60 On the Clock               Word on the Week                    5^th June 2021.

Anniversaries inexorably arrive!   They take their subjects somewhat by surprise.   Certain of them are anticipated.   The big ticket occasions!   Then there are those, although significant enough in themselves, arrive rather late for festivities!   The big 60 which Betty and I celebrated this week falls into this category.

Of course, even if we had been so minded, the advent of Covid and the limitations to gatherings imposed by the powers that be would curtail any plans to breakout.   There is also the matter of the ages of the chief participants which, despite relatively good health, impose their own limits!

It is worth casting the mind back to those moments in June, 1961, when, on my knees in front of the church, we heard the Minister utter those powerful words, “What God hath joined let no man put asunder” (St Matthew Chapter 19 verse 6).  This was a Covenant of Companionship for life.  The import of those words hit me with a freshness that came from them being personal and by God’s grace have remained with us to this day.

In this day and age, we need to define marriage.   It is between one man and one woman in a monogamous relationship for life.   In the beginning in addition to companionship, God said they were to be fruitful and increase in number (Genesis Chapter 1 verse 28).    God has blessed us with four wonderful children, each blessed in marriage.   These marriages in turn have been fruitful and we praise God for each of our 10 grandchildren.

Where there is no marriage, there may be some trust but no acknowledged commitment.   By its nature commitment unacknowledged empties the word of meaning.   These transitory affairs may appear to be fulfilling God’s purpose but are drawing water from a well that can never satisfy (St John Chapter 4 verse 13).

God’s creation of image bearers is in the plural.   It is ‘man and woman, male and female, He created them’ (Genesis Chapter 1 verse 27).    Just as God is more than one so to be in his imagine we need to be more than one.   Some believers have the gift of singleness but they are the exception.   Marriage is the rule.

We do not know how much longer we will be here but what lies ahead is the marriage feast of the Lamb.   All who are part of his Church, the Bride, called through the gospel of grace, to the marriage supper of the Lamb – Hallelujah (Revelation Chapter 19 verses 6 to 9).

An Act of Mercy               Word on the Week          29^th May 2021.

This year Betty and I became proud great grandparents!   Lily arrived in April.   She was well anticipated with plenty of photographs both inside and outside of her Mother’s womb.   Her arrival brought great joy to her father and mother and their respective families.

Contrast this with when things go wrong.   The child is unwanted.   His progress in the womb brings misery.   His life span is to be curtailed.   He is seldom spoken about.   Deep sadness attends his every move.

This child is not considered to be fully human.   He has no feelings.   He is oblivious to pain in his sheltered environment.   Mother decides he has to go.   She has made her choice – he has no choice.  It will be quick and hopefully uneventful.

A photograph appeared in the media about a year ago showing the doctor involved in an abortion.   The theatre staff were surprised to see a hand reach out and grasp one of the doctors fingers.   One of the nurses captured the moment on camera.   Such a poignant plea for mercy!

At the time of the original abortion legislation, Simon Harris, the then Minister of Health dismissed the notion of the unborn child feeling any pain.   Since then other countries have acknowledged the fact of the infant pain and apply an aesthetic to the foetus prior to the abortion operation.

The Foetal Pain Relief Bill 2021 has been introduced to the Dial this week and deserves to be passed into law.   It should make sense to both those promoting abortion as well as those opposing it.   After all we treat our animals more humanely.    The vet takes care to ensure the sick dog feels no pain.   Surely we should do likewise for our own.

What happens to these aborted lives?    The old theologians considered texts such as Revelation Chapter 7 verses 9 and 10 – After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

They reasoned that most nations had a census whereby they counted their population.   Why could the heavenly multitude not be counted?    Their conclusion was that all miscarried children or those who died in infancy were included in the heavenly roll “that no man could number”.

If this is so there will be a lot of introductions required to be made in the glory! (2 Samuel Chapter 12 verse 23).

Isaac verses Ishmael                 Word on the Week          22^nd May 2021.

The latest instalment of the age-old conflict has been played out this week in the Middle East ending in an uneasy cease fire.   There was friction from the beginning between the two half-brothers and this has been carried on down through the centuries to this day.    Isaac from whom the Jews are descended and Ishmael who is the first of the Arabs (Genesis Chapter 21 verses 8 to 20).

The land God gave Abraham to be his descendants “On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates” (Genesis Chapter 15 verse 18).   In those days the land was occupied by Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites (Genesis Chapter 15 verses 19 to 21). 

It was given to Joshua to possess the land some 500 + years after the promise was given to Abraham.   There was a certainty to Joshua’s instructions – “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you”.

Today there may be some lingering longing to once again possess the land. Certainly the events of the last 11 days have echoes of past conflicts.   But now we are in the New Covenant times.   The Jews are still warring and waiting for their Messiah refusing to recognise that he has come bringing the salvation which they long to experience (St Matthew Chapter 23 verse 37/8).

Here are some of the things that the New Testament brings to the believer in Jesus.

There is a new Exodus.   We are delivered from slavery in Egypt to slavery from sin (Romans Chapter 6 verse 18). 

The Temple in Jerusalem is gone.  Now we are the new temple.   (1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verse 16).  

We have a new Kingdom.   We have come from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Jesus. (Colossians Chapter 1 verse 13).  

There is no king in Israel.    Our king Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation Chapter 19 verse 16).

May God grant Gospel light to the Children of Isaac and the Children of Ishmael and to all who are seeking a physical solution to a spiritual problem.

Someone’s Hand in my Pocket           Word on the Week           15^th May 2021.

There is the feeling that something is not right.   Perhaps the keys are gone!   It’s like someone has been in the house, nothing seems to have been taken but the uneasy feeling remains.

Once upon a time there was a safe place in the house where you deposited your ‘treasures’.   A favourite place would have been a writing desk with a secret drawer which could only be accessed by those who knew how to find it.

Today things that are precious such as photos, letters, family documents, family trees and such things, some of which may have been passed down from previous generations can be held digitally on the computer.   This gives easy access to them and prevents them being misplaced.

Business also has moved from the old filing room to hold copies of letters, emails and documents in storage on the computer system.   These can be easily referenced and ‘losing the file’ has become almost a thing of the past.

Ireland has made a name for creating data storage warehouses.   These modern data warehouses can improve analytics, collaboration, and security of the material they house.   The data warehousing landscape is changing with evolving data needs, such as hospital records carried on our HSE system and breached this week.

In the past hackers would test their skills against Company systems, either to steal confidential data or release a ‘worm’ which would wreak havoc with the system until it is neutralised.   The present cybercrime introduces malware which renders the system unusable. 

Those responsible for the malware hold the victim to ransom.   They use the latest virus, malware, spyware or ransomware and demand a large sum of money, usually in bitcoin, in exchange for the code which cancels the virus.

The current attack could be the work of Conti ransomware.   It can steal data as well as encrypt it.   That is what thieves and robbers do according to Jesus.   In marked contrast to Jesus they steal and destroy as a way of life (St John Chapter 10 verse 10).

The way of life Jesus offered is one of service.   It culminates in the cross where Jesus paid our ransom, which we were due as a result of our sins, to his heavenly Father.  St Mark quotes Jesus, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (in Chapter 10 verse 45).

The ransom Jesus paid for believers was infinitely greater than anything Conti can extract.   Praise God and trust in the work of Jesus.

Independence – the Holy Grail           Word on the Week           8^th May 2021.

From the age when humans begin to crawl the quest for independence begins!   Later it becomes “I will manage on my own”.   And later still changes to the unspoken “I want my own way”!

The current elections in Wales and Scotland are likely to see a strengthening of the Nationalist parties – each wishing to shake off the governing influence of England.   In these post steel manufacture and post oil extraction days the desire to go separate ways smacks of ‘biting the hand that feeds you’.

A similar attitude applies in Northern Ireland where the Unionist desire to remain attached to England ignores the many of the facts of geography and history.  

Of course there is a place for Patriotism.    Individual Nation States have much to be proud of.   It requires considerable ‘give and take’ abilities to get along with your neighbouring State to which the Bible would add the virtue of love!

Israel was never the shining example to the other Nations that God intended.   Moses quoted the prophesy given to Abraham that through his seed all Nations would be blessed (Genesis Chapter 12 verse 3).   But before this happened Israel was to occupy the land God gave them for the purpose of being a witness to the surrounding Nations who would marvel at the wisdom of the Mosaic laws and revere the God who gave them (Deuteronomy Chapter 4 verses 5 to 8).

It was through Isaiah the prophet that Israel was given the promise of a Servant who would be a light to the (Gentiles) other Nations (Isaiah chapter 42 verses 1 to 7).    There would also be a New Covenant in Jesus’s blood which fulfilled the Mosaic laws and made repentance and forgiveness available to the Nations (St Luke Chapters 22 verse 20 & 24 verse 47).

The bursting out of this ‘light’ is well documented in the Book of Acts.   In its global dimension mentioned in (St John Chapter 8 verse12) Jesus claims the title of ‘Light of the World’.   There are no excluded races.  Rich and poor are included.

The wonderful thing about light is that you cannot add to it.   It is complete!   Jesus salvation is complete (Acts Chapter 4 verse 12).   What we do have is light-blockers!     The Apostle John gives us our instructions as to how to deal with them and personally walk in the light. (1John Chapter 1 verses 5 to 7).  

Those called to govern need our prayers that they too may see the light and lead by their example so that there may be a harmony in these Islands which would make the world take notice that we are following Jesus.

Song of a Bird                            Word on the Week                    1^st May 2021.

The volume of birdsong has increased considerably since the mating season got under full swing.   The dawn chorus takes pride of place with the various species trying to out-sing each other.   There have been calm early mornings with virtually no wind to carry the sound away.   Oh for ears to differentiate the calls.   Instead my almost tone deaf ears simply appreciates the choir and cannot identify the solo performers!

Of course some songs stand out from others.   Take the Goldcrest for example.   It may be our smallest bird but the high pitch of its song “zi-zi-zee” is guaranteed to make the hard of hearing remove their hearing aids!  The penetrating sound can be heard echoing through the forest during winter.

Which reminds me of the debate we used to have with a “Twitcher” (bird watcher) colleague who, to support his evolutionary views, felt the need to maintain that birds only sang to attract a mate!   He could not bring himself to acknowledge that birds could sing for pleasure, least of all could he admit that they may be singing to the glory of God!    His evolutionary blinkers robber him of entering into the joy of their song.

That harbinger of the dawn, the cockerel gets a mention in the Bible (St Matthew Chapter 26 verse 34).   Normally it heralds the dawn which, in summer, is far too early to get up!  We had a very diligent cock who would sound the dawn alert if a car’s headlights picked out the henhouse as it turned in the dark!

Jesus obviously had an empathy with cockerels.   The one in High Priest’s Courtyard knew just when it had to crow at his creator’s command (St John Chapter 1 verse 3).   He crowed after Peter’s third denial that he ever knew his Lord.   He crowed right on que with shattering effects on Peter who had so brashly maintained that he would never deny Jesus.   His guilt crushed Peter who shed tears of remorse (St Matthew Chapter 26 verse 75).

After Jesus death and resurrection, the Lord reinstated Peter with a threefold questioning of his love in that famous conversation on the shore of the sea of Galilee.   Peter’s response (he could not appeal to his record) was to recognise the Lord’s omnipotence and say “You know all things; you know that I love you”.   He was then commissioned with the command to “Feed my sheep” (St John Chapter 21 verses 15 to 17).

The Apostle Peter learned his lesson well.   His life was spent in feeding the Word of God to his sheep.   In his letters he writes out of his rich experience of Christ – his Chief Shepherd – words that apply through all generations down to our day.   They are preserved for us in 1 Peter Chapter 5 verses 1 to 11.

Worshipping Covid              Word on the Week                 24^th April 2021.

A new priority has been established in the land.   It is to do with the Covid pandemic.   It has taken over the news bulletins.   The numbers of ‘new cases’ heads the statistics commanding fear and obedience.   To add weight, the daily death toll is revealed and a running total displayed.

Governments control of the disease involves actions which lie contrary to Christian practice.   The prohibition of meeting together, the avoidance of significant touch and the masking which prevents facial communication.   We have to obey rules which can be ramped up through 5 levels of severity and the law is being used to enforce them.

The aim is to save lives.   Those most at risk have been identified and have been vaccinated.   Now with the older cohort done vaccination has been distributed on an age basis with the oldest coming first.   By this means the entire population will receive the vaccine.   In the UK consideration is being given to the issue of a certificate recognising that you have been done.   In future the rules may state that only those with certificates can travel etc.

Here the ship of state, having cast off its Christian moorings, is floating rudderless, while funding weekly the bulk of the working population out of borrowed money.  Those receiving an income cannot work because the Covid rules forbid it. At present all hope is centred on the vaccines being effective over time and against variants of the disease.

There has been no recognition that we are made in the image of God with a life expectancy which extends beyond the grave.    This desire to keep the elderly population alive for another few years, however worthy, sits uneasily against the background of the government’s dallying with euthanasia.   And for the remainder of the country the preserving of life flies in the face of the legalisation permitting abortion where not even the dead are given a burial.

Where is God in all this?   He must know all about the pandemic – after all He permitted it!   Where is the call to prayer to call upon his mercy?   Where is the recognition of guilt before a holy God?   Where is the pleading of the merits of the blood of Christ on the altar which is Calvary? 1 Chronicles chapter 21 verses 13 to 27 is where a repentant King David caused a plague to cease.

Repent of letting RTE’s 6 o’clock news become your daily diet of fear and rules.   Rely on the God who answers prayer (despite our doubts that He will) as when Peter tried to join a prayer meeting which was praying for his release (Acts Chapter 12 verses 5 to 17)!

Jesus answered “Have faith in God” (St Mark Chapter 11 verse 22).

Well Woman Reimagined                    Word on the Week           17^th April 2021.

It was a hot day in Samaria when Jesus arrived at the well.   He had sent his disciples off to a neighbouring village to get food and was resting when a woman from Sychar approached the well to get water.

Jesus asked her for some water.   This astonished her as she was a Samaritan and the Jews had nothing to do with these mixed race people.

In addition, she was a woman.   It was just not the done thing to speak to a woman in public.   She had come to the well in the heat of the day to get away from people.   She was not good at relationships.   Apparently she had had five husbands so in this regard she was quite contemporary!

Whether the husbands had died or divorced her it had not dissuaded the current boyfriend.   However, living together does not constitute marriage as Jesus pointed out (St John Chapter 4 verse 14).   We could reimagine the scene happening today.

Jesus was not bound by tradition or convention.   He reached out across the gender gap to talk to her at the risk of being misunderstood by his disciples. His concern to present her with the Scripture over-rode the accustomed norms of the place.

There was the ever present problem of race.   The Samaritans stemmed from foreign people brought in by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Over time they intermarried with the Jews who had remained in the area.   The mixed race had its own culture and version of the Pentateuch!   

Today we are all too familiar with poor race relations.   The underdog seldom gets the respect they deserve.   And when it comes to justice, as in the case of George Floyd in Minneapolis, it can be a long time coming.

Jesus showed no ethic prejudice.   He was critical of tradition but rock solid in his belief that Scripture was the Word of God.

All this enabled Jesus to engage with the woman at a deep level.   The exposure of her sin should have meant that a Rabbi like Jesus would not talk, touch or drink from a vessel tainted by a such a Samaritan.   Yet Jesus was not bound by any moralistic superiority.    He showed her love and respect by inviting her to take the living water which had been spurned so often in the past (Jeramiah Chapter 2 verse 13).

In today’s terms Jesus was not deflected by gender, race or sinfulness from seeking her salvation by revealing himself to her (St John Chapter 4 verse 26).  

Death of a Duke              Word on the Week          10^th April 2021.

The death of the Duke of Edinburgh had been anticipated because of the increasing frequency of his hospital visits.   On his last visit, as he was leaving he came to the door of the hospital to meet some soldiers and hear the bugler play the last post!    He stood erect, negotiated the steps without a walking stick and looked likely to achieve his 100 birthday in a few weeks’ time.  

Alas it was not to be.   He died this week.   He had been Consort to the Queen for more than 70 years.   Our sympathies go to her.   He was her faithful shadow, keeping his place behind the Queen and being a support to her in the many-sided round of duties she was expected to perform.

Prince Philip was educated at Gordonstoun, a college in the Scottish Highlands founded by a German disciplinarian, Kurt Hann.   Its motto was “There is more in you” and Kurt saw it as his business to get it out of you!  Whereas Philip enjoyed his time there his son Charles, the Prince of Wales, found it difficult.   He described the school a “Colditz in kilts” alluding to the prisoner-of-war camp Colditz Castle in Germany!

Perhaps the most lasting thing which Philip did was to inaugurate the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme, an outward bound challenge primarily for teenagers.   It had three levels; Bronze, Silver and the most arduous, Gold.  The Gold involved surviving for three days in remote countryside carrying tent, stove etc.   You could trace its origins to his time in Gordonstoun!

During his life Prince Philip’s love of nature led him to become involved in many “Saving the Planet” projects long before they became popular. 

His career in the Royal Navy brought him into action in WW11.  On land he was given the task of looking after the Crown Lands – a considerable number of farms and forests.  

There have been a number of references to the Queen’s Christian faith and its part in sustaining them through the long reign.  No doubt they were familiar with the Reformers teaching about the Crown Rights of the Redeemer.   There are two Monarchs; one is in the Palace in London the other is King Jesus ascended to the right hand of the majesty on high.  

The governance of the State is in the prerogative of the former.  The latter however was instituted by Christ and owes its allegiance to Him alone (St Matthew Chapter 28 Verses 16 to 20).   In this day when everyone knows their rights it is good to be reminder of the prior right of the one who by His blood purchased men for God (Revelation Chapter 5 verse 9 to 10).

Ecce homo                       Word on the Week                     3^rd April 2021.

Ecce homo ‘behold the man’! (St John Chapter 19 verse 5).    Pilot had got himself into a predicament.   He wanted Jesus to look like weak, foolish and a poor creature.   In fact, he wanted to make him look pitiful.   He had him flogged and now Pilot allowed the soldiers to dress him in mock regal garments.   It was as an imitation of a King that Pilot now displayed Jesus before the mob calling out ‘ecce homo’.  He hoped that they would reckon he had suffered enough and permit his release.   

But there was a separate agenda going on here.   Jesus was in the process of ‘emptying himself’ as the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians chapter 2 verse 8.   This entailed Jesus stooping to the lowest place (Isaiah 53).   All his rights were set aside. He became ‘nothing’!

It was Pilot who was the weak man!   He was frustrated by Jesus’s silence during his interrogation.   Furthermore, his wife had sent a message to him stating that he was to have nothing to do with this innocent man (St Matthew Chapter 27 verse 19).  Apparently she had been warned in a dream.    This put more stress onto Pilot who now pinned his hope of release on the governor’s custom, during the Passover feast, for the crowd to call for the release of a prisoner among those condemned to die.

The High Priest and the Sanhedrin are the instigators of the prosecution.   The text says “it was out of envy” that they wanted Jesus crucified (St Matthew Chapter 27 verse 18).   They were envious of the crowds he gathered.   They were envious of the way he taught the people with authority.   They were envious that he could answer every question that was put to him with astonishing clarity.   Their trumped up reason for requesting the death penalty – that Jesus called himself King of the Jews and therefore was a threat to Caesar did not really concern them – Pilot knew all this!

At the start of Jesus ministry John the Baptist recognised Jesus as the sacrificial lamb. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (St John Chapter 1 verse 29).   His crucifixion was where the Lamb of God’s life blood ran down the cross as the sacrifice was completed.   

He called out ‘tetelestai’- it is finished; (St John Chapter 19 verse 30).   The ascent into the abyss was over. Atonement on behalf of sinners has been made.   The work he came to do has been accomplished (St John Chapter 17 verse 4). Assess to heaven is open by way of faith (Romans Chapter 5 verses 6 to 8).     Come to Him this Easter!