It has been interesting to come back to Ireland at the end of last week to find that the Budget has been subject to revision by the people. Formerly it was the task of the opposition to critique the proposals and the Government to stand by the decisions they made. In fact it cut short Garrett Fitzgerald’s government’s term in office when they stood by their decision to tax children’s shoes back in the 80ies. Whatever the rights or wrongs of this particular piece of legislation to yield to pressure groups is not the way to govern. In times of crisis the government needs to be seen to exercise its authority and bare the consequences of its decisions. In short, the budget is not a discussion document. The Bible is not a discussion document either! What God has said is true. We are all descended from one source. We are here for a purpose. We are going to one of two possible places. We learn that God is our maker. It also explains that our Maker is our redeemer. “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.” And in the final analysis our destiny depends on our relationship to Him. “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus invitation remains open to all who come to Jesus believing in his word. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Unlike the budget you cannot change what God has said but you can depend on it.