You can tell it’s that time again. The gym is packed and you can barely get into the swimming pool! All those mince pies and high living have taken their toll and now comes the gritting of the teeth and the resolve to do it properly this time and see the results in a return to the vigour of youth – dream on!

It was a pack-out in the men’s changing room of the Markievicz Baths which are located behind the church premises at Grace. No better place to study the changing men’s fashions. Gone are the body piercing for metal regalia of recent years and in is the art work of multiple tattoos of figures and designs.

In the past people were content with the odd tattoo illustrating some fantasy now the drawings are “wall to wall”!

Previously it was torso only but arms and legs have been enlisted to make multiple statements. To heighten the dramatic effect colour has been added so that the old fire breathing dragon, so cherished by yesterday’s hard men, now really breathes fire. Red flames leap across the chest impervious to the tepid waters of the swimming pool.

In what must be the quirkiest item I have seen was the bloke next to me in the changing room who had a line of music (without the words) written across his back. This stood out over against his more usual display of knights in armour so I had to ask what caused this lapse in the macho image. Apparently the guy is a fan of Robbie Williams and had dedicated a place on his back to a line in one of his songs. To my regret I didn’t find out which song it was and was left wondering if it could have been the recent addition to his repertoire called “Losers”?!

The Bible does not have much to say about decorating our body but what it does say is to the point, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord” Leviticus chapter 19 verse 28. Apparently these were practices performed by pagan peoples when mourning for their dead. God’s people, Israel, were to be different and so it is for Christians today.

When a person turns from their sins and commits their life to Christ they bring with them the marks of the old life. Some of the more visible are the tattoos which will not wash off. These now become reminders of the past and, in their own way, part of the testimony to the difference Christ has made.

The good news is that losers can become winners when they put their faith in the death of Christ. As St John put it, “they have conquered him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” Revelation chapter 12 verse 11. It’s the blood (i.e. the death) of Jesus Christ that makes it possible for sinners to get right with God.

So whatever resolutions we make for the New Year remember it’s not our trying to change but our trusting in Christ to change us that will make the difference. And if you are serious about trusting him you will read his word and meet with his people.

A Blessed New Year to one and all.

We have just finished singing “And the bells rang out for Christmas Day” as part of the refrain in the ballad “Fairytale of New York” to be confronted with the midnight bells on 31^st December ringing in the New Year!

The first carillon heralded the good news of the birth of the Christ child and the second proclaims our ever optimistic assumption that next year will be better than the last one.

It is traditional in most cities for people to gather in the main square or outside the Town Hall to welcome the New Year but in Dublin the tradition is to gather at Christ Church Cathedral. This building, which dates back to 1169, is built on the site of a previous wooden church on a height above the original Viking settlement on the river Liffey. Its Gothic naves span a 12^th century crypt – said to be the largest in these Islands. It will be used this year to host a reception following a New Year’s Eve Concert in the Cathedral. The bells will be rung during the countdown to midnight when revellers congregate in the Cathedral precincts.

There have been many additions to the original bell over the centuries some of them being recast from canon. The most recent addition was in 1999 when an additional seven bells were added to the ring, giving a grand total of 19 bells, a world record for bells rung this way.

Robert Burns’ poem Auld Lang Syne set to music is frequently sung at midnight although the correct words are seldom heard! Even if they were heard it is unlikely that they would be understood as the Border Scots of Burns’ day is not well known even in Scotland.

It is a drinking song which has endured because it strikes a chord of enduring friendship. It envisages friends meeting after many years and reminiscing about their youth which is still vivid despite the long separation when they went their separate ways. Now having met the hearty handshake and the drink awaken the memories and renew the friendship.

Christians today are often characterised by the warm handshake and fellowship based on a shared experience of Christ. It is not unusual for them to adopt a Bible text for the New Year rather than make resolutions which seldom last very long. The text is based, neither on optimism nor on the warmth of Christian fellowship but on the certainty that “Christ died for me”. He substituted his perfect life for me – the sinner. He rose from the dead ensuring that those who trust him will rise to be with him forever.

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” St John Chapter 3 verse 16.

Receive it, believe it, adopt it as your life text for this year but above all trust the One it refers to – He will not leave you as an orphan but adopt you as a son or daughter for 2013 and all the other years you remain here on earth.

Annually on the morning of 21^st December crowds gather at this megalithic monument in Co Meath to witness the sunrise on the shortest day of the year.

This year the crowds were larger than ever but the sun didn’t turn up. In fact as one little girl reported “this is the 4^th year we have had no sun!”

The sun is, of course, the main player in the drama. Its appearance as it rises over the neighbouring hill sends a shaft of light, through the roof-box, directly above the entrance and down the 19 metre passage to illuminate the 3 burial chambers.

This meeting of the celestial with the terrestrial would have worked perfectly 5,000 years ago but, with the earth now tilted 10 degrees the shaft of light (when the sun shines) doesn’t make it to the chambers but hits the passage floor.

The Department of Works have taken cognisance of our weather and the earth’s tilt and thoughtfully installed electric lights. These do the job of enabling the worshippers to see where they are going but lack something of the spiritual content provided by the sunbeams!

Many archaeologists believe that the monument was used as a place of worship for a “cult of the dead” or for an astronomically based faith.  It is clear that the monument is build around the sun enabling its penetration of the earth and illuminating its darkest place on the pivotal day of the year.

Assuming their weather was similar to ours there must have been a lot of frustrated worshippers in megalithic times!

What light can the Bible throw on these matters?

Isaiah the prophet has written regarding Jesus, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (chapter 49 verse 6) and St John had no doubt that with the coming of Jesus this was being fulfilled, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world (chapter 1 verse 9).

We are attracted to the light, that is, unless we have something to hide. A little light would suffice us, once a year, to dispel a bit of darkness as St John wryly remarked, “Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil (chapter 3 verse 19).

The good news is that God has penetrated this world not on a sunbeam but in Jesus. He came to give life to the spiritually dead which is our natural state. He rescues us by introducing us to the light and granting us sight. As St Paul put it, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians chapter 4 verses 4-6).

As we celebrate the coming of the Christ child let us open our hearts to receive His Spirit that He may come to us and fill our lives with His light.

This song by the Pogues just will not go away. Listed for many awards since it was first heard in 1987 it has acquired the title of the “best Christmas song ever” in the UK and Ireland.

The lyrics contain language associated with New York street culture and, in the original version, are sung in a drunken Irish brogue which lends authenticity to the words and anchors the ballad in our folklore.

It came as a surprise to hear it sung this week in St Ann’s Church as part of a Christmas concert. On the other hand it encapsulates another side of Christmas which is reality for many.

The song introduces us to an Irish immigrant, alone on Christmas Eve, who has been drowning his sorrows and has ended up in a police cell. Another inmate breaks into a drinking song which triggers memories of his past and his girlfriend with whom he has a turbulent relationship.

The song develops in his mind into a duet with her and portrays the havoc drink and drugs have created in their lives. Their talents have been laid to waste as they vainly cling to the last vestiges of love they have for each other.

The “Fairytale of New York” has not happened for them. Affluence has passed them by. They have tried to blot out the memories and have only their dreams to hold on to. These take on a bitter taste against the backdrop of the NYPD choir singing “Galway Bay” a song reminding them of the immigrants hope of retiring to that beautiful place. And as if to increase the agony the refrain is repeated, “And the bells were ringing out for Christmas day”. 

Joy for some pain for others. Fairytale or misery – is that the choice?

The Bible sees the coming to earth of Jesus not as a fairytale but as the Creator entering His creation to introduce us to a third way to live. Jesus neither endorsed the lifestyle of the wealthy nor the poor, the up and out or the down and out, but a new creation (2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verses 16/17).

He saw people as sheep without a shepherd (the existing shepherds were no good) St Matthew chapter 9 verses 35/36. He not only explained what a good shepherd would look like, he lived it; “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.

No doubt some sheep were in better condition than others but the Bible does not judge then on that basis. The decisive factor is whether or not they have heard the Shepherd’s voice speaking to them personally and, however imperfectly, are following him (St John Chapter 10 verses 1/11).

The narrator’s love, expressed in the song, is defective as our human love always is. The love with which Jesus loves his sheep is not sexual but sacrificial not eros but agape. He actually died for them. It will never change, grow cold or be extinguished. And it holds good whether you are in a cell or a citadel.

Fairytales don’t come true. The good Shepherd still gathers his sheep. Listen to is voice and follow him.

The lust for a story that upstages rivals caused a couple of Australian newshounds to overstep the mark this week.

The story was all about the future UK monarch, even although he/she is still in the mother’s womb and will be for some considerable time. However Kate is unwell and anything about “Royals” sells papers, programmes, etc and generates revenue.

By impersonating the Queen and Prince Charles two Australian journalists obtained details of Kate’s condition which they broadcast via their radio station and globally via twitter. They also claimed credit for pulling off the greatest hoax ever, that is, till it all backfired.

The nurse, Jacintha, who took the call at 5.30am on Wednesday was ending her night shift and had been standing in for the switchboard operator. She put the call through to her colleague who was attending Kate in the belief that it was genuine. Details of Kate’s condition were duly divulged and enthusiastically distributed by the Australian pair. That is till Friday when the nurse was found dead and suicide suspected.

We may never know the depths of shame and despair Jacintha suffered. She had become the dumb nurse who was duped and facilitated giving of confidential information to the media. Thanks to twitter everyone knew about it.

The Chief Executive of 2Day FM the Station concerned said, “We are very confident that we haven’t done anything illegal. We are satisfied that the procedures we have in place have been met.” However they have taken action. The two presenters have been stood down and all advertising suspended in an effort to protect their commercial base.

The defence of “The outcome could not have been foreseen” rings hollow when the reality is otherwise.

We have all done tricks that backfired. What do we do? What should the victim do?

The Bible says in St Matthews Gospel chapter 7 verse 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Now this verse, often called the Golden Rule, needs to be set in context. Without recognising the context the drunk could buy his friends another round in the anticipation of them doing the same for him.

Jesus reciprocal rule assumes the participants understand the Law and the Prophets where the governing principle is the law of love. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”(St Matthew Chapter 22 verses 37/40)

Where love not lucre controls actions the Golden Rule works.

For it to work in us we need to turn our lives over to Jesus. Put your trust in Him.

The power of these three words written in St Paul’s hymn of praise in Philippians Chapter 2 verse 8 hits us afresh as we enter another Advent season. He was, and is, the eternal Christ, one with the Father who became what he was not i.e. man without ever ceasing to be what he always was i.e. God. The Word became flesh (St John chapter 1 verse 14).

The creator and sustainer of all that is, humbled him self, entered his universe put on eyes, ears, stomach, kneecaps etc. and took his place in history.

He could have chosen to be born into prosperity but preferred poverty. He could have chosen to be born in a palace but preferred a stable. He could have chosen to be born in a free country during a peaceful time instead he preferred an occupied land with the upheaval of a compulsory census.

He did all this that he might be a good teacher getting alongside his pupils, coming down to their level and teaching them using simple means. He identified with those who recognised their need of him. Those who recognised him as coming from God.

Strangely this was not the learned ones of his race. They rejected him.

It was in the eyes of his virgin mother that he was first recognised as “God my Saviour” (St Matthew chapter 1 verse 46) It fell to another woman, Elizabeth to recognise that the baby in Mary’s womb was her Lord (verse 43)

Indeed it was said the ordinary people heard him gladly. God was working out his purposes in a way that St Paul could write, “the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1 verse 21)

So what did St Paul preach that was seen by the learned ones as folly? It was the preaching of the complete humility of Christ bearing our sins on the cross that made folly the wisdom of the world.

Things have not changed very much since St Paul penned these words, “we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (verses 22/24)

The Philippian hymn of praise ends: –

He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let us bear witness to the living Lord as we live by faith in him.

For the last couple of weeks our public square has been commandeered by the liberal agenda as it promoted a woman’s right to choose. It was therefore almost a relief when the news returned to the “normal hostilities” which have resumed between Israel and Palestine.

In the Middle East it’s not the slaughter of the unborn but those who are well and truly out of the womb that continues at a pace. The cynical use of the Palestinians by their Arab brothers to goad Israel into battle produced the inevitable slaughter. Then to claim the ceasefire to the 8 day war as a victory as the Palestinians have done requires some mental gymnastics especially as it was brokered by Egypt and the US without either of the protagonists being present!

The underlying problems of Israel’s tight restrictions of the border crossings into Palestine and the latter’s obtaining rockets despite Israel’s vigilance, along with the many other injustices, means that the conflict could resume at any time.

Israel finds herself in her usual situation, surrounded by dangers!

To the North Syria continues to self destruct and to the East Iran refines her weapons of mass destruction with the expressed intent – the annihilation of Israel.

Meanwhile to the South, in Egypt, another Pharaoh arises, as President Morsi seizes total power stating, “God’s will and elections made me the captain of this ship,”

What has the Bible to say to these matters?

It all began in Abraham’s time when his faith was tested. God told him to sacrifice Isaac his son by his wife Sarah. But the Quran states it was Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar, his wife’s maidservant, who was to be sacrificed.

Both narratives agree that the descendents of Ishmael and Isaac were to become great nations. However the Bible states it was to be through Isaac’s line that the Redeemer would come (Genesis Chapter 17 verses 20/21).

From the beginning hostility was predicted between the half-brothers and has continued to this day between their nations. By extension the antagonism spreads to friends of Israel on the one side and friends of Arabs on the other; or to put it otherwise, followers of the Bible on the one hand and followers of the Quran on the other.

When Jesus came, as foretold, through Isaac’s line the angels proclaimed peace. The war between God and man, resulting from man’s sinfulness, was to be ended by the shedding of the Saviour’s blood. Now redeemed Jews and redeemed Gentiles can find that unity in Christ, “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ”. (Ephesians chapter 2 v13 etc)

One day peace will come in all its fullness but till them we walk by faith and rejoice in everyone – Jew, Arab or Gentile – who comes into that new relationship with their heavenly Father, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians Ch.5 verse 19)

The death of the Indian doctor in a Galway hospital, after she had requested an abortion, has reignited the “Pro-choice” lobby in their desire for abortion on demand. The enquiry into her exact cause of death is still pending but the assumption that her life could have been saved by an abortion has been paraded as fact.

Actually, the law does permit abortion where the mother’s life is in danger but it is clear that the doctors did not believe it to be so. Instead they monitored the baby’s heartbeat and whilst it continued they decided no intervention was required. When the heart stopped the baby was removed and the mother died 3 days later. The argument is that had an abortion taken place when the mother entered hospital 4 days earlier, her life would have been saved.

This argument has been trumpeted as fact around the world with the Irish Times original article on its website receiving 700,000 hits!

To understand why there has been such a furore we need to differentiate between a) necessary medical treatments where the mother’s live is in danger which may result in the death of the baby, and b) medical treatments for the purpose of ensuring the death of the baby.

Under a) it may be that doctors require some clarification to be enacted.

Under b) the mother says “I do not want a child at this time”. The “right” of the mother in this regard is being met in neighbouring countries.

But this “right” to play God and exercise life or death over the child in the womb can never find Biblical support.

Take the worst case scenario where the child in the womb is diagnosed with major handicaps making unassisted life outside the womb impossible. If the mother proceeds with an abortion, the knowledge that she has been the instigator of her baby’s death may be harder to live with than allowing her baby to live and die with dignity. ­

In the latter case the mother has had some time to bond with her baby, be photographed, named, and loved and has a grave to be tended and cared for. In the case of the Christian parent there is the certainty that one day they will meet in heaven with bodies that function like Jesus resurrected body “who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself (Philippians chapter 3 verse 21).

The Bible is silent as to the fate of the aborted baby. But there is no bonding, no photographs, no name, no love, no grave and no mother. The latter will pay a high price in this life but for those who truly repent and trust in the Lord’s mercy like St Paul, who was an accessory after the act of murder but could say, “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy Chapter 1 verses 13/14).

There is the redeeming love of the risen Lord available for those who turn to Him.

The notion of inviting the Irish Diaspora to “come home” next year and renew their bonds with the Old Sod met with some scepticism this week when someone suggested it was simply a money making sham to assist us with our crippling National debt!

The painful history of Irish immigration first by famine then for economic survival got a boost a number of years ago from Mary Robinson who, when President, popularised and possibly invented the Diaspora. Overnight Ireland jumped from a country of 4 million to 40 million people. We bought into the myth and it felt good.

US Presidents added their weight when, surprise, surprise they unearthed long lost relatives from the bog bringing joy to the local parish and a surge in their Irish American vote!

Present day immigration favours travel to the East more than the West with distance increasing the difficulties of visits home. Indeed the Irish in Sydney, Australia form a significant proportion of the population.

Scotland tried something similar in 2009 with Clan Gatherings. The idea there was for those with the same name to organise events culminating in a visit to the clan’s ancient settlement, or what (if anything) remained of it. The Morrison settlement on a large rock off the Butt of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, replete with some archaeological excavations, failed to entice this writer to visit the “home” of his ancestors!

The whole enterprise was a financial disaster for the Scottish Government. Let’s hope the Irish will not make the same mistakes.

What light does the Bible throw on exiles and what is its view of home?

Jesus spoke of going home causing consternation among his disciples. He explained that there would be plenty of room for his followers and that he personally would prepare a place for each one of them. It fell to Thomas to enquire the way to this place and to get an answer which has transformed many lives. “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)

In this reply Jesus takes on himself the “I am” of deity and the exclusiveness of the Old Testament Priest who alone and only once per year could enter the holy place carrying the blood of atonement. Jesus was about to make a way for repentant sinners to come into the presence of God by shedding his own blood on the cross, fulfilling the truth of the Old Testament and obtaining eternal life for those who trust in him.

The gathering Jesus had in view for his exiles on earth was one centred around himself in the glory with the concept of home taking on an everlasting meaning.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews chapter 11 verses 13-15.

Well who is it going to be? The smart money is on Obama. The big money has been on Romney – but then the Republicans have always had the deeper pockets.

Actually the obscene amounts both parties spend on campaigning is a trifle compared to the $5 trillion tax cuts Romney has promised to introduce. Where exactly he is going to get the money is not clear but it looks bad for Medicaid, the Obama health scheme for the poor.

If Medicaid went it would be tragic. It took a great deal of political courage to put it in place and it has been a life-saver for many. It is efficiently run by comparison with the other schemes and illustrates that central government can do health better than Republicans care to admit.

However it is the ridiculous parliamentary system whereby the House of Representatives (which has been Republican i.e. Romney) and the Senate (which has been Democratic i.e. Obama) have to be in sync in order to pass laws. What we saw over the latter half of Obama’s 4 years was the Republican majority in the House of Representatives thwarting the necessary changes to address the economy which had been agreed by the Senate, thrown out by the Representatives, mischievously creating a crisis that the Republicans thought would enable them to return to power.

Of course these things are never black and white!

Obama’s care for the poor has not extended to the most vulnerable, those still in the womb. The extension of the liberal abortion laws has resulted in an enormous slaughter of human life which is ongoing.

On foreign policy matters operating as a global policeman with an agenda to introduce the nations to democracy will never work. Democracy can only work where there is recognition of the sinfulness of man, an understanding of the triune God and a remedy of forgiveness rather than a culture of death. This is not to say democracy is Christian but it can only work and that imperfectly, in Christian countries or countries where there is a legacy of Christianity.

To try to kit out the Arab Spring countries with democracy is like trying to put a tuxedo on a hedgehog! It will not fit and you will get hurt in the process.

Laws can never introduce the self control required in democratic government. There has to be a change of heart such as conversion to Christ resulting in the recognition of a higher power which we are answerable to, and a means of co-existing peacefully with those who think differently to you. Out of these things (and much more) comes the caring for the poor in a free and equal society.

At the end of the day it is not who governs but how they govern that is the criteria they and we will be judged upon. What we believe influences our decisions. Election promises should flow from those beliefs. Listen to Jesus the only one who ever kept them fully. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” St Luke chapter 4 verse 18.