace. There he was able to renew his acquaintance with many who he has met on Mission.
When he was in good health he seldom missed being in Church and would join the lunchtime prayer group on Wednesdays. He got to know many in Christian circles where he will be missed.
He lived his whole life in Dublin 2. His father had manned the barricades during the rising in 1916 gave him an interest in the history of the place. Driving back from our Home Group through the old streets he would give a running commentary of all the events that took place there in his childhood.
He could have written a book on the place but someone else beat him to it and the book that was in his head never got written.
Instead he wrote a Christian Tract which was his testimony and penned this biographical sketch of what was essentially a lonely life. But his claim was that he had Jesus for a companion!
Lonely, But not on my own.
May, June, July and August gone again but not memorable;
Save that I saw them go past the empty quays the rivers flow.
Look at the old house, outmoded, dignified, dark and untended;
With grass growing instead of the footsteps of life, the friendliness, the strife
In its beds have lain youth, love, age and pain.
I am something like that – lonely?
But not on my own.
There was a deep sadness there but he did not dwell on it. He read a lot of Christian books, had a good library and was probably unique in the Flats in reading the Irish Times! But Tony was an alcoholic. It had robbed him of family life early on and, although through Christ he claimed to have conquered, and he had many years of sobriety, it overtook him coming back with a vengeance in the end. Tony’s favourite verse was “Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you 1 Peter Chapter 5 verse 7. May this now have come true for Tony.