Mary’s Song                      Word on the Week                     17^th December 2022.

Have you ever burst out in spontaneous singing?   Has the Joy of the Lord ever reached your lips in an unrestrained way?   There was a time in my life when it happened frequently.   For obvious reasons it was when I was alone in the car!

In Mary’s case it happened in the midst of the miraculous!   Herself pregnant, she had gone to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was in her 6^th month.   When they met the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth enabling her to ‘see’ that Mary’s baby was the Lord Jesus.    She also recognised Mary’s faith in what the Angel had passed on to her.  The message was that of virgin birth (St Luke Chapter 1 verses 26 to 38).

Out of this cumulative blessings came the song known as the Magnificat.   The title comes from the desire to magnify the Lord in a majestic worship song.   She expresses joy in God her Saviour recognising her own sinfulness and believing the Angels choice of name – Jesus, indicated his calling…to save his people from their sins (St Matthew Chapter 1 verse 21).

It was a time of singing.  Elizabeth’s husband, Zachariah the priest waxed eloquent in a song in which his son, recognised by the Holy Spirit, would prepare the way for Jesus.   In it he predicted that his son (John the Baptist) would present an alternative way for people to get right with God.   This John did with his baptism for repentance (St Luke Chapter 1 Verses 68 to 79).

There was also Simeon’s song.   Moved by the Holy Spirit he was led to Mary and Joseph who had brought Jesus there for the child’s Temple ritual.   His song of salvation included the Gentiles (St Luke Chapter 2 verses 28 to 32).   Finally, we have the Angelic choir appearing to the shepherds Praising God and promising peace with God to those on whom his favour rests (St Luke Chapter 2 Verses 13 /14).

Returning to Mary’s psalm (like many psalms she starts praising God then explains why he should be praised) we can see echoes of Hannah’s great prayer of joy at giving birth to a son for the Lord (1 Samuel Chapter 2 verse 1 to 10).    

Bearing in mind that Mary was probably in her early teens she must have been well read in the scriptures.    There are lines inspired from a number of Psalms, Genesis, Job and Jeremiah to name a few.  Her hymn of praise ends in recalling the promise to Abraham that a seed (singular) had now arrived and was growing in her (Mary’s) womb (Genesis Chapter 12 verse 7 and Galatians Chapter 3 verse 16).

Such a time – she would probably have sung ‘Joy to the World’ had it been around!

Christ in the Desert         Word on the Week           10^th December 2022.

It was with some misgivings that we saw FIFA set in motion a train of events ending with the world football cup being hosted by the Muslim world.   Qatar borders Arabia where the city of mecca is the epicentre of Islam.

The oil revenues enabled the tiny nation state to build seven world class stadiums and to have them finished on time!    News of the toll in human lives lost in their construction blighted the early days of the tournament. That changed when someone mentioned it was like colonial times and the conversation ceased!  

The talking moved to the football field where the opening game between Ecuador and Qatar resulted in the host team being beaten.   Both Ecuador’s Goals were scored by Enner Valencia.   After each goal the team gathered round and dropped to their knees acknowledging their allegiance to the Christian God. 

A widely-circulated video showed Ecuador team players praying in a hotel room. “We always do it, in a group, before and after the games,” one of the team explained, adding in his own brand of English: “We are all very believers. At the end, regardless of the result, we thank (God) for leaving the field well and not having hurt anyone.” 

Western commentators are familiar with players acknowledging their prowess comes from God but in Muslin lands this silent witness to Christ is not normally permitted. Those who are led to witness usually end up in jail.            I am indebted to Jeff Fountain of the Schuman Centre for Europe Studies for the following piece of research.

Many of the European players who are outspoken about their faith have migrant roots. In the Dutch team alone, Denzel Dumfries (Aruba/Inter Milan), Jurriën Timber (Curacao/Ajax), Coady Gapko (Togo/PSV), Georginio Wijnaldum (Surinam/Liverpool), and Memphis Depay (Ghana/Barcelona) pray together and share their Christian faith on the field.  

Gapko scored three goals during the group phase, and after scoring against Senegal posted Psalm 121:1 on Instagram: ‘I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.’

Memphis often points to the sky in his goal in winning celebrations and writes on social media, ‘all the glory to God.’ In thankfulness to God for his talent, he has set up a foundation in Ghana to help blind and deaf children.

 The centre of Christianity has moved to the Southern hemisphere.   Their players are carrying the cause of Christ into the world of Islam.  God never lacks a witness (St Luke Chapter 19 verse 40).   Praise Him.

Creation and Revelation            Word on the Week          3^rd December 2022.

In a lovely week, topped off with the annual Pensioners Luncheon, it was good to find the blog is still in circulation among some of my fellow pensioners.   In selecting a topic to write about one thing is apparent and that is the relative popularity of blogs which have the natural world as their topic.   Nature trumps revelation!

The old-timers had a measured view in which God has two books.  They are: –  

God’s book of Works &

God’s book of Words.

God’s book of works is Creation.   The Psalmist understood that the whole cosmos was created by God.   He declared it to be the work of his hands (Psalm 19 verses 1 to 3).   Then in Psalm 24 verse 1 it is plainly stated that the Lord owns the earth and all who live in it.  We belong to him!  

There is a fallen-ness seen in the thorns and weeds which need no planting and in the childbirth pains in a woman (Genesis Chapter 3 verses 16 to 18).   But the creation, Paul tells us, is eagerly awaiting being set free from its bondage to corruption.   So nature is under the stress of diseases which affect bird and beast, tree and livestock till the end of the age (Romans Chapter 8 verses 19 to 25).

God’s Book of Words is the Bible.   From it we learn of Mankind’s relationship to God.   We find that God sets about providing a remedy for sin as soon as it enters the world (Genesis chapter 3 verse 15).   One that is to come will be the serpent-crusher who will himself suffer (Genesis Chapter 3 verse15).

This person is revealed to Abraham (St John Chapter 8 verse 56).    He is the long expected Messiah who was made known to the Virgin Mary by an angelic proclamation “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (St Matthew Chapter 1 verse 21).

“Jesus became what he was not without ever ceasing what he always was” (Athanasius 4^th Century).   Jesus became the God-man and walked on earth for 33 years.   He was fully man and fully God and he was without sin.   Because of his great love for us he took our sin and died our death upon the cross so that all who put their trust in Jesus might be saved (St John Chapter 3 verse 16).

For the believer Jesus took our sins and laid his righteousness to our account so that in the judgement we will be as he is (2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 21).   We are not saved by our works but by his work.   We are not left in the rags of our righteousness but given the robe of his righteousness to wear (Isaiah Chapter 64 verse 6).  The old hymn says it well – Fairest Lord Jesus!
  Ruler of all nature!
Son of God and Son of man!
  Thee will I cherish,
  Thee will I honour,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown!

Porn – The Viper in the Grass  Word on the Week    12^th November 2022.

When I was young, admittedly that was some time ago, porn was the stuff you found on public lavatory walls.   It was the domain of naughty school kids or dirty minded adults who were to be avoided.

It was when porn went digital that a whole new world presented itself.     It could be tapped into and mischievously posted on the main digital platforms with or without any annotation.

Like the Sirens myth in Homer’s Odyssey these explicit pictures of women are used to lure men.    In the Odyssey, Odysseus’ boat passes the island of the Sirens and he too is captivated by their song.  However, he takes preventative action.   He has all of his men plug their ears with ear wax and ties himself to the ship’s mast. By such means he succeeds in hearing the Siren song and surviving.

Modern voyageurs are not so fortunate.   Addiction to porn is not easily broken.  It is like the viper, which is a beautiful snake with very distinctive markings but has a bite which is possibly lethal.    The word serpent was commonly used in the Authorised Version of the Bible for the devil (Genesis Chapter 3 verses 1 to 15 and Revelation Chapter 12 verse 9).

Part of the problem of writing on this topic as a Christian is the inability to do the research which would normally arise in preparing the blog!    The Lord does not equip His servants with immunity to sexual attraction!   Neither does he ‘lead us into temptation’ (St Luke Chapter 11 verse 4)!   That is the devil’s job and he is very active at it (2 Corinthians Chapter 2 verse 11).

We can read the press however and there seems to be a predilection for what has come to be known as ‘rough sex’.   Surely we have reached the bottom of the pit with the death of the person in acting out this ultimate porn.   The serpent can be lethal!

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.  The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.   For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 verses 3 to 7).

The Apostle Paul wrote these words under inspiration and attested to the fact by adding the sentence: – ‘anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit’.

Mass at Listowel              Word on the Week                     5^th November 2022.

Fr Sheehy, a retired priest, was standing in for the regular priest at St Mary’s church in Listowel when he chose to spell out the likely end of certain behaviours.  He claimed that sexual sins were rampant.

In his homily he listed sex between two men and two women as a sin and transgenderism was described as “lunatic”. The priest also referred to the “promotion of abortion” as sinful.   However, repentance would save people from Satan and his wiles.

Later when interviewed by RTE he differentiated between what was moral and what was legal as he commented on our non-Christian legislation.   

In the context of his story about condom distribution by the HSE to teenagers in Tralee on nights out, Fr Sheehy referred to his experience in America in the 1970s and the distribution of condoms there. This had “tripled promiscuity”, he claimed.

Sexual health messaging relying on condoms and abortion was “a horrible message” and it took away from any sense of responsibility, he said.   

What are we to make of all this?   It’s like a mirror has been held up and we see ourselves as we are.   Of course we don’t like it!  The truth seldom flatters!

But it is not what we think but what God thinks that matters Psalm 115 verse 1).   We are creatures made in his image (now fallen) who can be born again spiritually in Christ (1 Peter Chapter 1 verses 3 to 7).   This means we do not have to live as others but by the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit within show how we can live within the boundaries set by a loving heavenly Father (1 John Chapter 1 verse 7).

Sexual sins are in a class by themselves.   All other sins we commit are outside the body but sexual sins are committed against our own body (1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 18).   They become a dead weight in us.   They can only be removed by faith in the work of God’s Son on Calvary’s cross.   Not in the Mass which never ends but in the completed work of Jesus Christ (Hebrews Chapter 9 verses 25 to 28).

We are indebted to Fr Sheehy for outlining some of the main sexual sins.  He also hinted at the remedy when he mentioned that repentance would save people from Satan and his wiles and ways.   After Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness he proclaimed the good news of the gospel – repent (turn around – change course 180 degrees) and believe (St Mark Chapter 1 verses 12 to 15).

The remedy – look to Jesus!

Christianity: Problem or Solution         Word on the Week           22^nd Oct.2022.

Of course Christianity is a problem!   Any religion that invites its followers to come and die is going to have to work hard in the marketplace of ideas!   Following Christ is not some sort of weekly outing but involves submitting to Dr Luke’s daily dose (St Luke Chapter 9 verse 23).

Because Jesus never invited anyone to follow Him under a deception he is always seen at first by sinners as a threat.    This makes us want to hide from Him or oppose Him. We resist the witness of his followers and spend much time making up hard questions to defend ourselves.

Some sadly maintain a hard exterior throughout their lives.   They say that they have been dealt a bad hand, or that childhood abuse corrupted their path.   Others have it easy and it seems that fortune has shined on them.  In consequence they are also able to resist the universal need for God.

It should come as no surprise to find the church, where it seeks to live by the Word of God, has to contend with ongoing opposition.   This can come from a number of sources with the destruction of the church as their common aim.  Behind the persecution lies the powers of darkness against which the church has been given Spiritual armour to wear (Ephesians Chapter 6 verses 10 to 18).

Of course there are counterfeit solutions to the problem the confessing church presents to society.   One is offered in John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’.   He imagines no heaven, no hell, no country to fight for.   Only people living for today, no religion to fight about, nothing to kill or die for, then the world would live as one!    Lennon’s robotic world hasn’t much to live for either!

One of the first to cross the divide between religion and freedom in Christ was Saul of Tarsus.   He had a world class religion in Judaism and was not going to let any puny cult of Christians spoil it.   That was his hard exterior.   He agonised under Stephen’s testimony and broke under Christ’s questioning voice (Acts Chapter 7 verses 58 to 60 and Chapter 9 verses 4 to 19).

The battle that raged in Saul has raged in countless souls since.   It has divided societies and churches and will continue to do so till the Lord returns.

Christianity, the problem or the solution?   Ever since the victory at Calvary followed by the resurrection from the dead, the presence of a living Saviour has inspired His church in the world.   The Holy Spirit has sealed believers creating a living church which will withstand the gates of hell presenting the ultimate solution to mankind’s problems (St Matthew Chapter 16 verse 18).

No Longer Hoping           Word on the Week                     15^th October 2022.

We are now entering the fifth week of our outreach entitled ‘What’s the Story’? The question raised this week is entitled “Is there Hope in the Face of Death”? Sometimes it is difficult to understand what exactly hope is.   Perhaps it will be shown up in relief, looking first at a situation where it is absent.

Our first home, after we married, was on the Noss peninsula in the North of Scotland.  Nearby, on the edge of the sea cliff stood the remains of Sinclair Castle.  It was built of red sandstone marching the rock to which it clung.   One of its claims to fame was a bottle shaped dungeon.    Prisoners were lowered into it by rope.   There was no way out.   Archaeologists brave enough to go down into it found, apart from bones, scratched on the sandstone wall the words ‘Nae (No) Hope’.

That example of no hope in the face of death is at the physical level.   The Bible takes us to a spiritual level where, whatever the physical circumstances, hope can still burn bright.

Job is an example of this hope.   He is struggling with the conclusion that his misfortunes are from God.   His love for God tries to cope with what he sees as injustice and he makes the memorable statement, “Though he slay me yet will I hope in him” (Job Chapter 13 verse 15).

There is a general type of hope that many adopt in the face of death.   This hope is placed on the way they have lived, with what is thought to be good sufficient to purchase the imaginary ticket to heaven.   It is at funerals that these deeds get an airing and no doubt the deceased merited what was said.

When Dick Keogh was on his way to mass he was stopped by a friend who has become a Christian.   The friend showed Dick the passage in Hebrews where Jesus offered for all time one sacrifice for sins and sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews Chapter 10 verses 11 to 14).   Dick saw that Christ’s sacrifice had once and for all time made perfect those who are being made Christian.    Hope for the Christian is simply Jesus Christ.

He went on to write the popular tract “No Longer Hoping”.   What he had hoped for (a new heart) had happened (Hebrews Chapter 10 verses 15 to 25).

The last word should go to the hymn writer whose old hymn modern songsters will not let go of.   It was inspired by the Jesus parable of the wise man who built his house upon a rock and written by Edward Mote around 200 years ago.

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,(person)
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chaos at Creeslough                 Word on the Week          8^th October 2022.

The village of Creeslough was ripped apart by a massive explosion.   It occurred at 3.00pm yesterday.   It was one of the busiest times of the day for the filling station, shops and flats.   At the present time ten are dead and many injured.

Rescuing people has taken precedence over accident investigation.   JCB’s have been removing the lumps of concrete and rubble from the front of Applegreen Filling Station in a search for those trapped by what is thought to have been a gas explosion.

The village of Creeslough has been immortalised in the poem “The Emigrant’s Letter”.   It is a nostalgic piece with the writer looking back – “Oh it’s well to be you that is takin’ yer tay, Where they’re cuttin’ the corn in Creeslough today.

When the tower of Siloam collapsed killing 18 people, those recounting the incident to Jesus were inclined to the opinion that they were somehow worse sinners and deserved it (St Luke Chapter 13 verses 4 to 5).   Jesus regularly has compassion on those who suffer but in this case he firstly disabused the idea of the dead deserving their fate then, addressing the people directly, called them to repentance.

The random nature of accidents is a feature of a world gone wrong.   Everything is affected.   The daily newspaper confirms it.   The world is in a mess.   The Apostle John concludes his first letter by writing about the world order being under the control of the evil one.   He goes on to portray Jesus as the complete saviour for time and eternity (1 John Chapter 5 verses 19 to 20).

This leads on to this week’s question in the ‘What’s the Story’ campaign which could be paraphrased “What am I here for”?   The Apostle would say you are here to be born again.   Just as we all have a physical birth we require a spiritual birth to enter God’s kingdom (St John Chapter 3 verses 3 to 5).

Willie Still the preacher used to say we were on probation!   But that implies that we can do something to qualify for the Kingdom whereas Jesus has done it all.   Our task is to repent and place our God given gift of faith in Jesus atoning death.   So that we can say “In my place condemned He stood”.   And because He rose from the dead Jesus will ensure his death accomplished all he intended (2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 21).

We extend our sympathies to all who mourn the loss of loved ones or are injured by yesterday’s explosion.   The greatest comfort of all is to know that one’s dearest whether alive or dead are safe in the arms of Jesus.   May it be so for many who sorrow today.  

Guilt and Shame             Word on the Week                     1^st October 2022.

Like the proverbial albatross around one’s neck, guilt and shame stick like glue.  It is easy to identify with the plaintive cry of despair, which is the strapline to this week’s searching question – “Will I ever be good enough”?

Many religions have arrangements which facilitate the temporary expurgating of guilt and shame.   These normally consist of a work of a religious nature to act as an antidote.     The idea being to erase the blots from life’s copybook and restore relationships with one’s God.

Biblical warrant for such behaviour is scant.   But the idea of being able to clean up one’s act is not easily removed.   From the earliest days we get the idea that being good will cancel out the bad.   If it was possible you would still have the problem that you do not know when you have done enough.   You don’t get a balance sheet!

The idea has gained a little credence from the miracle at Belshazzar’s feast when a hand wrote on the palace wall.   Daniel interpreted the words to read, “you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting” (Daniel Chapter 5 verses 26 to 28).   The idea of one’s goodness tipping the imaginary balance   in their favour is tempered by the killing of Belshazzar that night!   

If any are not persuaded and believe “there is some good in all of us” and that this supposed good must count for something the writer to Romans dispels that notion!   The all-encompassing words of Chapter 3 verse 23 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” present the unpalatable truth.   We can only deliver short measure.   We are not capable of anything else!   We will never be good enough!

We have all been guilty of looking in the wrong place.   Unless our shame and guilt are borne by another we will take them to the grave.   The albatross remains in place.   

However, if by faith the albatross of my guilt and shame is seen to be taken by Jesus on the cross – His death becomes personal and I am forgiven (Isaiah Chapter 53 verses 8 to 11).   As the hymn writer puts it…

You Laid Aside, Your Majesty,
Gave Up Everything For Me.
Suffered At The Hands
Of Those You Had Created.

You Took All My Guilt And Shame,
When You Died And Rose Again.
Now Today You Reign,
In Heaven And Earth Exalted.                     

And because He lives all who believe in Him will live eternally (St John Chapter 10 Verse 28)

Is There Anyone Out There?   Word on the Week   24^th September 2022.

There is the amusing story of the rock climber stuck on the cliff face who called out “Is there anyone out there”.   A voice responded, “Let go!”   After a lengthy consideration of the reply he asked, “Is there anyone else out there?”

Many of us have heard the voice of God speaking through our conscience, telling us what we should do, only for us to look for a second opinion that was more to our liking!   

The question of the existence of an invisible God is the first of six key questions gathered in a survey of many people by evangelical churches.   These will be discussed across Ireland over the next six weeks.   They can be found in https://www.whatsthestory22.ie/

God has made himself known through his word.    God’s spoken word brought creation into being.   ‘And God said’ punctuates each phase of creation (Genesis Chapter 1).    The Spirit of God bringing life to what was created culminating with humankind (Genesis Chapter 2 verse 7).

Through disobedience sin entered the world.   There was also the promise of a Saviour (Genesis Chapter 3 verse 15).   St John begins his Gospel by describing Jesus as the Word of God in person just like us but without sin.    He was to show what God the Father is like so as to partially answer the question posed by the title to this blog (Chapter 1 verse 18).

Jesus showed us what perfect obedience to the Father looks like when he went to the Cross to redeem us from sin (Philippians Chapter 2 verses 5 to 10).   Our part is to surrender our wills to His will.  God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and faith in Jesus (2 Peter Chapter 3 verse 9).

Like our climber who needed to let go of the rock and rely on the rope to save him, we need to believe God exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 6).   The reward is knowing personally the one who “is out there”.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.