Lower drink-driving limits came into effect last week, reducing the maximum blood-alcohol level to 20mg per 100ml of blood in some cases. The changes, which bring Irish law into line with European levels, will see the current limit of 80mg drop to 50mg for most drivers. Under the regime, professional drivers, learner drivers and those who are newly qualified will be subject to a lower 20mg limit, as will other categories such as those driving tractors or cars with trailers. A penalty system is also being introduced to deal with offences detected under the limits. The market in self breathalyser gadgets has just got better as the morning after the night before may have some residual quantities of alcohol in the bloodstream pushing the early commuters over the new limit. The Minister expressed concern about the wide availability and low price of alcohol across the country. “This is primarily a public health issue requiring a whole of population approach for it to be successfully tackled. We need to reduce the amount of alcohol that we as a nation drink. This will involve a wider societal change in attitude and behaviour in order to break our cultural link to alcohol.” What does the Bible have to say about drink? Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. Proverbs 23:31 Alcohol is a problem. It is a problem today and it was a problem for the writer of Proverbs. It was a problem for Noah (Genesis 9:21) and for Lot (Genesis 19:30-33). It was a problem for the master of wedding ceremonies in Cana (John 2:1-11 But it gladdens the heart (Psalm 104:4), makes the Cana wedding go with a swing, and is better for a weak stomach than dodgy water (1 Timothy 5:18). In Rome it was a problem causing St Paul to council: “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh”. Romans Chapter 13 verses 13/14. It is also the central symbol of the redeeming love of Jesus in the cup representing His poured out blood which was to be shed for the remission of sin. For those who turn to Jesus trusting in the effectiveness of His sacrifice He gives the self control to avoid gratifying the desires of the flesh. The alcoholic can be freed from addiction – there is power in the liberating power of the Holy Spirit entering a life and it all starts when we bow the knee to Jesus.

It’s been a week which could be summarised by the song with which Dana won the Eurovision Song Contest many moons ago. I’m sure she hankered for these old days when she struggled to keep in contention in the Presidential election stakes. All kinds of everything appeared, as skeletons were dragged out of the cupboards and put on display, usually by a competing candidate. No better man than Martin McGuinness who, having been tipped off, had the front runner Sean Gallagher on the ropes. The spectre of brown envelopes frightened voters who switched back to Michael D. Higgins in the same numbers that had deserted him the week before. Michael D, the eventual winner, managed to maintain his composure and in the absence of anyone of the stature of our last two presidents, romped home without any last minute challenge. All kinds of everything were on display in the Mind Body Spirit bi-annual Festival in Dublin. This New Age Fair is in danger of becoming a respectable part of the landscape. The Psychics were in tune with the culture by diagnosing “stress” as the cause of their clients ails. The €50 to €70 charge added to their stress and the remedy of an altered state of conscientiousness didn’t seem to grab the imagination like it once did. This left the floor mainly to the feel good therapies of Alternative Medicine with their holistic approach that so accurately matches the needs of the many lonely and disillusioned people who hanker for someone to take an interest in them. What help can we get from the Bible? This week’s snapshots of the lives of our Presidential candidates reveal flaws shown up by an earthly court how much more would be revealed by a heavenly one! What if we were in the dock – but we better not go there! Those attending the festival would not deny the existence of a God simply see him or her as irrelevant to their everyday lives. Having denied the possibility of any overall meaning or absolute truth, there is no faith or ideology worth living for, so living for self and feeling good about oneself becomes the central purpose in life. “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” St Matthew chapter 11 verses 28 to 30. And Jesus` yoke is easy because He bore the ultimate burden of our sin on the cross so that whither we are a Presidential candidate with a past or a modern person who ignores Him in the present, Jesus` advice is to the point. Come to Him, in prayer, believing and receive Him into your life. “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” St John 1:12-13.

48 If Autumn’s here can Winter be far behind? What now Libya with Qaddafi gone? Has the unifying force of common hatred for their ruler been the glue that held the different tribes together? Officials of the post-Qaddafi government have said that the death or capture of Colonel Qaddafi would allow them to declare the country liberated and to start a process that would lead to a general election for a national council within eight months. Great aspirations! Colonel Qaddafi was carrying what was described as a sack of magic charms when he was found by the soldiers. He held a silver pistol in his hand, and in a bag, the fighters found his gold plated pistol. He had been hiding in a storm drain following the scattering of his convoy by NATO planes as it attempted to leave his home town of Surt. So the man who held total control over his 6.5 million people for 42 years died. He was better known here for bringing down the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie and supplying weapons and semtex to the IRA.  His leaves behind a country void of infrastructure with the exception of the oil installations. There are still some members of his family at large along with pockets of his more fanatical supporters who may stir up trouble in the days ahead. What comment would the Bible make of this event? Much ink has been spilled navigating around the Command “Thou shall not kill” by pleading the case for the just war. The Bible simply says that wars will come – it’s a bi-product of the way we are.  When John the Baptist was giving some ethical advice to his questioners some soldiers asked him what they should do. He did not tell them to leave the army but said, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”  There is an inevitability about bloodshed resulting in more bloodshed. This was highlighted by Jesus to his Disciples in Gethsemane, “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” St Matthew chapter 26 verse 52. Jesus’s way also involved the spilling of blood – His own. And that was shed for others. Qaddafi’s way involved the spilling of blood – that of others and eventually his own. Qaddafi’s reliance on charms proved futile. For those who rely on Jesus there is peace even in a war zone and a resurrection to eternal life at the end. Trust Jesus.

In the midst of all our woes this week three men broke into the Holy Cross Abbey in Co Tipperary and stole three relics one of which was reputed to be a piece of wood from Christ’s cross. This piece of the “true cross” was handed over by King Donal Mor O’Brien in the 12th Century and apparently survived the 17th Century when the monastery was in ruins. The two other relics were handed to the Abbey in 1977 by St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. These, along with the silver monstrance containing the wood, presumably have some value as precious metals hence the attraction to the thieves.  The Parish Priest said the local clergy and parishioners were devastated, “Even three weeks ago we had a novena here and there was a great sense of devotion to it, he said.” The garda were bewildered by the theft. “They’re not something that could be brought down any day of the week to a car boot sale” they said. The robbery was well planned, the thieves using a hammer, screwdriver and an angle-grinder to forcibly open the cabinet containing to relics. The get-away vehicle was found burned out some distance from the Abbey. What has scripture to say to all this? Surprising as it may seem when it comes to relics the bible is silent. In folklore the expression “touch wood” meaning that you hope some event may or may not happen, is an abbreviation of “touch the cross”. It is hard to get away from the fascination that religious artefacts have for people who are seeking for some source of supernatural power. Those looking for Biblical warrant can quote Acts chapter 19 verses 11/12  “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” When St Luke penned this incident its unlikely that he anticipated the global trade in relics! More likely the benefactors of the healings and deliverances realised the link to St Paul and the message he preached which always attributed the power to his triune God. On its altar the Abbey uses the words “that the cross of Christ may not be emptied of its power” which is part of the text of 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 17 referring, in this case to the wooden relic of the cross which has been stolen. Of course St Paul wasn’t referring to the power of the wooden cross but to the preaching of the death of Christ for sinners. He makes it plain; “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. The power and authority lies in the once crucified now risen and reigning saviour. Put your faith in him.

Occupy Wall Street consists of a group of activists who say they stand against corporate greed, social inequality and other disparities between rich and poor. They are protesting against, among other things, the greed and corruption of the 1% of the population . This week there has been a spin-off to other American cities. Could this happen in Ireland? Not while we were in the Rugby World Cup but now…? Our white collar crime, proportionally speaking, can match that of Wall Street. It has been largely undisturbed by regulation or legislation. The powers that be have asked the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement to carry out a criminal investigation into alleged malpractice at one of our banks. It is grossly under resourced and is unlikely to produce even preliminary findings till next year. It has not been helped by the non-co-operation of bankers which may now change following the recent passing of the Criminal Justice Act. In the meantime action against individuals or third parties such as auditors has had to be deferred pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. One Journalist has referred to all this as a “culture of impunity”. So could we see “Occupy Dame Street”? Not while we are still trying to qualify for the soccer World Cup! What has the Bible to say about these things? The Bible has a lot to say about justice, always imperfectly applied here but perfectly applied in the hereafter. Jesus warned of impending disaster on his return for those who denied justice to others. It is well expressed by St Luke’s recording of the persistent, prayerful widow and the unjust judge. Chapter 18 verses 1 to 8, Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” For the Christian, prayer and perseverance are prescribed. He takes his example from Jesus who, St Peter tells us, “when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

This week the North of the country witnessed one of the most unlikely cover-ups of our time. It happened in a barley field outside the city of Bangor. Rihanna from Barbados, a singer with a good voice and possibly a better figure, was using both in the production of her latest video “We found Love”.  The farmer, a decent Christian man, who had already pulled their vehicle out of the mud and put down some straw to improve access to the field, was going about his business. The next thing to happen was a crowd gathered threatening to jam the adjacent motorway as people flocked to catch a glimpse of the now topless Rihanna prancing about in the barley. This was not what the farmer bargained for when he let them into his field and he got down from his tractor and told the pop star to cover herself up. He also told her, as he explained later to the media, that satisfaction in this life comes from putting your faith in Jesus Christ and his work on the cross. Rihanna, no doubt pleased with the free publicity the event had created for her, put on her clothes and resumed filming the next day in the New Lodge area of Belfast. What has the Bible to say about all this? God clothed our first parents and people have been taking them off ever since. The clothing only became necessary because of man’s rebellion of which undressing in public is a potent symbol. What makes this case unusual was not that a pop star undressed in public but that a Christian had the bottle to tell her to get dressed.  Indeed the farmer went further and in a very genuine and convincing way explained the Gospel to her. This certainly illustrated better than anything else the title of her song “We found Love” The love of God shown in Jesus had found the farmer and by His grace may find Rihanna and you also. There is no greater love and no greater gift. Its yours to receive. St John summarised it for us as follows: – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” St John’s Gospel chapter 3 verse 16.

We are in the last week for nominations for the highest Office in the land – that of President. The process was enlivened by Martin McGuinness throwing his hat (or should it be beret) into the ring.  The former commander in the IRA has asked to be considered for the Office on the basis of his record as a peacemaker. The problem for some is that his record reveals that for a large part of his life he sought peace through the armed struggle which convulsed the Northern part of the Country for around 30 years. On the other hand there is no doubt that his more recent experiences as Deputy First Minister of the Stormont Parliament have shown him to be an able politician. During his leadership of the Sinn Fein party in the North there has been much reduced para-military activity.  He has come a long way since he was jailed in 1974 in the Republic when he was caught with a car containing 250 lb (113 kg) of explosives and nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition. He refused to recognise the court but the Court recognised him and he went to prison. What is certain is a lively campaign over the next 6 weeks as the seven likely contenders make their representations for the job. We may well have a sequel to the McGuinness Biography “From Guns to Government”. Perhaps “From Politician to President” if his Presidential campaigning is as successful as his political career has been to date. What has the Bible to comment on such matters? One of the most spectacular changes of occupation took place when Saul of Tarsus was confronted by the living Jesus while he was engaged in destroying this new sect called Christians. Resulting from that encounter his whole life was transformed and the persecutor became known as, “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” Galatians Chapter 1 verse 23. Saul had seen how well Stephen died and that had opened his mind to the possibility that he just could be wrong. How do you move a person from that possibility to 100% acceptance of it as fact? It took the voice of God to turn Saul of Tarsus around. His conversion brought peace to the Christians and transformed society. It is hard to see a parallel with our situation in Ireland but then it was hard for these Galatian Christians to accept St Paul in their day. But it first needs God to work a miracle!

Next Tuesday a formal application is to be made to the United Nations Assembly to recognise Palestine as a State. Emboldened by the relative success of the Arab Spring and with both Egypt and Turkey now threatening Israel the Hamas led Palestinians see their opportunity to seize the high ground in their ongoing campaign to exterminate Israel by Jihad. The press this week has contained many articles voicing support for their application which would increase their standing in the world of Nation States. Every advance in Arab territory gives her rockets better range on Israeli cities causing the Prime Minister to say that if the boundaries were altered Israel would be indefensible.  It does not auger well for future relationships when the Arab leadership has stated publically it would not allow even one Jew to live within its borders. On the other hand Israel accepts the fact that one-fifth of its population is Arab (both Muslim and Christian). So will Palestine become the 194th UN State next week and will it make any difference? Those of us who read their Bibles will recognise the déjà vue nature of the problem. This struggle has been with us ever since God gave the “promised land” to His people Israel approaching 4,000 years ago. There was a period when Israel was in exile for 70 years in Old Testament times and again for many centuries since the sacking of Jerusalem in AD 70 her peoples have been scattered around the globe. Their ability to cling to their customs, language and help each other has enabled them to create wealth wherever they settled, usually incurring the wrath of the locals who found it hard to compete against them. Incredibly their Hebrew language has been retained as have their religious customs. At the annual Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Passover) there remains a vacant chair for Elijah who has to return before the Messiah comes. Sadly for them Elijah has already come in the form of John the Baptist (St Matthew chapter 17 verse 12) as the forerunner of the Messiah – Jesus. But just as their failure to recognise Jesus as Messiah resulted in the Good News coming to the Gentile Nations, St Paul predicts a turning of Israel to place their faith in Jesus (Romans chapter 11 verse 15) as one of the marks of the end times. Then their wailing wall of the Temple will become a praising wall! Will the UN recognition make any difference? Only if it is part of God’s plan. Will the fact of Jesus being the Messiah make a difference to you? Only if you trust Him.

As we come up to the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack which demolished both of the iconic towers, symbols of the flourishing Manhattan society, fear and apprehension are still with us. 2,996 died and tomorrow, the 10 anniversary, will host a memorial service on the site which is now turned into a remembrance theme park. Massive security is in place as it is anticipated that an act of revenge for the killing of Osama Bin Laden – the architect of the attack – will take place. Indeed increased security and surveillance have been the noticeable effect of the attack as anyone who has had to stand in interminable queues at airport security gates while our person and possessions are examined, scanned and, when deemed illegal, confiscated all in the interests of safety. The inauguration of the “war on terror” stems from the attack and is reckoned to have killed 1,000,000 in Iraq and Afghanistan without making the world a safer place. Those standing at the memorial site tomorrow will be keeping a weather eye open for discarded packages and looking over their shoulders to see who is standing behind them. And as they mourn some will wonder how we got into this mess. Can the Bible help us here? Anyone who thinks this world is a safe place is not facing reality. In Bible times life was cheap and inflation has not altered that fact! When the Psalmist penned Psalm 121 he looked for a safe place in nature and had to remind himself that it was only in the Lord that safety is located. The metrical version puts it well: I to the hills will lift mine eyes From whence doth come mine aid? My safety cometh from the Lord Who heaven and earth hath made. Jesus brought out the truth of these words when he said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. For those who believe Him St Paul’s words take on that eternal dimension as he thought of his life since he had been converted to Christ; “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. (Galatians chapter 2 verse 20) This life is fraught with accidents, illnesses and terrorism all of which are largely beyond our control. Faith in Christ places us in an eternal security united to Christ and able to help other fearful fellowtravellers on life’s journey to look to Him who alone can give us that peace (shalom) we are looking for.

The name may not mean much to you but Steve’s resignation as the CEO of Apple Computers this week sent shock waves through the industry. He was the great innovator. He imagined what we would like and went on the produce it. Over four decades he was the brains behind five new computing innovations. First came the Apple Mac computer which was influenced by his love of graphics to make it look good on the outside – the inside looked even better! Then came the iPod allowing the musically minded to have music wherever they go. Next the iTunes tapped into the on-line music market giving infinite choice to the listener. Perhaps the biggest advance came with the iPhone. This is the smartphone which does so many functions that the modern person cannot afford to be without it. Then Steve produced the iPad a tablet reminiscent of the 10×6 inch slate the older of my readers will remember from their schooldays. However this is no piece of slate! With its touch screen you have virtually all the computing power you will ever need at your fingertips. All this stuff came at a time when we wanted to look cool. They became “must have” products. He was the man who gave us back our toys! But Steve has terminal cancer. Has the Bible anything to say on these things? The Psalmist reminds us of the brevity of life, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90 verse 10) Perhaps Steve was thinking about the Psalmist’s view of the brevity of life when he named his last product iCloud. It would appear to have an infinite capacity to store and share the stuff we love. There are overtones too of the cloud in the Apostle’s writing. Using apocalyptic language St Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica about Jesus’s second coming, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13/18)