Fear of Pestilence                          Word on the Week                 29^th February 2020.

The last time we blogged on the subject of fear it was along the Fermanagh-Cavan border in Ireland.   There had been intimidation and the fear of man was evident.   This week we have witnessed signs of fear of the coronavirus.  It has gone almost global.    No one has said it but this fear is the fear of the judgement of God.

The spread has been rapid.  Antarctica being the only landmass not touched by it. Transmitting the virus is easily done so warnings against touching other people such as shaking hands raise the alarm bells in peoples’ minds.   Pictures of medics ‘suited up’ from head to toe are on the one hand reassuring but on the other increase the apprehension.

On the face of it these seem to be excessive precautions for an illness which is likened to influenza.   Many times this week the media have pointed out the low death rate of coronavirus and instanced the flu which has a much worse record.  However, we have flu somewhat controlled, hence the annual flu jab prevention. With Covid-19 we do not know where it came from nor how long it will be with us.

The best guess blames the bat.   There is also the association with the food market in Wuhan where it is reckoned to have made the transition from bat to man.   Research is taking place to find an antidote but it is unlikely to be on the market soon.   In the meantime, it would seem that what we have to fear is fear itself.   It is irrational but the sense of the unknown makes people apprehensive.

There are a number of incidents in the Bible where God sent a plague or pestilence because of disobedience.    Korah’s rebellion is one such case (Numbers Chapter 16 verses 46 to 48).   These cases are largely directed at his people Israel.   They had been entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans Chapter 3 verse 2) but that had not prevented them from sinning like others.   

Jesus said that in the end times there would be “pestilence” (St Luke Chapter 21 verse 10 to 12).     This is one of the indicators of the end of the age.   Trusting in Christ for your salvation in this life and the next does not enable you to bypass these things.    It does however, give you the assurance of Psalm 91 which may have been in John Ryland’s mind when he penned these words: –

“Plagues and deaths around me fly;

Till he bids, I cannot die;

Not a single shaft can hit,

Till the God of love sees fit.”     

May these thoughts strengthen you as we contemplate a dysfunctional world.

Coronavirus                           Word on the Week              22^nd February 2020.

This virus which started in the Wuhan Provence of China in December 2019 has proved to be hard to control.   It is in the same family of viruses as ‘saars’ (largely in the US from 2002 to 2004) and ‘mers’ (mainly in the middle east in 2012). It now has the name Covid-19.  

It produces respiratory symptoms which can be incubated in a person for up to a fortnight.    The start of the outbreak has been traced to an open air market in Wuhan where fish and live animals are in close contact with people.    These conditions would have given the mutated corona virus ample opportunity to spread. It is now in all 31 provinces in China.

At the end of December, a group of doctors in Wuhan were examining a large number of patients exhibiting flu like symptoms.    Indications were that the results were being kept quiet by Government order.   Dr Li Wen Liang, one of the team studying the disease turned whistleblower and attempts were made to silence him. The rapid spread of the virus required lockdown of Wuhan which coincided with public opinion learning via social media of the attempt to silence the doctor.

All this led to the Government apologising and many more cities being put in quarantine.   Two large field hospitals have been built in Wuhan in record time. Many additional medical staff have been assigned to the city and seven cruise ships have sailed up the Yangtze river and moored in Wuhan to accommodate them.   

Cruise liners are particularly vulnerable and the Diamond Princess now moored in Japan waters has been quarantined with its passengers confined to their cabins for 14 days.    The UK along with other countries who have nationals on board are flying them home but with a further two-week period in quarantine when they arrive.    A miserable end to their holiday!  

Global health officials are worried as the latest cases of the virus have shown up in Italy and affect people who had no link with China or contact with a confirmed case. A plane from China was picketed when it touched down in Ukraine.    This fear is contrasted with the actions of Dr Li who returned to work in the hospital, eventually caught the disease and died on 7^th February.    He was a believer and quoted this text as he died.  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy Chapter 4 verses 7/8).

May God grant to all who believe a like courage when we come to be tested.

Storm Dennis                        Word on the Week                  15^th February 2020.

‘Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow rain and wind warning for the entire country ahead of Storm Dennis which is expected to bring wet and very windy weather over the weekend and into Monday.’    The terse note from the Met Office does not encourage you to get out of bed this morning!

The roar of the wind made Tess, the dog, think twice about venturing out whereas she normally greets the dawn with some loud barking.    All the animals in the yard are in sheds and the hens, who dislike the wind, are confined to the henhouse.

Above the yard and around the trees flocks of rooks do aerobatics in the gusting wind.   They enjoy the turbulence but disappear when the rain arrives.    At garden level the usual tits and finches swing from the bird feeders while the magpie like the local Garda keeps an eye on the proceedings.

The land is waterlogged from previous rains which means it cannot absorb fresh rainfall.    Our drainage has been well tested and mercifully the run-off is working unlike parts of the UK where towns in valleys are particularly vulnerable to flooding.

It is at sea where we are most exposed to these South-westerly winds.   There is always a conflict of interest for fishermen to solve.   Gales stir up the sea and consequently produce a plentiful supply of food.   This makes for good fishing with the best catches made in stormy weather.   Herein lies the problem.    Fishermen’s safety is put at risk in such conditions and the skipper must weigh up the pros and cons very carefully before he puts to sea.

In my youth we fished from small open boats.   We could be caught at sea when an Easterly gale would make the harbour at our home port of Collieston un-navigable.    The alternative was to run for Whinnyfold, five miles away, where we could drop anchor in the safety of its harbour and wait until the storm passed.

The writer of Hebrews likens God’s promise and God’s oath to two cables that secure our ship which I call ‘The Hope of the Gospel’.   “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf” (Chapter 6 verse 19).   The hymn-writer catches this idea in “Will your Anchor Hold?” the often omitted second verse reads: – It is safely moored t’will the storm withstand, For ‘tis well secured by the Saviour’s hand:   And the cables passed from His heart to mine, Can defy the blast, thro’ strength divine.”

This was one of Ann Brown’s favourite hymns.  When it was sung at her funeral I remember the powerful effect it had on her neighbours.    May they and you take to heart the saving work of Jesus.

Election 2020                        Word on the Week                       8^th February 2020.

There is an air of a festival about an Irish General Election.    During the preceding 3 to 4 week’s people with ladders are seen to be climbing many of the utility poles in our towns to fix A1 size pictures of their preferred candidate.    The higher the candidate’s portrait the more symbolically he or she will top the poll!

The old days of public meetings have been overtaken by an all-encompassing media.  It is the TV debates that steal the show.   Party representatives are subject to a grilling by well practiced professionals who are able to reveal inconsistences in their party manifesto.   Attempting to score points publically may be good for audience ratings but lacks the intimacy of the Parish Hall Meeting where a good chairperson can ensure that everyone has a voice.

When I came to live in Ireland over four decades ago I had a colleague who was keen to instruct me in all things Irish which he clearly believed to be superior to anything that took place in the UK!    He was in high spirits in the 1977 election which saw Jack Lynch sweep to power amid the discarding of a number of unpopular taxes.    It all seemed to be too good to be true – and so it proved to be.   Rampant inflation set in during the eighties and the rest is history!

One thing I learned was the single transferrable vote is allegedly superior to the UK and USA system of ‘first past the post’.   It certainly provides the voter with the ability to reward preferred candidates and penalise those not in favour.    The counting of votes takes place after the setting of quotas for each constituency.   You then enter the world of surplus votes and transfers which few, including myself, have fully understood.   It does however make for a dramatic count!   The final results can be a long time in coming.   Where the count is close between candidates a recount prolongs the agony!

The end result is a fairer representation of people’s choices but then coalitions have to be formed, in order to get into government, which thwart the most equitable outcome.  There is no perfect system as we are imperfect people who are involved.

When it comes to God’s electing love for heaven our reliance must be on His mercies (Lamentations Chapter 3 verse 22).    In fact, our trust is not to be on anything we have done, no ‘vote for me’, no ‘look at my record’.    Because few believe this St Paul uses the case of Jacob and Esau where God’s choice was made before either of them could be said to influence it i.e. before they were born (Romans Chapter 9 verses 10 to 12).     

We have Jesus to go to.    He said “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (St John Chapter 6 verse 37).

Exit of Brexit                         Word on the Week                      1^st February 2020.

Midnight in Brussels or 11.00 pm in London heralded the departure of the UK from the EU, although it will continue to follow EU rules and enjoy most of the benefits of membership until the end of 2020.   The occasion was low key.   The ‘Leavers’ who gathered to sing songs were decidedly out of tune.   Even the amplification failed to work properly – perhaps an omen for how the UK will manage in future.

In taking leave from Brussels, Nigel Farage the architect or rather the disrupter of the EU could not resist (although it was forbidden) a final waving of the Union Jack.   Nigel, like the rest of us, does not like being told what to do but in his case his dislike focused on the EU.   “We will not take orders” said the leading character of the divorce from Europe, a role he in which he had had a couple of personal experiences of in the past.    By way of contrast many tributes were paid to UK officials by their EU colleagues who had worked alongside them for a portion of the 47 years since the UK joined.  

The 31^st January opened in Brussels with a rendering of the European Anthem.  It is Friedrich von Schiller’s poem adapted by Ludwig van Beethoven called “Ode to Joy,” from the last movement of his Ninth Symphony.    Schiller’s poem draws on the mythology surrounding the Greek god Elysium whose place at the ends of the earth is where certain heroes are conveyed by the gods after death.

The day ended with the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ – which seemed to sum up the affection the workers held for each other.    There are, of course, 11 months to December 31^st to thrash out a trade deal.   Let’s hope they will still be singing at the end of it!

Setting national pride apart, does it matter if the UK are out and Ireland, for instance, are in the EU?    The answer depends on who we are serving.   If it is ourselves we are accountable to then perhaps even Nigel Farage makes sense!   But if conscience has been tutored by the word of God then we will be guided by Micah’s words in chapter 6 verse 8; He has shown you, O man, what is good.   And what does he Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly^] with your God.  

The Lord requires us to show the primary forms of love – justice and mercy, kindness and faithfulness, and to walk humbly with our God.

God is more interested in how we behave in relation to each other and to the countries and their citizens with whom we align.   Jesus said we are to “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” and all the things we think are important will be dealt with by Him (St Matthew Chapter 6 verse 33).

Goldfinch                          Word on the Week                          25^th January 2020.

“Look at the birds of the air” Jesus said when he was illustrating God the Father’s provision.    I was in need of a topic for this blog and there outside my window were a flock of Goldfinches!   Their multi-coloured plumage lit up the grey January day with red, white and yellow feathers the most noticeable.

It was these feathers that made them popular as far back as the 19^th century.   Then they were sought after as cage birds.   This practice of catching them was almost their undoing. They became a threatened species and were only prevented from extinction when their capture and caging was banned in 1933.   

It was observed that they had a passion for thistle seeds.   In the eighth century this gave them the name of ‘Thisteltuige’.    The name literally means thistle-tweaker. The birds can be seen in late summer, the male with his slightly longer beak, eating the teasels and the female with her short beak eating the thistle seeds.

To attract these birds to your garden I’m not suggesting you let the thistles grow although the odd one or two would be for a good cause!   They are seed feeders and the relatively expensive niger seed is their favourite meal.   You need to purchase the appropriate feeder otherwise the seed will get wasted.    What falls to the ground is usually claimed by the Chaffinch who is a ground feeder and gratefully eats the seed that falls from the Goldfinches table!

Their nests are built of grass and mud and are lined with wool to create a deeply cupped well insulated nest. They decorate the outside of the nest with lichen, presumably to camouflage their location which is at the very top of the tree.  Their eggs number 5 or 6 are white and spotted.   They time their chicks to arrive when seeds are most plentiful, usually June and a second family in the Autumn to eat the thistle seeds.

Goldfinches are easily alarmed and often take flight en masse.   It is then that their delightful flight calls can be heard.    They sound something like the tinkling of bells. This song has earned the goldfinch the lovely collective noun, ‘Charm’. 

Solomon wrote, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time”.   And so we have the birds but supremely the Goldfinch.   “Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”  (Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 11).    We know there is more to life than this present existence – eternity has been placed in all our hearts – and God has channelled our ability to finding out about eternity through faith in Christ.  

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—                                  1 Corinthians 2 verse 9.

Crime Pays!                       Word on the Week                          18^th January 2020.

When you survey the bloodshed of this week you see the ugly face of crime.   It is as if the whole country has been affected by an incurable virus which can only be curtailed not cured.    It broke out in Drogheda, the North-side of Dublin and Cork.   In these places it became visible in the form of dead bodies and in one case a dismembered corpse.

Driven by the craving for drugs and paid for out of the relatively prosperous times we live in, the demand rises.   Drug bills add up (who does the addition – who dare argue with the arithmetic) and the wider family are called upon to clear the debt.   Fear is on the side of the debt-collector and no threat can be lightly dismissed.

For those who cannot pay there is a job offer of sorts.   They can join the gang and pay off the balance due by doing what was done to them – intimidating the customer.   Recruitment amongst young boys is particularly insidious.    They can deliver the drugs, largely un-noticed, and reap the reward of designer clothing.   Who wouldn’t go for ‘Boss’ gear at age 14 and the promise of a BMW at age 17!    

The 17-year-old who was cut into pieces this week had been involved, among other things, in petrol bombing the houses of rival gang members and received a custodial sentence which, unfortunately for him, was suspended.     This murder seems to have been designed to maximise the fear factor sending notice to rival gangs to keep off ‘my patch’.   The bosses of these gangs avoid the limelight perhaps living abroad.   Their ability to avoid capture must make on the ground policing a daunting task.

For them crime pays.   They live in luxury.   Their consciences have been hardened or as Scripture puts it, consciences have been seared as with a hot iron (1 Timothy Chapter 4 verse 2).     For those murdered crime pays a dreadful price – their lives.

Scripture promises a payday – For the wages of sin is death; but it also majors on the fact that, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans chapter 6 verse 23).    This gift of God is a gift of love from the heavenly Father.   Like other gifts it required no payment.   It is received by the empty hand of faith.   The faith is in the resurrected Jesus Christ.     The love of the Father is greater than your sin.    There is no sin that Jesus did not die for – every sin can be forgiven by His grace (St John Chapter 3 verse 16 and 1 John Chapter 1 verse 5 to 7). 

So every time someone asks you to snort a couple of lines of cocaine on a Friday night remember that they are supporting the drug gangs, the cultivation of the plants and the destruction of many lives.   Show them a better way – the way of Christ for this life and the next, (I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (St John chapter 14 verse 6).

Forgive and Embrace                       Word on the Week              11^th January 2020.

Last week’s blog had scarcely hit the bin when the dreams of times past turned into nightmares!    Commemorate that lot – not on your life!   One correspondent, in a fine show of charity said, “forgive and forget” people were OK with that, but “forgive and commemorate” was a bridge too far to cross!

What is it about forgiveness that is so difficult?    It’s the thing that can so easily come back to bite us.   The theologian, Miroslav Volf, is a Croat who has written on the subject.    He found himself stumbled when at a question and answer time at his university he was asked if he could forgive the Serbs?    The Serbs had done dreadful things to his people.    He deferred answering the question!

You see Volf had recognised that forgiveness is not simply saying sorry and keeping out of the other’s way but goes much deeper and takes time and work.   Sometimes it helps to take the other person’s position and they yours and argue the case from the other’s point of view.   Repentance is always necessary, although at first it is hard to acknowledge it.   It too is costly as you are exposing your feelings to the other.

If there was a way that avoided making yourself vulnerable –wouldn’t that be good!   Especially where the events that engendered the hatred seem to point to the sins of the other.    And where your own kith and kin are involved and they are watching you…better to take the family line which is usually the hard line.

Suppose the Prodigal had died in the far country and the Father on hearing the news (perhaps years later) decides to commemorate the event.   Would the elder Brother come to it?    What about all the years he had worked and never got a helping hand from the young fella.   He had always been a waster!    Why should I commemorate him? (St Luke Chapter 15 verse 29 paraphrased).

In forgiveness it is hard to realise we are dealing with a human being.   One like myself.   Part of the human race.   Irrespective of colour or creed.   The divine imperative to love the ‘other’ as yourself (St Luke Chapter 10 verse 27) had no excluded race.    Jesus’s illustration that followed featured a Samaritan whom the expert in the law had excluded!

To the government’s credit their intention was to have no excluded groups.   The Royal Irish Constabulary and the Dublin Metropolitan Police were to have their 100^th commemoration in Dublin Castle next Friday.    These groups, through no fault of their own ended up on the ‘wrong’ side and today’s descendants of those on the ‘right’ side will not permit it to take place.

 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.                       (St Luke Chapter 23 verse 34).

An Epiphany of Dreams                   Word on the Week              4^th January 2020.

The last decade in Ireland commemorated the centenary of the 1916 Rising and the decade we are entering promises many more of the same!   Community-led events are planned in the locations where they occurred historically and funding will be available to artists and writers by the Department of Culture.

As these centenaries affect communities on both sides of the border the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund will also contribute.   The Department of Education is to re-establish the ‘Decade of Centenaries Irish History Competition’ for primary and post primary schools.   University College Cork’s School of History will also be involved.

Some of the events they have in mind are The War of Independence, Bloody Sunday, the Sacking of Balbriggan, the execution of Kevin Barry the Connaught Rangers Mutiny and the Civil War.

We are assured that the Government’s aim is to provide a “supportive structure so that the very difficult events that occurred during the struggle for independence will be remembered in a measured and non-partisan manner”.    Dream on!   One can begin to sympathise with the recent suggestion that History be dropped from the school curriculum!

All this takes place against a background of negotiations for a united Ireland.   Brexit affords an opportunity for the ‘Remainers’ in the Northern Ireland to bring their country into the European Union.    Then we could look forward for the ‘struggle for interdependence’ to begin!    Perhaps more dreams – but they are of a better tomorrow!

The Apostle Paul mentions another epiphany, this time it’s of the grace of God and is for all without distinction – there is no excluded group.   He writes; For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus Chapter 2 verses 11 to 14).

The Apostle looks forward to a day when the disparate tribes of Adam will find their unity as citizens in the Kingdom of God each redeemed by the blood of Christ.     Then our dreams will become a reality in His eternal reign (Revelation Chapter 11 Verse 15).

It had been an eventful year in Jerusalem.   My Legion had been there from the start. Who could ever forget that memorable crucifixion.    The one where my Centurion (who had his belief in God confirmed) said “In truth this man was the Son of God” (St Mark Chapter 15 verse 39).

Events followed with the body of Christ disappearing from the tomb under the noses of the guards.   They were trusted soldiers who would not have been easily frightened.   But they were terrified at what they saw when the angel came and rolled the stone away so that all could see that the tomb was empty.   The angel told the women who had come to mourn, not to be afraid because Jesus had risen and had gone into Galilee.

Of course the Chief Priests would not believe a word of the soldiers report and paid them some hush money to say that the body was stolen while they slept.   I am not sure how the men got round it but sleeping on guard duty was punishable by death!   However, they made up their story and I am ashamed to admit they took the money.

I was captivated at Pentecost when St Peter spoke with great authority.   I was on duty and could see the effect his words had on the multitude of Jews from many lands.  When they realised they had crucified their Messiah many broke down and cried, “what shall we do?”   They were told to repent of their sins and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.   These new believers had their sins forgiven and received the gift of God the Holy Spirit to be in them (Acts Chapter 2 verses 37/38).

I thought this salvation was a Jewish thing.   Later when Centurion Cornelius and his household were converted I realised it was for all nationalities.  It was then that I too repented of my sins and believed in Jesus as My Saviour and Lord.

Now I am back in Rome on my first leave in time for Saturnalia and delighted to be able to meet up with fellow believers – mainly army men from the provinces.  

I had an interesting encounter with my old Centurion friend who questioned me: –

“I hear you have a new religion – where is your Temple?”  “Jesus is our Temple.”  

“Where do you make your sacrifices?”   “Jesus is our sacrifice.”

“Who is your priest?”   “Jesus is our priest.”  

“By Jupiter what kind of religion is that!”   And of course my friend is right – it is not a religion.   It is a relationship with the living God.   We know Him through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6-7 Jesus says to his disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

So this year I will be celebrating Saturnalia a little differently!